Police Cadet (Part-Time)

About the role

The City of La Habra is seeking motivated individuals interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement to join the Police Department as a Police Cadet.

This position is used for an apprenticeship type program to familiarize Police Cadets with the various law enforcement occupations. Although an applicant is not expected to have prior experience, they are expected to have an interest in a career in local law enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Performs clerical duties including maintaining records, answering telephones, data processing, and record retrieval.
• Uses a computer to process information and prepare a variety of reports.
• Affords assistance in the records division performing clerical tasks or taking calls.
• Affords assistance to the public at the front counter and over the telephone.
• Assists in preparing and submitting completed reports on all cases assigned, conforming to department standards.
• Assists with storage inventory and control of departmental supplies.
• Provides information and directions to the public.
• Affords assistance to Investigation Bureau, Traffic Bureau, Court Services, and Property Bureau with miscellaneous tasks and duties.
• Participates in formalized training courses and programs as assigned.
• Lifts and carries equipment and other items and performs strenuous activities.
• Drives a vehicle on City business and assists with vehicle transportation.
• Performs related duties as required.

Requirements

• Knowledge of basic law enforcement functions.
• Organizational structure of the Police Department.
• Departmental recordkeeping practices.
• Proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation for the purpose of completing various police reports.
• Effective customer service techniques.
• Ability to learn, understand, and apply laws, ordinances, department policies and procedures.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Read and write English using proper spelling and grammar.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Work well in the disciplined atmosphere of the Police Department and maintain high ethical standards.
• Accept supervisory authority, understand, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Maintain professionalism, courtesy, and composure at all times, including emergency and high-stress situations.
• Operate standard office equipment, including a personal computer and related word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Type at a speed of 35 wpm.
• Work independently.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Establish and maintain courteous and effective working relationships staff, management, law enforcement officials, the public and others encountered during the course of work.
• Evaluate situations identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Provide excellent customer service skills.

Qualifications

• Any combination of experience and education that provides the qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Six months of experience working with the public preferred.
• The ability to speak Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Sign language is also preferred.
• Must be currently enrolled in at least six semester units of study at an accredited college or university and maintain a minimum of six units per semester in an accredited college or university.
• All college/university course must have been, and continue to be, accomplished with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or better.
• License and other requirements:
• Must possess a valid and appropriate California Class C driver's license and acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment in this class series.
• Must have reached the age of 18 at time of appointment.

Skills

• Knowledge of basic law enforcement functions.
• Organizational structure of the Police Department.
• Departmental recordkeeping practices.
• Proper English grammar, spelling, and punctuation for the purpose of completing various police reports.
• Effective customer service techniques.
• Ability to learn, understand, and apply laws, ordinances, department policies and procedures.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Read and write English using proper spelling and grammar.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Work well in the disciplined atmosphere of the Police Department and maintain high ethical standards.
• Accept supervisory authority, understand, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Maintain professionalism, courtesy, and composure at all times, including emergency and high-stress situations.
• Operate standard office equipment, including a personal computer and related word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Type at a speed of 35 wpm.
• Work independently.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Establish and maintain courteous and effective working relationships staff, management, law enforcement officials, the public and others encountered during the course of work.
• Evaluate situations identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
• Provide excellent customer service skills.

Benefits

• Retirement: The City provides a deferred compensation 457 plan administered by MissionSquare Retirement (formerly ICMA-RC).
• Part-time Employee Paid Sick Leave: Part-time employees are entitled to use accrued sick leave after 90 days of employment and are only permitted to use 40 hours of accrued sick leave time per year.

Pay

Pay details are not specified in the job posting.

Schedule

Schedule details are not specified in the job posting.

Application Instructions

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department webpage at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lahabraca. Completed applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, and will be reviewed periodically, so please apply immediately. This recruitment is subject to close at any time. The first review of applications will take place on September 26, 2024. Applications will be screened, and those applicants deemed best qualified will be invited to participate in a written exam and/or an oral interview. The final candidate must be able to successfully pass a Police Department pre-employment screening process and successfully complete a background including medical exam, drug screening, employment history verification, DMV check and will also be fingerprinted. If any accommodation is needed during the interviewing or testing process, please notify the Human Resources Department at least five days in advance of your scheduled appointment so that we may be able to provide a reasonable accommodation. This bulletin is not a contract, neither expressed nor implied. Any provision herein may be modified or revoked. Below is a list of key benefits offered to part-time, seasonal, and limited service employees of the City of La Habra and is only a summary of benefits. They are not intended to replace or modify the legal plan documents on file in the Human Resources Department.

Supplemental Information

• Special Requirement: Police Cadets must be able to work a flexible schedule including nights, holidays, and weekends to accommodate department needs.
• Physical Tasks and Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors in a front counter or office environment and may occasionally be performed outdoors with full exposure to the elements. Police Cadets may participate in training exercises which require them to successfully complete physical tests/tasks which include physical agility tests similar to POST's standards for a police officer.
• Specific Vision Abilities Required by this class include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data; thoroughly analyze and solve problems; use math and mathematical reasoning; establish priorities and work on multiple assignments and projects concurrently; and interact appropriately with law enforcement personnel, general public, and others in the course of work.
• Work Environment: These positions perform office and field work. When assigned to the office setting, the noise levels are typically quiet, at or below 85 decibels levels. When in the field, employees may be assigned to a police vehicle and are subject to variable weather conditions and traffic.
• Special Conditions: Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all La Habra city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster. The City of La Habra is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status or disability.