Police Officer Recruit

You must have taken and passed the Police Officer Recruit examination for further consideration.

Requirements

• Applicants will be hired as a Police Officer Recruit and must successfully complete a twenty-four (24) week P.O.S.T. Basic Course Police Academy.
• Upon satisfactory graduation from a P.O.S.T. Basic Course Police Academy, a Police Officer Recruit meeting the requirements of the Police Officer classification shall be advanced to the career classification of Police Officer.
• Must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, psychological test, credit check, and a drug use history.

For more information regarding the Police Officer or Community Service Officer II positions, visit the following links:

• Police Officer Classification Specification
• Community Service Officer II

About the Role

Under close supervision, Police Officer Recruits participate in a basic law enforcement training program at the Sacramento Police Academy. Recruits gain an understanding of police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, and acquire physical and emotional skills needed to successfully complete the police academy. They may perform non-sworn, non-hazardous duties in support of a variety of police operations.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Police Officer Recruit is a non-career developmental classification used to recruit and train qualified candidates to learn the duties of a Police Officer or Community Service Officer II in the Sacramento Police Department. Incumbents undergo a formal, comprehensive training program in a State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Police Academy. They must demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in required physical agility testing before and during the academy, with ongoing physical training as a required skill set.

Upon satisfactory graduation, a Police Officer Recruit will advance to the career classification of Police Officer. Incumbents promoted to CSO II must attend accredited college-level courses to satisfy the minimum qualification requirements of the Police Officer classification within their limited-term appointment. Employees shall not remain classified as Police Officer Recruit for more than one year unless invited to participate in an additional academy. Advancement is dependent on satisfactory job performance, and failure to graduate or meet progress requirements may result in termination.

Supervision

Immediate supervision is provided by higher-level sworn or civilian personnel.

Responsibilities

• Learn and apply knowledge of the Sacramento Police Department's organization, chain of command, and rules and regulations.
• Learn, identify, and emulate principles and techniques that promote community service, crime prevention, and appropriate behavior.
• Learn and apply knowledge of enforcement and procedural aspects of criminal law and the legal obligations inherent in enforcement.
• Learn and apply knowledge of the proficient application of the rules of evidence.
• Receive training in and practice effective and professional communications through written, oral, and mechanical media.
• Learn to recognize vehicle violations, locate them in the Vehicle Code, and, under supervision, safely and professionally contact violators.
• Participate in and assist with basic criminal investigation processes and techniques, including identification, collection, and preservation of evidence, courtroom testimony, and witness interrogation.
• Learn and practice physical fitness and defense techniques programs.
• Learn and practice first-aid, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation techniques.
• Assist in routine investigations, preparing non-injury police reports, responding to fire alarms, street hazards, and found property calls.
• Assist in traffic and non-violent crowd control duties.
• Transport citizens, personnel, and equipment as directed.

Qualifications

Ability to:

• Acquire, through training, knowledge of modern approved principles, practices, and procedures of police work, state laws, City ordinances, first-aid, the geography of the City, and the location of important buildings.
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly, and with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
• Read and interpret complex technical documents in English.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Observe, assimilate, remember, record, and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Read maps and mapped information.
• Apply selected knowledge (e.g., laws, statutes, court decisions, department policies, criminal investigation theories) in collecting, organizing, and analyzing information to decide on an appropriate course of action.
• Analyze problems and rationally and calmly take effective action in emergency and stress situations.
• Plan and effectively present material orally to diverse groups.
• Deal courteously but firmly with the general public.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and other City employees.
• Undergo strenuous physical conditioning.

Education and Experience

• Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent.
• Experience: No experience required.

Special Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age by the time of appointment.
• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment.
• Work in this class requires wearing respiratory protective equipment at times. Facial hair must be shaven when it interferes with the safe fitting of such equipment.
• Free of felony convictions under California Government Code Section 1029.
• Must pass a background investigation, including a criminal history check, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and drug use history.
• Must pass a medical examination, drug test, and psychological test.
• Eligible to enroll in an accredited college or university. This is a developmental classification designed to attract and retain persons with the desire and potential to be appointed to the Police Officer classification while working to satisfy its minimum qualification requirements. Failure to make satisfactory progress may result in termination.

Physical Requirements

• Sit, stand, walk, run, reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, squat, and crouch in daily activities.
• Grasp, use repetitive hand movements, and demonstrate fine coordination in report preparation and computer keyboard use.
• Hear and speak for interacting with the public and others, and to hear sirens.
• Depth perception, near, far, night, peripheral, and color vision for viewing crime scenes or evidence.
• Walk on uneven and slippery surfaces.
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

Environmental Conditions

• Work outdoors in all weather conditions, around loud siren noise, moving vehicles, and animals.
• Exposed to controlled temperature conditions in an office environment and unpredictable work conditions in the field, including physical threats, verbal abuse, and stressful situations.
• May work around chemicals, blood, and other potential toxic exposures.