Police Officer - Lateral

About the role

The City of Scotts Valley offers a hiring bonus of $40,000, distributed over several years.

Responsibilities

• Patrol the city in radio dispatched vehicles and on foot.
• Answer calls for protection of life and property.
• Enforce City, State, and Federal laws.
• Operate radar equipment.
• Suppress crime through interrogation and observation.
• Provide emergency assistance and transport prisoners.
• Interview persons involved in crimes and accidents.
• Document incidents using computers.
• Perform security checks of public, commercial, and residential buildings.
• Observe assigned areas for suspicious activities and unsafe conditions.
• Participate in community-based policing and collaborative problem-solving.

Requirements

• Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C / Class 3).
• Possession of a current Basic POST Certificate.
• Current employment with a law enforcement agency.
• High school graduation or G.E.D. certificate/equivalent.
• Proof of being 21 years old by the date of hire.
• U.S. citizenship or application for citizenship within 3 years.
• A record free of felony convictions.
• To reside or be willing to relocate within a 60-minute drive to the police department.
• Physical health, strength, and agility necessary for police work.
• 20/40 or better vision for those not wearing corrective lenses.
• 20/20 vision in each eye and 20/40 or better in the worst eye for those wearing glasses.
• 20/20 vision in each eye and 20/200 or better in each eye without lenses for those wearing soft contact lenses.
• 20/40 vision or better without contact lenses for those that have had corrective surgery.
• Depth perception, peripheral vision, and color discrimination must be free of significant deficiencies.

Qualifications

• Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a current Basic POST Certificate.
• Licensure: Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C / Class 3).
• Education: High school graduation or G.E.D. certificate/equivalent.
• Experience: Current employment with a law enforcement agency.
• Age: Proof of being 21 years old by the date of hire.
• Citizenship: U.S. citizenship or application for citizenship within 3 years.
• Background: Record free of felony convictions.
• Residency: To reside or be willing to relocate within a 60-minute drive to the police department.
• Physical Fitness: Physical health, strength, and agility necessary for police work.

Skills

• Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with the public and other law enforcement agencies.
• Problem Solving: Ability to handle stressful situations and solve problems quickly and efficiently.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to interact professionally with colleagues and the public.
• Decision Making: Ability to make quick and effective decisions under pressure.
• Patience: Patience and calmness under stress.

Benefits

• Retirement: Participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).
• Health Insurance: Dental / Vision premiums paid by the City of Scotts Valley. Medical premiums paid by the City.
• Lifetime Insurance: $50,000 double indemnity policy.
• Long-term Disability: Premiums paid by the City of Scotts Valley.
• Uniform Allowance: Fully provided by the City of Scotts Valley, including cleaning.
• Vacation: Full-time employees are eligible for 80 hours of vacation per year up to 5 years of service; 120 hours from 5 to 10 years of service; 160 hours for 10 years of service; and 168 hours for 15 or more years of service.
• Holidays: Full-time employees are required to work holidays; however, officers receive 6% of base salary in lieu of holidays off. In addition, employees who work a twelve (12) hour shift on a City-recognized holiday (other than a floating holiday) will receive doubletime for the first four hours of work on the holiday, in addition to regular pay for the rest of the day worked.
• Longevity Pay: 2.5% @ 5 years. An additional 2.5% at the completion of 10 years. An additional 1% at 15 years.
• Sick Leave: Unlimited sick leave accumulation at ninety-six hours per year.
• Pre-tax Deductions: Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance Program.
• Deferred Compensation: Match up to $50.00 during the 1st and 2nd pay period of each month (up to a maximum of $100.00 per month) of an employee’s contribution.
• Bilingual Pay: Monthly allowance of $200 for bilingual speaking skills.
• Education Incentive: Monthly education incentive compensation for completing FTO.

Pay

Laterals are eligible for a salary range of $7,955 - $10,662 per month, with an automatic 8 hours of straight time each month due to a 3/12 shift and 9.5 hours of straight time for monthly holiday pay.

Schedule

All police patrol personnel currently work a 12 hour / 3-4 day work schedule.

Benefits

• Retirement: Participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).
• Health Insurance: Dental / Vision premiums paid by the City of Scotts Valley. Medical premiums paid by the City.
• Lifetime Insurance: $50,000 double indemnity policy.
• Long-term Disability: Premiums paid by the City of Scotts Valley.
• Uniform Allowance: Fully provided by the City of Scotts Valley, including cleaning.
• Vacation: Full-time employees are eligible for 80 hours of vacation per year up to 5 years of service; 120 hours from 5 to 10 years of service; 160 hours for 10 years of service; and 168 hours for 15 or more years of service.
• Holidays: Full-time employees are required to work holidays; however, officers receive 6% of base salary in lieu of holidays off. In addition, employees who work a twelve (12) hour shift on a City-recognized holiday (other than a floating holiday) will receive doubletime for the first four hours of work on the holiday, in addition to regular pay for the rest of the day worked.
• Longevity Pay: 2.5% @ 5 years. An additional 2.5% at the completion of 10 years. An additional 1% at 15 years.
• Sick Leave: Unlimited sick leave accumulation at ninety-six hours per year.
• Pre-tax Deductions: Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Assistance Program.
• Deferred Compensation: Match up to $50.00 during the 1st and 2nd pay period of each month (up to a maximum of $100.00 per month) of an employee’s contribution.
• Bilingual Pay: Monthly allowance of $200 for bilingual speaking skills.
• Education Incentive: Monthly education incentive compensation for completing FTO.

Application and Testing Process

• Required to fill out and complete a City application.
• Personal History Statement (PHS) – Peace Officer required to be completed and emailed to the police department’s Administrative Secretary at clocke@scottsvalley.gov.
• Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to Personnel at the time of application.
• After reading this announcement, if you have further questions, call (831) 440-5649.
• Candidates will be required to participate in a pre-screening interview.
• Those who pass the pre-screening interview will be placed on an eligibility list until such time as a position is available.
• Eligibility list candidates will be invited to a selection interview to assess an applicant's experience, education, judgment, oral communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
• All candidates who receive a score of 80% or more on the selection interview will be placed on a hiring list.
• As openings occur, top candidates will be selected for a background investigation in accordance with the POST Commission and Peace Officer Background Investigations Guidelines.
• Candidates will also be required to successfully complete, to the satisfaction of this department, a polygraph test administered by a licensed polygrapher, a psychological exam given by a City selected psychologist, and a medical exam by a City selected physician (to include a back X-ray and general physical examination).
• In addition to the qualifications noted above, suitability for employment will also be based on the following POST job dimensions: moral character, handling stress and adversity, work habits, interactions with others, and intellectually based abilities.

Pre-employment Policy Regarding Illegal Drug Use or Possession

• Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within seven (7) years prior to application for employment.
• Any adult use or possession of marijuana within two (2) years prior to application for employment.
• Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above, (including cocaine) within three (3) years prior to application for employment.
• Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in the capacity of a police officer, licensed security officer, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses of/or related to the criminal justice field.
• Any illegal juvenile use or possession of a drug.
• Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the automatic disqualifiers specified above; e.g., marijuana use 2 years prior to application for employment.
• Failure to divulge to the Police Department during the background investigation any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.