Public Safety Officer In Training

Public Safety Officer-In Training

Employer : City of Sunnyvale

Salary : $135,945.00 - $157,373.00 Annually

Location : Sunnyvale, CA

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 25-00113

Department : Public Safety

Division : Division of Strategic Services

Opening Date : 07 / 01 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

Description : Public Safety Officer - In Training Typical placement is made at the first step of the salary range. Upon successful completion of the Public Safety Officer in Training requirements, incumbents promote to Public Safety Officer I ($136,764 - $158,321). Upon successful completion of all phases of training, members of the Public Safety Officer I classification promote to Public Safety Officer II ($144,724 - $180,310). This position has an excellent benefit package, including 2.7% at 57 retirement plan.

About This Position : The position of Public Safety Officer-In Training (PSO-IT) is a non-sworn, training classification while incumbents are attending the police and fire academies. Upon successful completion of the police academy, incumbents will be promoted to the sworn, training position of Public Safety Officer I. Upon successful completion of all required training, incumbents will be promoted to the sworn position of Public Safety Officer II.

A Public Safety Officer II performs the full duties of both a police officer and a firefighter, which include preserving the peace; preventing and detecting crimes; protecting life and property; responding to fire, medical and other emergencies; enforcing laws and public ordinances; and maintaining a public service approach towards the Sunnyvale community.

About The Department Of Public Safety : The Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides a fully integrated police, fire and emergency response to the City of Sunnyvale community and residents. Because of the dual responsibilities, DPS offers a varied and exciting career. For more information about becoming a Public Safety Officer please call or text SDPSJOBS to 408-755-9686.

About The City Of Sunnyvale : The City of Sunnyvale is recognized as the "Heart of Silicon Valley," with a population of approximately 159,673. It is the fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second largest in Santa Clara County. For more information regarding the City of Sunnyvale, please visit the City's website at sunnyvale.ca.gov.

Distinguishing Characteristics : Under immediate supervision, attends police academy and learns to perform a wide range of public safety work involving the protection of life and property including law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and basic life support activities; and performs related work as required. The position of Public Safety Officer-In-Training is the training level for general police and fire work. Incumbents are not sworn personnel and are generally in this classification until successful completion of the police academy.

Essential Job Functions : Attends and successfully completes police academy to prepare for the position of Public Safety Officer I. Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading reports and work related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push equipment and bodies weighing up to 165 pounds, the ability to run continuously for 500 yards and climb 6 foot high fences is also required. When in the field, positions are required to walk and stand during emergency situations, including on uneven and slippery surfaces; wear police officer and firefighter clothing and carry equipment; climb ladders and work from elevated positions and enter confined spaces wearing appropriate breathing apparatus. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications : Education and experience can be met by having an Associate's degree or having completed 60 semester or 90 quarter units at an accredited college or university. Knowledge of basic principles of electricity, principles of physics, chemistry of fire, and mechanics, weights, measures and capacities, office methods, procedures, software and equipment, principles and practices of good customer service, and principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication. Ability to learn to apply principles and practices of law enforcement and fire protection, interpret and apply department policies and procedures and related State and Federal laws, perform firefighting, emergency response, and rescue and medical aid duties, write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly and with correct English grammatical construction and spelling, safely use firearms and other modern police equipment and communication and information systems related to law enforcement, make basic mathematical calculations, plan and present material orally to diverse groups, read and interpret complex documents in English, sketch crime scenes and accident scenes, observe, assimilate, remember and recall pertinent facts and details, read maps and mapped information, apply selected learned knowledge in collecting, organizing and analyzing a variety of information, speak with a wide variety of people, using tact, self-restraint, judgment, and strategy, make quick and reasonable decisions under stressful emergency situations, perform routine, repetitive work to completion, exercise self-restraint and good judgment, visually identify and accurately distinguish colors, accurately identify and distinguish between colors, hear and comprehend auditory inputs, detect and distinguish the smell of different materials / chemicals, smoke / fires, and toxic gases, speak in an understandable voice, operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment, understand and follow written and oral instructions, communicate effectively, orally and in writing, establish, maintain and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public, demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties, exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and political situations, use a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), and observe safety principles and work in a safe manner. Willingness to adhere to ethics of law enforcement, enforce all laws, policies and procedures regardless of personal ethics or feelings, comply with department grooming standards and wear a uniform furnished by the department, carry and use approved weapons, take the life of another, work in, around, or with severely decomposed, burnt, or dismembered bodies, train citizens as well as other employees, work irregular hours, overtime, weekends, holidays, variable shifts, evenings, on-call and 24-hour shift, and work at any location in the city on short notice. Licenses / Certificates : Possess and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license and a safe driving record. Desirable Qualifications : A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice or related field. Special Requirements : Must be 21 years of age at the time of hire, successfully complete a post-offer physical exam paid for by the City, and successfully complete an extensive background check.

Application and Selection Process : Application Process : Review Minimum Qualifications and Job Description. At time of application : have an Associate's degree from an accredited college or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university; possess a valid Class C California driver's license with a safe driving record or driver's license from another state with a safe driving record. Submit a completed City of Sunnyvale application packet, which consists of : City of Sunnyvale Employment Application, Supplemental Questionnaire, Written Test Requirement : Current (dated within one year of application) T-Score (a minimum score of 48) received on the POST Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB), Physical Agility Requirement : Current (dated within one year of application) Physical Agility Exam with 1.5 mile run results, Driving Record Requirement : Current (dated within the last 30 days) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) printout. An electronic application may be submitted through the City of Sunnyvale website. Please note : incomplete application packets will not be accepted. Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral examination at a date to be determined. Selection Process : Those candidates who pass the oral exam interview will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be referred to the Department of Public Safety for the selection process, which will include oral interview(s), a comprehensive background history check, a polygraph test, a post-offer psychological and medical exam(s) administered by a City-selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination.