Police Officer – Lateral/Academy Graduate

Fountain Valley, CA
Fountain Valley Police Department

Salary
$86,109.37 – $104,672.38 Annually

**You must be POST certified or have previous experience as a California Peace Officer to be considered for this position**

POLICE ACADEMY ENROLLED – Must be currently enrolled in a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy. Provide formal verification of your academy written and physical agility entrance exam scores with your application. Must have and maintain satisfactory academic and physical training performance evaluations by academy staff.

POLICE ACADEMY GRADUATE – Must have completed a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy within the last 3 years. If graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved academy was more than 3 years ago, successful completion of the recertification program is required. Provide a copy of your academy’s official P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate documenting successful completion of the Police Academy with your application.

LATERAL – Must have completed a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy and are currently working as a Peace Officer.
Out-of-State applicants must obtain California P.O.S.T. basic course waiver.

Job Overview

  • Patrol an assigned area searching for indicators of possible criminal activity or threats to life and property; answer calls for police service; enforce City, county, and state laws; make field contacts and prepare required reports; may conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, robberies, vehicle accidents, suspected homicides, and other criminal incidents.
  • Make traffic stops and issue warnings, citations, or arrests as necessary; check vehicles and observe occupants of vehicles; responds to calls related to traffic incidents and other emergencies; provides first aid for injured persons, and take safeguards to prevent further accidents; interviews principals and witnesses; takes written statements and examines conditions of accident scene; clears or directs clearing of obstructions and wreckage; observes, monitors, and controls routine and unusual traffic conditions; assists and advises motorists and enforces traffic safety laws.
  • Make arrests as necessary; serve warrants and subpoenas; conduct searches and seizures involving people, vehicles, and structures; interview victims, complainants and witnesses; interrogate suspects; gather and preserve evidence; receive, search, and book prisoners; fingerprint and transport prisoners; and testify and present evidence in court.
  • Investigates crimes against persons and property; interviews victims and witnesses; searches for, evaluates and secures/collects evidence; arrest suspected perpetrator(s).
  • Writes reports and field notes; participates in staff development; attends briefings and training sessions; performs routine maintenance on assigned firearms and other equipment.

EDUCATION:

  • High School graduation or equivalent or possession of a General Education Development Test (GED) certificate is required.
  • Associate of Arts or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is highly desirable.
  • Currently enrolled in a California Peace Officer Standards police training academy and be in good standing. Must be able to show proof of academy completing at the time of appointment.
  • Or must have completed a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy and are currently working as a Peace Officer.

EXPERIENCE:
Previous law enforcement experience is highly desirable.

REQUIRED LICENSE:
Possession of a valid California Class “C” driver’s license.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
  • United States citizen or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and applied for United States citizenship, at least one year prior to the application for employment.
  • Candidates selected for processing will be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal records.
  • Candidates must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
  • Candidates must be free of any felony convictions.
  • Candidates must have normal hearing acuity.
  • Candidates must have vision of 20/70 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20 and normal color vision.
  • Candidates must have height and weight in accordance with age, sex, and frame.
  • Police Officers must be able to work rotating shifts, evenings, holidays, and weekends as assigned.