Do you have a strong dedication to public service? If you do, a career with the San Diego Police Department may be for you!
Veteran friendly employer!
You served our country and worked hard to earn your GI Bill benefits, it’s time to let them work for you. Not to worry, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) honors your service and sacrifice. In addition to great pay and benefits, SDPD is certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to train veterans and eligible persons under 38 U.S.C. 3675. For which SDPD can certify candidates who are eligible to receive VA education benefits under the on-the job-training (OJT) program while employed by SDPD to attend a paid California POST approved Police Academy and up to a year after graduation while completing the field training program and SDPD probation period.
A career with the San Diego Police Department offers excitement, rapid growth opportunities, work-life-balance, and the chance to make a positive impact in your community. As one of the nation’s leaders in Community Oriented Policing, we strongly value the partnerships we have built with the diverse communities of San Diego and are looking for Officers that will uphold that tradition. Throughout your career with SDPD, you’ll have the chance to follow many paths in over 70 different positions, including: Detective, SWAT, New Technologies, K9 Handler, Beach Patrol and Motor Officer, among others. SDPD offers a competitive base salary, great benefits, and many additional pay opportunities.
The following skills and desirable attributes exemplify what we look for in a Police Officer I: Integrity; leadership skills; excellent judgment under pressure; ability to maintain sufficient level of fitness to safely perform as a law enforcement professional; the ability to be aware of, control, and express emotions appropriately, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically; ability to maintain confidence in uncertain situations; excellent judgment and ability to act under pressure; ability to thrive in diverse populations.
A San Diego Police Officer:
- Contributes to the team effort of maintaining a presence in the community that helps to deter crime and provide support to citizens
- Collaborates in building strong relationships with community members, upholding best practices of Community Oriented Policing
- Acts as a police presence at major public events to ensure public safety
- Identifies potential criminal activity or other hazardous situations and takes proper actions to protect citizens and property
- Helps to secure crime scenes and process evidence
- Responds to calls for service; Observes violations; makes arrests and citations when necessary
- Conducts criminal investigations by gathering evidence and interviewing victims and witnesses
- Documents observations and actions by radioing information; completing reports
- Fulfills court orders by testifying in court regarding criminal investigations and citations
- Maintains safe traffic conditions by monitoring and directing traffic; enforces laws and ordinances; investigates collisions; reports unsafe streets and facilities
Police officer I is not an entry-level position. If you have not graduated from a California P.O.S.T. academy or do not have prior peace officer experience within the last one year, you must apply for Police Officer (Recruit Level).
Police Officer I positions are designed for recent California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy graduates and persons that possess current California Basic P.O.S.T. certificates. Police Officer I positions work under immediate supervision in a training program to perform increasingly responsible law enforcement and crime prevention duties; respond to emergency calls for police assistance; patrol an assigned area to enforce laws; investigate suspicious conditions, traffic accidents, and complaints; make arrests; question witnesses and suspects; issue citations; prepare evidence and testify in court; fingerprint, photograph, book, supervise, and transport prisoners; report unsafe or hazardous conditions; answer inquiries from the public; and perform other duties as assigned.
State Standards:
In accordance with P.O.S.T Standards, candidates must be free of any felony convictions. Candidates will be screened by the San Diego Police Department and are subject to immediate disqualification if any of the following are found during the background investigative process: domestic violence conviction(s), or if you are a registered sex offender; for additional information refer to the following link: P.O.S.T. Disqualifiers (Download PDF reader).
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
You must meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.
AGE: 21 years of age at time of hire.
CITIZENSHIP: Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
NOTE:
- Candidates screened by the San Diego Police Department must present proof of legal right to work in the United States when they submit their Background Investigation Questionnaire.
EDUCATION: You must meet ONE of the following options:
- Graduation from a High School located within the United States or a United States territory.
- Passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (C.H.S.P.E.) or General Education Development (G.E.D.) with scores that meet the California standard established by the American Council on Education.
- Possession of a two or four-year degree from an accredited college or university. (Accreditation must be from an institutional accrediting body which has been recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.)
NOTE:
- Candidates screened by the Police Department must present proof of education when they submit their Background Investigation Questionnaire.
POST CERTIFICATE/EXPERIENCE: You must meet ONE of the following options:
- Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy with a Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate dated within the last one year.
- Possession of a California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate dated within the last one year.
- Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter dated within the last one year.
- Full-time employment as a paid sworn peace officer with a city police, county sheriff, state or federal law enforcement agency performing correction duties, patrol functions, or traffic enforcement WITHIN THE LAST ONE YEAR. Time served in a training capacity as a recruit/trainee as part of the Police Academy does NOT qualify for the experience requirement. Applicants meeting the experience requirement as specified above who lack the California P.O.S.T. Certificate may apply. If hired, attendance at a PAID Regional San Diego Police Academy is required to satisfy California state certification requirements. This certification is necessary to work as a Police Officer for the City of San Diego.
NOTES:
- Applicants attending and within six weeks of completing a California P.O.S.T. certified standard-length Police Academy or extended format Police Academy may apply. NOTE: Provide a letter of good standing from your Training Officer. The letter needs to be on letter head, include your name, your academy standing, and the estimated date of graduation.
- Applicants with certificates over one year old may qualify if they also submit a P.O.S.T. requalification certificate dated within the last one year; Or apply for Police Officer (Recruit Level) and waive the written test.
- Applicants who do not meet the California P.O.S.T. certificate or experience requirement as specified above may apply for Police Officer (Recruit Level).
LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (MUST SUBMIT WITH APPLICATION):
- California Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
- California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
- California Basic P.O.S.T. Requalification Certificate, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
- California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements.
- Proof of enrollment in a California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy, if utilized to meet the minimum requirements. NOTE: On letter head, confirming enrollment, graduation date and the applicant’s good standing in the class.
- California POST work sample test battery (WSTB) score verification report, if used to waive the physical abilities performance test. NOTE: The WSTB needs to be administered by an agency with staff that has completed the California POST Basic Course Physical Training Instructor training.
For official details and additional information please visit our City of San Diego website.
