Police Officer Trainee

START AN EXCITING NEW CAREER WITH THE PALO ALTO POLICE DEPARTMENT!

We are looking for men and women from all backgrounds who welcome a challenge, and who will uphold our mission statement, "To proudly protect and serve the public with respect and integrity." To those who accept this challenge, we offer great pay and benefits, ample opportunities for specialty assignments and advancement, outstanding training, and the privilege to serve the community of Palo Alto.

The Palo Alto Police Department is dedicated to providing the highest level of police services to our community. Objectivity, integrity, equality, justice and honor are our guiding values in executing our duties and obligations, while ensuring the continuation of excellent customer service.

Learn more about our exceptional Palo Alto Police Department - PAPD

Ideal Candidate:
Palo Alto is looking for dynamic, community oriented individuals with a progressive team oriented approach. The ideal candidate will have a sense of service, dedication, and commitment to providing quality customer service. We are looking for community oriented individuals with strong ethics and a commitment to integrity.

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Attends P.O.S.T. certified basic academy, participating in and passing all required classes.
• During training develops awareness and understanding of the functions and responsibilities of Police Officers.
• Academy training may include:
  • Instruction on proper handling and firing of firearms;
  • Review of radio codes and applicable Penal Code sections;
  • Overview of the court system;
  • Writing and editing police reports;
  • Observing law enforcement activities such as maintenance of order, crime prevention, and protection of citizens and property;
  • Review of rules, regulations, and procedures;
  • Developing and maintaining high level of physical fitness; and
  • Learning and demonstrating competence in arrest and control technique.

Follow the link to view entire job description - Police Officer Trainee.

Under close supervision, this position attends a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.)certified police academy, participating in and passing all required classes for a period of approximately 25-27 weeks. Upon successful completion of academy, incumbent becomes a probationary Police Officer.

To be considered for an entry-level position, the following requirements must be met:

• Must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment
• Citizenship:
  Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien or have applied for citizenship.
• Must possess a California driver's license
• Must not have any felony convictions
• Must be able to legally posses a firearm in the State of California
• Take the POST examination (see below)
• Take a Physical Agility Test (See below)

If your NEOGOV application is accepted and you are selected to go to the next phrase of testing, you will be notified by email to complete a POST PHS and submit it with the results from your POST examination and physical agility testing. The test results can not be more than a year old. Below is information on how to take the POST written exam and the physical agility test:

Take the POST examination

In order to be considered for employment as a police officer in Palo Alto, you must take the POST exam. The POST examination is administered at South Bay Regional Public Safety Consortium at560 Bailey Avenue in San Jose, however, we will accept results from any agency, as long as it isthe California POST exam. Please register for the examination online at  We require a "T" score of 50 or higher that is not more than a year old.

Take a Physical Agility Test

We require the passing of a Physical Agility Test (WSTB) which is also given by South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium, however, we will accept results from any agency, as long as it is the same tests given re is a fee and you must register on-line via the SBRPSTC website at  The results of the test will be mailed directly to you within two weeks of the initial testing date.

Please provide us with a copy of the results along with your application. The minimum entry level requirement for the WSTB test is 384 and a 14minute maximum time for the 1.5 mile run.

Special Requirements :
Pre-employment: ability to pass drug and alcohol test.

Possession of a valid California Driver's License. Weight in proportion to height; normal color vision; visual rating not exceeding 20/100 uncorrected, correctable to 20/30 in both eyes. Citizenship:
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident alien or have applied for citizenship.

Our online application system is provided byNeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact

NeoGov'sLive Applicant Support at  between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with…