Police Officer Trainee (Non Academy Graduate)

DEFINITION

Under direct supervision, this At-Will classification must attend and successfully pass the State of California POST Basic Police Academy. Incumbents in the trainee-level classification are non-sworn employees. Incumbent must learn to perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; participate in community based policing activities, learn to patrol an assigned area for the prevention of crime and the maintenance of law and order; learn to perform investigative work and other special assignments; and learn to perform a variety of technical law enforcement tasks as assigned by the academy and or department.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receive direct supervision from assigned shift Police Sergeant, supervisor and responsible POST Academy personnel. Technical and functional supervision may be provided by other higher-level police department personnel.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a non-sworn entry-level training classification in the City's police service. Incumbents are hired from entry-level eligible lists and are sent to a basic police academy. During training incumbents do not have police powers. Trainees are subject to both the regulations of the police department and the police academy. On days when Trainee is not in attendance at the Academy, trainee may be required to perform a wide variety of non-sworn duties to further the mission of the police department. Duties may include but are not limited to, traffic direction, working in police records and assisting with other non-hazardous duties. Promotion to a sworn Police Officer position is contingent upon successful completion of the basic police academy and obtaining the basic academy graduation certificate and final review by the Chief of Police. Upon promotion to a Police Officer, the employee will begin a one-year probationary period as a regular status employee.
The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following

• Successfully complete the required State of California POST Basic Police Training Academy and obtain the Certificate of Completion.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

The following generally describes the knowledge and abilities required to enter the job and/or to be learned within a defined short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Ability to

• Learn the laws of arrest, search and seizure as well as, pertinent local, County, State and other laws.
• Learn law enforcement methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation and identification techniques, and police records and reporting.
• Learn, interpret, and apply criminal laws, codes, ordinances, and policies and procedure with particular reference to apprehension, arrest and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
• Learn and practice the safe use and care for firearms, equipment, tools and supplies; think and act quickly and safely in emergencies, exercise safety in the performance of all law enforcement work; and administer first aid and CPR as required.
• Observe and accurately recall critical details, including names, facts, faces, numbers, incidents, places, and able to judge situations and persons accordingly;
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system;
• Understand and carryout oral and written instructions in an independent manner;
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the essential functions/duties of this job classification;
• Present oral reports and accounts, prepare thorough, accurate and detailed reports in written form and in pre-structured format;
• Utilize and apply good judgment in a variety of typical and/or unusual situations;
• Work cooperatively with others, including coworkers, members of the residential and business communities, community groups, and officials from other agencies, the general public, and those contacted in the course of work.
• Learn the basic operations, philosophies and practices of a law enforcement agency.

Education, and Experience
Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: High school diploma, GED, or other equivalent educational courses. Ability to successfully complete a POST – certified basic academy.
Experience: None required.

License and Certification

• Possession of a valid California driver's license at time of appointment.

After the evaluation of minimum qualifications, examination parts for this recruitment may include, but are not limited to the following: written exam, performance exam, oral appraisal interview, physical ability test, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. If moved forward, candidates will be notified via email of the type of examination required for this recruitment.TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Typical office and field tools and equipment include

Computer, Keyboard And Monitor; Variety Of Printers And Copiers; Telephone Or Cell Phone; Pager; Print Kit; Calculator And 10-Key Adding Machine; Facsimile Machine; Two-Way Radio; Patrol Car, Including Computer And Printer; Paper Shredder Or Cutter; Specialized Computer Software; Car Radio; Gasoline Pumps; R.A.D.A.R. Guns; Taser Or ECD Devices; Hand-Pack Radios; Handguns, Shotguns, And In Some Cases, Rifles; Bullet Proof Vests; Ammunition; Eye, Ear, Hand And Head Protection Equipment; Handcuffs; Flashlight; Uniforms; Batons And Collapsible Batons; Chemical Agent Weapons; Chemical Reagents; Narcotics Test Kit; Citat