Police Officer (Pre-Service)(Police Academy Graduate)

About the role

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno (LGMS) Police Department is seeking Pre-Service Police Officers to join our team. The department is dedicated to serving and protecting the community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion.

Responsibilities

• Identify problems or issues that are important to the community, and seek resolution 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.

Requirements

• To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed the Basic Police Academy within the past year OR are currently enrolled in a California Basic Police Academy (unaffiliated) within at least 4 weeks of completing instructions and in good standing with the Academy.
• Must be 21 years of age at time of appointment as a sworn Police Officer.
• Must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent alien who is eligible for and applied for citizenship.
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License at time of appointment.
• Graduation from high school or equivalent;
• 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.
• 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.

Qualifications

• REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed the Basic Police Academy within the past year OR are currently enrolled in a California Basic Police Academy (unaffiliated) within at least 4 weeks of completing instructions and in good standing with the Academy, and; Must be 21 years of age at time of appointment as a sworn Police Officer Must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent alien who is eligible for and applied for citizenship. Possession of a valid California Driver’s License at time of appointment. 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); or 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.
• DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Ability to fluently speak and understand a foreign language.

Benefits

Plus excellent benefits. Placement within the range depends on experience.

Pay

• New Salary Effective July 2025: $63.65-$77.36 per hour
• New Salary Effective July 2026: $66.19-$80.46 per hour

Schedule

• Officers must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Application and Selection Process

• To Be Considered For This Career Opportunity, Click On The "Apply" Button To Complete The Online Application, And Attach Copies Of Your California P.O.S.T Basic Certificate or P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver, or proof of completion of the P.O.S.T. Requalification process.
• Current WSTB (Agility Test) score dated within one year.
• Resumes may be attached but not accepted in place of a complete online application.
• Only complete applications will be accepted.
• Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee continuation in the process. Only the most qualified applicants with the most relevant experience and education will be invited to continue in the selection process.
• The testing process may include, but is not limited to a phone interview, personal history questionnaire, and oral panel interview.
• Final candidates for the position will be subject to a thorough background investigation, including, but not limited to criminal history; Department of Justice fingerprinting; medical exam, including drug screening; polygraph; and psychological exam.

Bargaining Unit

Bargaining Unit: Los Gatos Police Officers' Association (POA)

Additional Information

• Please refer to the Benefit Summaries posted on the Town of Los Gatos Human Resources Department Webpage.
• If you were referred by an employee of the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department, please provide their name. Write N/A if you were not referred by an employee.