POLICE OFFICER - RECRUIT

Police Officer Recruit

Located near the east shore of the San Francisco Bay, the City of El Cerrito is an ethnically diverse community offering a high quality of life within one of the nation's most sophisticated and beautiful living areas. With a population of almost 25,000 residents, El Cerrito has the advantage of being centrally located in a major metropolitan area. El Cerrito is an established community with a strong self-identity and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its community members.

El Cerrito Police Department is a modern, well-managed department providing police services to a community of 24,000 residents. The department offers many opportunities for professional growth including : Investigations, Field Training, Hostage Negotiation Team, Special Response Team, and K9. Police Officer Recruits receive closely supervised training in the following areas : laws and penal codes; criminal justice system and procedures; law enforcement and crime prevention techniques; physical fitness and first aid; proper handling and firing of firearms; radio codes and dispatching procedures; public contact skills; interviewing and taking complaints; writing and editing police reports; geography; investigative techniques; procedures regarding the arrest and handling of suspects; and departmental rules and regulations. Police Officer Recruits are hired into this temporary non-sworn position for the period during which they are enrolled in the Police Academy. They are not covered by the City's classified (Civil Service) system, and serve at the pleasure of the Chief of Police. Police Officer Recruit benefits are limited to those required by law. City of El Cerrito Police Officer Recruits are enrolled in CalPERS under the Miscellaneous Formula while attending the academy. Upon successful completion of the curriculum and the battery of physical fitness tests at the training academy, Police Recruits are sworn in and appointed to the classified position of Police Officer, at Step 1 of that salary range with full benefits (including CalPERS at the Safety Formula).

This position requires an ability to learn and interpret laws, regulations, policies and procedures; carry out oral and written directions; analyze situations and make quick decisions requiring sound judgment; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; and meet the on-going physical requirements of the position.

Essential responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following : Attends a P.O.S.T.-certified basic police academy and receives training in the following areas : Laws and Penal Codes; criminal justice system procedures; law enforcement and crime prevention techniques; physical fitness and first aid; proper handling and firing of firearms; radio codes and dispatching procedures; public contact skills; interviewing and taking complaints; writing and editing police reports; geography; investigative techniques; procedures regarding the arrest and the handling of suspects; and learning departmental rules and regulations.

All applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions of the position, as determined by a thorough City pre-placement physical examination; meet vision requirement of not less than 20 / 100, correctable to 20 / 30; possess a high school diploma or G.E.D.; must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien with an application for citizenship completed at least one year prior of date of application (citizenship must be obtained no later than three years after date of application or disqualification will result); have a valid California Class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record; and be free of felony convictions. T-SCORE REQUIRED : Applicants must have successfully completed the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB), which is a reading and writing test designed to measure the ability to identify clear writing, and the ability to spell and understand commonly-used vocabulary words. Applicants must have received a 'T' score of 50 or better, within the preceding six months of the date of their application. Proof of T-score must be submitted with application materials.