Police Officer (Graduate Academy / Lateral)

Police Officer

This recruitment is currently to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies. Offering competitive salaries and benefits. Upcoming negotiated increases. 5.6% increase effective 12 / 27 / 2025. 3% increase effective 12 / 26 / 2026. New lateral officers shall receive forty (40) hours of annual leave upon hire. The forty (40) hours of annual leave will not be permitted to be cashed out if released during probation. Additionally, an officer's full-time sworn law enforcement service shall count when determining an employee's years of service placement with relation to longevity pay and annual leave accrual.

The City of Corona Police Department prides itself on offering competitive salaries and excellent benefits. A brief description is provided below. For full benefit information please click here and to review the complete Corona Police Employees Association Memorandum of Understand (MOU).

Benefits : Medical / Dental / Vision Allowance $2,173 Family, $1,646 Two Party, $978 Single per month. Medical Opt-Out $600 Family, $400 Two Party, $200 Single per month. Marksmanship Bonus $16.15 per pay period. Uniform Allowance $132.31 per pay period. Retirement Health Savings $5,000. Bilingual Pay 4%.

Special Compensation : Intermediate POST Certificate 3% Accident Investigator 5% Advance POST Certificate 8% Motor Officer 5% Canine Pay 5% PACT or FLEX Team 5% Commercial Enforcement Officer 5% Training Officer 5% Homeless Task Force 5% Personnel Officer 5% Special Enforcement Officer 5% School Resource Officer 5%.

Knowledge & Education : Completion of the twelfth (12th) grade or equivalent. Knowledge of operations and services of a comprehensive municipal law enforcement department. Understanding of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility including the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, Health and Safety Codes, Welfare and Institution Codes, and the Corona municipal code.

Skills / Abilities : Perform law enforcement duties within an assigned program area to ensure the protection and safety of citizens and property. Observe accurately; recall faces, names, descriptive characteristics, and facts of incidents and places; remember accounts given by witnesses. Identify crime suspects; interpret and apply the law to field situations; observe while conducting surveillance; and problem solve crime situations. Conduct effective interviews with victims and witnesses; interrogate suspects; summarize and document interviews and interrogations. Pursue, apprehend, and subdue suspects in accordance with mandated procedures. Process crime scenes and maintain chain of custody of evidence. Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines. Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments. Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Experience : Lateral candidates must possess a current California POST Basic Certificate. Out-of-State applicants must possess a valid California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Course Waiver at time of application. Certificate to be maintained throughout employment and must be attached to your application; and, must have successfully completed their probationary period and / or training program at another law enforcement agency. Academy Graduate candidates must have graduated from a California POST Basic Academy or proof of Basic Course Requalification.

Both Lateral and Academy Graduates : Must possess a current and valid California Class C Driver's License at time of appointment as a condition of continued employment, to be maintained throughout employment. Candidates must be 20.5 years of age at time of application. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. Candidates must be in good standing with POST and their current department.

Characteristics : Accountability- The Corona Police Department is a professional police agency staffed by individuals who cherish and maintain the highest standards of conduct and performance. Integrity- Being truthful and ethical in what we do, what we say, and what we say we do in both our personal and professional lives. Respect- We are committed to our profession and will always respect one another and the community that we serve. Inclusion- We are not just diverse; we are welcoming to all. Teamwork- When we work together to achieve our mission, the department and community will grow stronger. Together, we are better. Innovation- We provide modern police services and are committed to always improve our organizational practices.

This position is FLSA Non-Exempt eligible for overtime compensation. To view the position's complete job description, click here.

Application Procedure : Application must be submitted using the following procedure : Complete the online application in full, including job history, supplemental questions, and required attachments. Academy-Graduate : California POST Basic Academy or proof of Basic Course Requalification. Lateral : California POST Basic Certificate or California POST Basic Waiver. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis as needed depending on the number of vacancies that arise in the department. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as the recruitment may close at any time without notice after the first review period. Candidates that successfully pass the screening process and are deemed to possess the most desirable qualifications will be invited to participate in an in-person oral interview. Interviews are typically held on a monthly basis. The top scoring candidates from the oral interview will be placed on an eligibility list and will be contacted by the department to start the background process as vacancies arise. Successful candidates will undergo a thorough background investigation and medical exam with the Corona Police Department. Background investigation will include but is not limited to the following : No felony conviction(s). Submit to a fingerprint and criminal history check - State and Federal Bureaus. Good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation. United States high school graduate, GED, or equivalent. No conviction(s) of a serious offense, or numerous convictions of minor offenses. Submit to a polygraph examination. Successfully pass a medical examination and psychological exam. Credit history check, if established, must be satisfactory.

Community : A City whose heritage spans more than a century, the City of Corona, located in Riverside County, California, encompasses around 40 square miles and has a vibrant, culturally diverse population of approximately 168,100 residents. Residents of Corona enjoy a variety of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities that provide a first-rate quality of life for its residents and visitors. Within an hour's travel time, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy such winter activities as snowboarding and skiing and such summer activities as surfing, boating, or simply relaxing on a beach. Corona's economy is strong and getting stronger; more than 84,000 people work here. Our retail, commercial, and housing areas are expanding, and office development continues to be strong.

The Organization : The City of Corona is a General Law city operating under a Council-Manager form of government. Policymaking and legislative authority is vested in the City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four Council Members. Members of the City Council are elected by District to a four-year term. The Mayor is selected by the Council and serves as the presiding officer for one year. The City is organized into the following departments / organizational units : Community Services, City Manager's Office, Economic Development, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Risk Management, Police, Planning & Development, Public Works and Utilities. Oversight of these departments is divided between the City Manager and two Assistant City Managers. The City's total operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is $399.1 million with a General Fund operating budget of $209.6 million. Corona enjoys a workforce of 922 dedicated employees who provide high quality services to its residents and visitors each day.