Police Officer

Overview

The Sacramento Police Department is seeking candidates to become Police Officer Recruits. Candidates must have passed the Police Officer Recruit examination and will complete a 24‑week P.O.S.T. Basic Course Police Academy. Successful completion leads to advancement to a Police Officer or Community Service Officer II classification.

• 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 in enforcement of those laws.
• Learn and apply knowledge of proficiency in 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 the violator.
• Participate and assist in applying 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.
• Other related duties may also be performed; duties may include, but are not limited to, assisting in routine investigations, preparing non‑injury police reports, responding to fire alarms, street hazards and found property calls, traffic and non‑violent crowd control duties, and transporting citizens, personnel, and equipment.

• Acquire, through training, knowledge of modern police practices, state laws, city ordinances, first‑aid, geography of the City, and locations of important buildings.
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly, and with correct English grammatical construction and spelling.
• Read and interpret complex technical documents in English and 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 (laws, statutes, court decisions, department policies, criminal investigation theories) in collecting, organizing, and analyzing information to decide on appropriate courses of action.
• Analyze problems and have the potential to act rationally and calmly in emergency and stressful situations.
• Plan and present material orally to diverse groups and 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.
• Must have a valid California Class C Driver License at the time of appointment.

High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent. No experience required.

• Must be at least 18 years old by the time of appointment.
• Free of felony convictions under California Government Code Section 1029.
• Must pass a background investigation, including a criminal history check for job‑related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, credit check, and drug use history.
• Must pass a medical examination, drug test, and psychological test.
• Work in this class requires wearing respiratory protective equipment at times; facial hair must be shaven when it interferes with the safe fitting of respiratory protective equipment.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

The position requires sitting, standing, walking, running, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, crouching, and grasping. Repetitive hand movements and fine coordination are required for report preparation and computer use. Hearing and speaking are required for interacting with the public and hearing sirens. Must have depth perception, near, far, night, peripheral, and color vision for crime scene and evidence work. May be required to walk on uneven and slippery surfaces.

Incumbents work outdoors in all weather conditions, around loud siren noise, moving vehicles, and animals. They are exposed to controlled temperature office environments and unpredictable situations, including physical threats, verbal abuse, and stress. Chemical, blood, and other potential toxic exposures are possible.

The City of Sacramento is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex, and sexual orientation.