Police Officer Trainee

About the role

A Police Officer Trainee is a non-sworn full-time employee of the City and is eligible for pay and benefits.

The City of Petaluma offers a wide-ranging, comprehensive benefit package including CalPERS retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, etc.

Responsibilities

• Ride with officers to observe and learn peace officer responsibilities and techniques;
• Operate police information equipment including computer systems, teletypes, and telephones to enter and research information at the direction of an officer or police civilian;
• Aid in processing, packaging, labeling, storing and destroying property and evidence;
• Photocopy, file, index, and locate police records and related paperwork;
• Clean and assist in maintenance of police officer equipment and firearms;
• Perform errands for the department such as transporting information and paperwork to court and district attorney offices;
• Issue bicycle licenses and assist in processing of recovered stolen bicycles;
• Aid in a wide variety of other tasks in the department as assigned;
• Provide traffic direction and control for special events.

Requirements

• Be at least 21 years of age at the time of graduation from the Police Academy;
• Have education equivalent to completion of high school;
• Possess a valid California Driver License;
• Pass the POST PELLET B with a score of 42 or higher and attach the score to your application;
• Understand and agree to pass the physical ability test as part of the POST Basic Police Academy;
• Agree to undergo a comprehensive background investigation, including fingerprinting and a polygraph examination.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• No Degree

Skills

• Computer skills
• Communication skills
• Physical fitness
• Attention to detail

Benefits

• CalPERS Retirement: 3% at 55 for "classic" members, 2.7% at 57 for new members.
• CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents.
• Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: receive 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and Dental premium as cash payment (with proof of other insurance for employee and eligible dependents).
• Dental/Vision/Life/LTD Insurance: paid 100% by City.
• Holiday Pay: 156 hours per year.
• Sick Leave: earn 96 hours per year with unlimited accrual.
• Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn hours at 1.5 times actual hours worked up to 240 hours.
• Vacation Time: earn 80-200 hours per year depending on years of service.
• Paid Parental Leave - up to 8 weeks (or equivalent hours) of paid time for qualified family bonding.
• $500 Annual Wellness Reimbursement.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Pay

Average Base Salary Range For Police Officer Is $102,606.40 - $124,779.20 annually (+2% COLA in July 2027).

Schedule

Sworn Police Officer uniform pay: 1.5% of Step 5 of Police Officer annual salary.

POST Certificate Pay: 5% for POST Intermediate Certificate, 7% for POST Advanced or Supervisory Certificates.

Bilingual Pay: up to $200 per month.

Field Training Officer, Traffic Officer, Detective, K-9 Officer: 5% as assigned.

SWAT: 2.5% as assigned.

Shift Differential: 3% if assigned to swing shift, 5% if assigned to graveyard shift.

Longevity Pay: 5% after 5 years, 10% after 8 years, 12.5% after 15 years of service with the City.