Police Sergeant

Police Sergeant

Salary
$70.56 - $79.42 per hour DOE plus excellent benefits

Important Deadlines

December 11, 2026 (5 p.m.): Application Deadline

January 25–29, 2027: Testing (Tentative)

The Carmel-by-the-Sea Police Department is accepting applications from qualified internal and external candidates for an upcoming Police Sergeant vacancy. The testing process is tentatively scheduled for January 25–29, 2027. The deadline for all applications is Friday, December 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

The Police Sergeant is a working, first-line supervisor and a key member of the Department's leadership team. Sergeants are responsible for leading patrol personnel, supervising field operations and critical incidents, developing and evaluating employees, maintaining accountability and professional standards, supporting Department initiatives, and building strong relationships with the Carmel-by-the-Sea community and regional public-safety partners.

Desired Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate

Leadership - Leads by example, establishes clear expectations, accepts responsibility, and holds employees accountable.

Judgment & Decision-Making: Makes timely, thoughtful, and defensible decisions, particularly during critical incidents and rapidly evolving situations.

Employee Development & Coaching: Develops personnel through mentoring, training, feedback, recognition, and appropriate corrective action.

Communication: Communicates clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing, and actively listens to employees and community members.

Building Community Trust: Develops meaningful relationships with residents, businesses, community organizations, and regional partners.

Ethics & Integrity: Demonstrates honesty, fairness, courage, accountability, and adherence to law, policy, and Department values.

Conflict Management: Effectively addresses workplace, community, and operational conflict.

Problem Solving & Initiative - Identifies problems, develops practical solutions, and takes appropriate action without unnecessary direction.

Teamwork: Builds effective working relationships and contributes to a cooperative Department culture.

Operational Readiness: Demonstrates command presence, sound tactical judgment, and the ability to supervise field operations, emergencies, and critical incidents. Possesses a strong understanding of criminal investigations, investigative priorities, applicable laws, evidence preservation, and appropriate allocation of resources. Demonstrates the ability to direct personnel, coordinate complex investigations, and effectively manage evolving incidents.

Report Writing and Administrative Readiness: Communicates effectively in verbal and written form; prioritizes and manages multiple assignments within established timelines; prepares clear, accurate, and professional documentation; and demonstrates an understanding of supervisory administrative responsibilities, including applicable Peace Officers' Bill of Rights (POBOR) requirements.

Completed City employment application

Current résumé identifying relevant assignments, leadership experience, training, and significant workplace accomplishments

Letter of interest describing the candidate’s qualifications, leadership philosophy, and experience building community trust.

Two professional letters of recommendation, preferably from current or former law enforcement supervisors or command-level personnel

Copy of the candidate’s Intermediate POST Certificate or higher

Copies of relevant leadership or supervisory training certificates

POST Supervisory Courses/Training: The selected candidate must have successfully completed, or successfully complete within the time required by California POST, the POST-certified Supervisory Course/Training.

Selection Process

Qualified applicants will participate in

Written Examination: A multiple-choice examination evaluating law enforcement knowledge, supervisory principles, policy application, and critical decision-making, along with a written exercise assessing report writing, analytical skills, organization, and supervisory communication.

Oral-Board Panel: Structured panel evaluating leadership, judgment, communication, supervisory decision-making, critical-incident management, employee development, ethics, and community engagement.

Background and employment-history review: Review appropriate to the candidate's employment status and applicable City requirements.

Chief of Police Interview: Final interview of eligible candidates.

Candidates will be evaluated on leadership, judgment, communication, ethical decision-making, critical-incident management, employee development, accountability, policy knowledge, community engagement, and readiness to serve as a first-line supervisor.

Advancement through the selection process is competitive. The City reserves the right to determine the number of candidates advancing to each phase based on qualifications, examination performance, and operational needs.

Study Materials

Candidates should be familiar with the current versions of

Carmel-by-the-Sea Police Department Policy Manual

Police Sergeant job description

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips (1993).

Candidates should focus on the book's leadership principles, including communication, building trust, empowering employees, accountability, decision-making, and leading through adversity.

Applicable Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code provisions

Applicable California laws and POST requirements

Incident Command System principles

Monterey County law-enforcement protocols related to critical incident response, including active-shooter incidents, officer-involved shootings, pursuits, mutual aid, and major incident command. Candidates should understand supervisory responsibilities, incident coordination, and operational decision-making.

California POST Supervisory Course Topics and Objectives

Final Report of the Preside