Police Officer Recruit - Non-Academy Graduate

Police Officer Recruit Program

The Morro Bay Police Department is offering an opportunity for training, experience, and advancement into a sworn peace officer position through the department's Police Officer Recruit Program.

The Police Recruit Program consists of three phases that allow an individual to enter the police department as a non-sworn employee and be provided with the training and the experience as a contract Community Service Officer to showcase ability and readiness to enter a CA POST Police Academy.

Phase 1

Applicants will apply for the position of a Police Officer Recruit. Applicants who pass the application screening will be invited to an interview and assessment process. Upon successful completion of the application and testing process, the applicant will be required to submit to a police background investigation, medical examination, and psychological examination. The applicant who successfully completes phase one will be listed as an entry-level police recruit and moved to phase 2.

Phase 2

Police Officer Recruit will be offered a one-year contract for a position as a Community Service Officer (CSO). The purpose of the one-year contract is to give the police recruit the opportunity to learn and gain experience in general field operations associated with being a police officer. The police recruit will be providing instruction and training to work successfully in the role of a CSO. This is a contract opportunity to showcase the police recruit's abilities to receive training, provide service to the community, adhere to department policy, and demonstrate a good work ethic. A CSO responds to calls for service, communicates with the public, writes detailed reports, issues administrative citations, applies de-escalation tactics, and completes assigned department tasks. This is a non-sworn position working within the Operations / Patrol Division under general supervision of an assigned Police Sergeant or the Police Commander. This position will conduct and perform essential non-hazardous police duties.

Key Responsibilities :

• Conducts investigations and writes police reports for minor crimes and incidents.
• Performs fingerprinting.
• Photographs individuals and evidence.
• Assists in retention, processing, transporting, returning, and disposal of evidence.
• Performs traffic control duties including directing traffic at times of emergency or congestion.
• Receives, logs, and handles calls for police service.
• Compiles and reviews statistics for police reports.
• Participates in public education programs.
• Responds to radio messages; telephones instructions relating to non-hazardous calls for police service.
• Community and Homeless Outreach Liaison
• Performs related duties as required.

The Police Recruit will be evaluated and provided feedback on their performance at three, six, and nine months. To ensure the police recruit is improving and working at the expected level to advance to phase 3.

Phase 3

Upon successful completion of phase 2, the Police Officer Recruit will be enrolled into the Allan Hancock Police Academy as a sponsored Morro Bay Police Recruit. The police recruit will be offered a contract as a police recruit to attend the police academy. The police recruit will be a fully sponsored recruit with academy expenses paid and the recruit will earn an hourly income. The recruit will be required to successfully complete the police academy and graduate from the program.

Upon successful completion of the police academy, the police recruit will be offered a full-time sworn peace officer position with the Morro Bay Police Department.

Interested applicants must be prepared to perform physical tasks at each phase of the police recruit process.

Applications can be submitted through the city website at

https : / / www.morrobayca.gov / 832 / Employment-Opportunities

Position is open until filled with a first review of applications on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the City's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity for all persons seeking employment or promotion to assure equal employment opportunity based upon ability and fitness to all persons regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, childbirth, breast-feeding, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic characteristics or information, military or veteran's status, and / or any other category protected by federal and / or state law.