Police Officer; Lateral​/Academy Graduate

Fountain Valley Police Department

The City of Fountain Valley is nestled in the heart of Orange County, California. With approximately 60,000 residents, we are a mid-sized, full-service Police Department that proudly serves our wonderful community, dedicated to protecting life, property, and public safety. With City events like our Summerfest and Concerts in the Park, we actively participate alongside community members to build a safe and vibrant City.

The City of Fountain Valley is only 7 miles from the beach with countless restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping centers, and Disneyland within 15 miles radius of the city, providing many options for a rich work-life balance.

The Fountain Valley Police Department's mission is to demonstrate the courage to protect life and property in our community; the dut
y to provide the highest quality of service in a fair, impartial and ethical manner; and the commitment to take a leadership role in providing public safety and quality of life in a manner that will preserve public trust.

Headed by Chief of Police Craig Heredia, the Police Department is comprised of dedicated sworn and non-sworn professionals, including 2 Captains, 3 Lieutenants, 10 Sergeants, 9 Corporals, 40 Police Officers, a Support Services Manager & Support Services Supervisor, Dispatchers (full and part-time), a Crime Analyst, an Identification Technician, Record Clerks, Community Services Officers, Cadets, Police Services Officers, and administrative staff.

Are you looking to do meaningful police work in a department where your voice matters, your leadership is visible, and your work truly impacts the community you serve? Join a tight-knit Southern California police department
where professionalism, trust, and balance are more than buzzwords - they're how we operate every day. We are currently recruiting experienced lateral police officers and recent police academy graduates who are motivated, community-oriented, and ready to be part of a supportive, forward-thinking agency.

• We offer a Hiring Incentive Bonus!!
  • Lateral Police Officers - $10,000 paid in two (2) installments: $5,000 plus 40 hours of compensatory time at the time of hire and $5,000 after successful completion of the probationary period. Prior sworn law enforcement service will be considered for Longevity Pay (5 years=5%; 10 years=7%; 15 years=8%; 20 years=9% of base pay)
  • Police Officer Academy Graduates - $5,000
    paid in two (2) Installments: $2,500 at the time of hire and $2,500 after successfully completing the probationary period.
• Build a stable, meaningful career with competitive pay and benefits (See "Benefits" tab for more details regarding our comprehensive total compensation package).
• Specialties:
  General Detectives, Crime Suppression Unit Detectives, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Traffic including motorcycle, Regional Narcotics Program, S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics – part of West County), Drone Operator, and Canine.
• Special Compensation:
  Police Officers will be eligible for the following special compensation if certain criteria are met. Please refer to the POA MOU for more details.

• P.O.S.T. Certification Pay:
  Intermediate is 5%;
  Advanced is 12% of base salary
• Physical Fitness/Wellness pay of $495 per month
• Special Assignment Pay (Canine Officer, Detective, SRO, FTO, Traffic, SWAT)
• Bilingual premium up to $200 per month depending on qualification level

• A Department That Knows Your Name - Our size allows for strong relationships - between officers, leadership, and the community. You are not a number here; you are a valued professional.
• Community-Focused Policing:
  Serve a community that genuinely supports its police department. Officers are…