Police Officer (Lateral)
Continue your career in law enforcement with the Town of Los Gatos. Placement within the pay range depends on experience.
Pay
$66.19-$80.46 per hour plus excellent benefits.
About the role
The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno (LGMS) Police Department is dedicated to serving and protecting the community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. We are accepting applications from lateral police officers who are equally committed to providing the highest quality of service to our community and thrive in a fast-paced work environment. The Police Officer classification series offers career growth opportunities for both new professionals and those with more work experience.
The Department has a culture of promoting from within and offers different opportunities to broaden and gain specialized experience, including:
- Crisis Response Team
- Bicycle Team
- Collision Reconstruction Team
- Defense Tactics Instructor
- Peer Support Team
- Crime Scene Investigation Team
- Crisis Negotiations Team
- Task Force Officer
- Explorer Police Advisor
- Crisis Intervention Team
- Homeless Liaison
Specialized Assignments (receive additional 5% incentive pay):
- Canine Officer
- School Resource Officer
- Motorcycle Officer
- Field Training Officer (FTO)
- Investigations
About the Department
The Town of Los Gatos and the City of Monte Sereno have a combined population of about 34,000 residents who enjoy a high quality of life with low crime rates. The LGMS Police Department is budgeted for 39 sworn and 21 civilian personnel and has over 50 community volunteers. The members of the LGMS Police Department work hard to provide a full range of services and are committed to providing residents, businesses, and visitors with the highest quality service.
The Police Department’s vision includes:
- Building a highly competent, professional police department.
- Building community relationships.
- Engaging in community problem solving.
About the Town
The Town of Los Gatos is a general law city operating under the Council/Manager form of government. The Town’s 200 full- and part-time employees are organized into the following departments: Parks & Public Works, Community Development, Police, Library, and Administrative Services. The Town’s fiscal year 2023/24 General Fund budget is $56.1 million.
Responsibilities
Under general supervision, police officers perform various peace officer duties involving protecting life and property, enforcing laws and ordinances, criminal investigation, traffic control, crime prevention and suppression. Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Identify problems or issues that are important to the community, and seek resolution of such problems through the resources of the Police Department, other Town Departments, and/or governmental agencies.
- Conduct preliminary or follow-up investigations of burglaries, thefts, robberies, deaths, accidents, and other disturbances.
- Collect and present evidence and testify at hearings and in court in connection with criminal prosecutions.
- Answer calls for protection of life and property in the enforcement of Town, County and State laws.
- Initiate or maintain the custody of prisoners and transport to jail.
Officers must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays. There is an 18-month probationary period. This position is a non-exempt classification represented by the Los Gatos Police Officers' Association (POA).
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
Lateral Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration, applicants must possess a California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate and have successfully completed probation with a California law enforcement agency.
- Graduation from high school or equivalent, and;
- At least one of the following criteria:
- 60 semester college credits or 90 quarter college credits from a U.S. accredited college or university at time of graduation from academy. (Police Academy credits are accepted as part of the education requirements);
- Military Veteran with four (4) or more years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, or the National Coast Guard and an honorable discharge;
- Three (3) years experience as a Police Officer.
Desired Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- Ability to fluently speak and understand a foreign language.