Police Officer (Academy Graduate)

About the role

The City of Escondido seeks to hire a Police Officer (Academy Graduate) to join its dedicated team. The position involves patrolling assigned areas, enforcing laws, making arrests, protecting life and property, and performing related duties.

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned areas by car, bike, motorcycle, or on foot.
• Answers calls for assistance, including investigating crimes, deaths, accidents, and injuries.
• Enforces traffic laws, directs traffic, and enforces traffic violations.
• Performs arrests for all criminal violations of law.
• Testifies in court regarding the prosecution of offenders.
• Serves warrants and subpoenas.
• Administers first aid in emergency cases.
• Investigates domestic disturbances, animal complaints, health code violations, and local ordinance violations.
• Investigates suspicious circumstances.
• Takes custody of stolen, lost, or found property and evidence.
• Performs crowd control, parade, or riot work.
• Takes crime prevention measures and assists in controlling juvenile delinquency.
• Conducts detective work in criminal investigations and identification work.
• Transports prisoners to be booked at the county jail.
• Furnishes information and directions to the public.
• Submits complete written reports on all cases investigated.
• Participates in required training courses and programs.
• Provides vacation and temporary relief as assigned.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Graduated from a POST Certified California Police Academy within the past three years, or currently enrolled in an extended format academy.
• Not convicted of a felony by any State or Federal Government.
• Good moral character as determined by a polygraph examination and a thorough background investigation.
• Successfully completed requirements of medical and psychological evaluations.
• Authorized to work in the United States.
• Must not be less than 21 years of age at time of appointment.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles, methods, materials, equipment, and techniques of peace officers.
• Crime scene procedures.
• Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information on peace officers.
• State and federal statutes and case law covering contraband, drugs, and the use of physical evidence in court.
• Police Department policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and unit functions.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Customer service principles and techniques.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise police reports.
• To interpret, apply, and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• To analyze emergency situations and adopt quick, reasonable, and effective courses of action.
• To respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Knowledge of recent developments, current literature, and sources of information on peace officers.
• Knowledge of state and federal statutes and case law covering contraband, drugs, and the use of physical evidence in court.
• Knowledge of police department policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and unit functions.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
• Knowledge of office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Knowledge of customer service principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise police reports.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Ability to analyze emergency situations and adopt quick, reasonable, and effective courses of action.
• Ability to respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.

Skills

• Clear and concise communication skills.
• Ability to lift and move objects of moderate to heavy weight.
• Calm and professional demeanor.
• Ability to operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing software applications.
• Awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity.
• Ability to participate in required training courses and programs.
• Ability to provide vacation and temporary relief as assigned.

Benefits

The City of Escondido offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and more. Details can be found in the job description or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Pay

The starting salary for this position is $75,000 annually, with opportunities for advancement based on performance and experience.

Schedule

Officers work a rotating schedule that includes days, nights, and weekends, with varying shifts depending on department needs.

Testing Dates

Physical Agility/PIQ: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Oral Interviews: Monday, August 24, 2026