Police Officer - Trainee

If you practice integrity, professionalism, and respect in all you do, we encourage you to begin your law enforcement career with the Walnut Creek Police Department today! We are a thriving, vibrant, and community-oriented City, committed to providing the highest level of police services to the Walnut Creek community.

To join us, start by taking your P.O.S.T. Entry Level Law Enforcement Test (Pellet-B exam), and then apply today with a T-Score of 50 or above. As a Police Officer – Trainee, the City of Walnut Creek will compensate you at an hourly rate while you attend the Police Academy as a Walnut Creek Police Department sponsored trainee. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to join the WCPD family as a sworn Police Officer with our generous salary and benefits package!

Already enrolled in a Police Academy? You’re welcome to apply here, also! Read more about whether your current experience meets requirements for the Police Officer – Trainee recruitment below (under “Qualification Guidelines”). Walnut Creek Police Officers serve in patrol, traffic, and investigation assignments. Fixed sectors are assigned and patrol officers are responsible for providing patrol, investigation, crime prevention, juvenile, traffic, and public assistance on their sector.

Investigative and traffic personnel are available for assistance when needed.

In addition to patrol duties, officers may have special and collateral assignments such as:

• Detectives
• K9
• Motor Team
• Regional SWAT Team
• Bomb Squad
• Drone Team
• Firearms Instructor
• Defensive Tactics
• Drivers Training
• Peer Support Team
• Social Media Team
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Police Information Technology Team

New officers receive field training from an experienced Walnut Creek Police Officer prior to assuming the responsibility of a solo sector patrol officer. Police Officers at this department are scheduled to work three days per week for shifts of 12.5 hours each day.

Police Officer - Trainees are assigned to attend a P.O.S.T. certified police academy. The next two scheduled courses tentatively begin in June and November 2024. During the academy program, Police Officer-Trainees receive the academic and physical training required for appointment to the position of Police Officer. Police Officer-Trainees are temporary employees and receive Workers' Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, and paid sick leave.

In addition, pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, this position is eligible to enroll in the City sponsored Kaiser High Deductible Health Plan. (

Note:

Employee contributions are required and differ from those applicable to Police Officers appointed to a regular sworn position).

Upon successful completion of the academy, Police Officer-Trainees are then eligible to be appointed as a Police Officer and begin serving a probationary period at the City of Walnut Creek. At the time of appointment to a regular position, new Police Officers will be informed of all City employment rights and benefits available to regular employees. Please visit the City’s Human Resources website to view the Police Officer classification's salary and benefits information.

Please see the Police Officer class specification for a complete description of this classification's representative duties, requirements, working conditions, and physical requirements. The classification of Police Officer at the City of Walnut Creek requires the following two elements of Education.
Candidates must meet both criteria below in order to move forward in the selection process for Police Officer - Trainee:

Education:

• High school graduation (or equivalent);
• Completion of 60 semester units from a recognized college or university (up to 15 units from the police academy may be combined with other college units to meet the 60 semester units).

To qualify for this Police Officer – Trainee recruitment process, you must also meet the following requirements (a. through c.):
a. Either you are interested in enrolling in a Police Academy, or you are already enrolled in a Police Academy, or you are currently a Police Officer outside of California and you do not have a California P.O.S.T waiver; b. You are 20 years and 6 months of age at the time of…