Job Details

Police Officer (Recruit)

Interested in making a difference in the community? The Vallejo Police Department is seeking highly motivated individuals who can demonstrate sound judgment, have superior decision-making skills, and who are eager to participate in a high level of community collaboration, strategic partnerships, and progressive problem solving.

The position is a trainee-level, non-safety assignment, and employees will be completing a POST certified Basic Police Academy (POST Academy), or those who are currently enrolled in an academy, and as such are considered temporary, at-will employees serving at the pleasure of the hiring authority. Assignment to this classification is limited to a maximum of one year. A Police Officer (Recruit) who fails to successfully complete the academy will be terminated.

Provide quality service to the citizens of Vallejo using modern 21st Century Policing methods in the department's mission to reduce crime. Make a difference in the community with a progressive, forward-thinking organization in an environment that embraces diversity, creativity, and respect.

The Vallejo Police Department's mission is to provide professional law enforcement services that enhance, protect, and promote the quality of life for people residing, visiting, or doing business in the City of Vallejo. As an integral part of the community the Vallejo Police Department is committed to providing a highly professional, ethical and quality Police service. The proud men and women of the Department are dedicated to maintaining law and order by proactively addressing crime, protecting welfare, property, and the rights of all people. In partnership with the community, community groups and other city departments, the Vallejo Police Department continually endeavors to improve its service, making Vallejo a safe place to live, work and visit.

Important responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 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.
• Assist in processing, packaging, labeling, storing and destroying property and evidence; may provide assistance with photocopies, files, indexes and locating police records and related paperwork.
• Perform errands for the department such as transporting information and paperwork to court and district attorney offices; perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Basic law enforcement grammar, composition, spelling and punctuation;
• Basic mathematics;
• Effective communications and public speaking;
• Effective problem-solving techniques;
• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts;
• Basic computer operating systems and software applications related to the work.

Ability to:

• Successfully complete the POST Basic Police Academy;
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Learn, understand and interpret laws and regulations;
• Learn to implement and enforce laws, policies, regulations, guidelines and orders concerning the protection of life, property and the maintenance of law, order and peace with a 21st Century Community Policing mind-set;
• Observe and accurately recall names, faces, numbers, incidents and places;
• Think and act quickly in emergency situations;
• Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action;
• Exercise sound judgment, often under pressure;
• Understand and carry out written and oral directions;
• Write at a fast rate of speed to prepare accurate and factual written reports;
• Perform basic math computations;
• Safely operate motor vehicles;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, supervisors, public officials and representative of other agencies;
• Utilize computers and computer software, as required;
• Learn to meet the minimum standards of use with department-issued or approved lethal and non-lethal weapons;
• Perform in specialized assignments as required.

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• A High School diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• Completion of 39 semester units or equivalent from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.

Other requirements include:

• Possession of a valid California driver's license
• Be 20 years old at the time of appointment, and at least 21 years of age upon POST Academy graduation
• Vision correctable to 20/20 in both eyes with normal color vision
• Must be eligible for U.S. citizenship upon academy graduation
• No felony convictions
• No misdemeanor convictions which mandate weapons prohibitions

In order to be considered for the position, you must complete and submit the following: Failure to attach the required documents will result in disqualification. The Recruitment & Selection Process includes:

• Completed City of Vallejo application
• Completed Supplemental/Personal History Questionnaire

If you have completed a POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLET-B) and received a T-Score of 45 or higher or you have completed a National Testing Network Law Enforcement exam with a reading score 70% or above, a written score 70% or above, and a video score of 65% or above, and have completed the Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) and received a score of 320 or higher, you may submit these scores at the time of application. If you do not have these scores at the time of application because your scheduled testing date is after your application date, you may email your scores to YIssa Barajas, Personnel Technician, at yissa.barajas@cityofvallejo.net once they have been sent to you. A PELLETB or NTN passing score along with a WSTB passing score, is required to move forward in the selection process.

A resume cannot be substituted for any portion of the application process (i.e., the official application and responses to the supplemental questions). If you have problems creating a user account, obtaining your already created account information, or submitting your online application, please contact governmentjobs.com applicant support directly at 855-524-5627. City of Vallejo staff are unable to assist with these issues.

Applications are accepted and reviewed in conjunction with Police Academy admission cycles. Applicants may be chosen to attend one of the four following Police Academies:

• Alameda County Police Academy
• Contra Costa County Police Academy
• Sacramento Police Academy
• Sacramento Sheriff's Office Police Academy

Academy selection is based on admission cycle and availability. Applicant Screening and Assessment: Application screening will be conducted to evaluate each candidates' supplemental/personal history questionnaire responses, educational course work, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position that may include but are not limited to:

• Education, GPA of 2.0 or higher
• College enrollment
• Academy enrollment or possession of a POST Basic Academy Certificate
• Valid California driver license
• Citizenship
• Criminal history

Individuals who are found to be the most qualified will be invited to participate in an oral panel interview. Oral panel interviews are weighted at 100% of a candidates score. Those whom have scored the highest will be placed on the register of eligibles and referred to the department for further consideration. Background Investigation: The most qualified candidates will be provided a conditional offer letter and invited to move forward in the selection process to a background investigation in accordance with applicable law, regulation and/or policy. Candidates will be required to complete and submit a State of California Personal History Statement (POST Form 2-251 Rev. 01/2024). The information that you provide in the Personal History Statement will be used in the background investigation to assist in determining your suitability for the position of Police Officer (Recruit), in accordance with POST Commission Regulation 1953. Background investigations will also include live scan fingerprinting, and polygraph examination. Those candidates who pass the background investigation portion of the selection process may be invited to a Chief's interview. Based on a candidates suitability as determined by the background investigation and Chief's interview, a pre-placement psychological and medical examination would be the next step in the selection process.

The City of Vallejo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Vallejo to provide equal employment opportunity for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender