Police Officer (Lateral)

***Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply immediately** The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the City's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees. Why Join Oakland Police Department? The Oakland Police Department is currently recruiting for the position of Police Officer (Lateral). The ideal candidate will have the education and experience that demonstrate personal motivation, interest in others, and the ability to deal effectively and fairly with residents and co-workers. The ideal candidate will be able to identify problems and resolve them quickly while under pressure, and want to work in a fast-paced, urban environment. After successful completion of the academy, Police Officers receive step increases on an annual basis and may reach the top step after five years. Immediate benefits include city-paid health and dental insurance for employees and dependents. Upon graduation from the academy, the benefits package includes a pension provided by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS); vacation leave, sick leave, and holidays; education tuition reimbursement; life insurance; employee assistance program; and deferred compensation plan. Minimum Requirements for Application: Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications is acceptable: Education: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade or High School graduate or G.E.D. Experience: Police Officer candidates must meet at least one of the requirements below: Have been employed as a police officer for at least one (1) year in a law enforcement agency within the last thirty-six (36) months and possess a current basic California P.O.S.T. Certificate. OR Applicants who meet and are successful in the completion of the Basic Course Waiver Process administered by California P.O.S.T. OR Applicants who successfully completed a California Basic P.O.S.T. approved academy within the past twenty-four (24) months from date of application. Preference may be given to candidates who have been employed with a California law enforcement agency for at least two years and have an active California Basic P.O.S.T. certificate. LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE / OTHER REQUIREMENTS: License Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment. Training Applicants must successfully complete all OPD Training and the Field Training Officer program. Bilingual Skills The City of Oakland and the Oakland Police Department actively seek individuals with highly desirable bilingual skills. Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin are highly desirable. Additional Qualifications Applicants must be 21 years of age or older at the time of hire. Applicants may not have any felony convictions. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legally eligible to work in the U.S. and have applied for citizenship. Must pass a background investigation. Compliance with department medical and psychological standards. Desirable Qualifications Completion of a field training program with a law enforcement agency Completion of independent patrol duties as a solo patrol officer This is a continuous recruitment. This recruitment may close without notice once a sufficient number of applications have been received. Candidates are only eligible to apply once every three (3) months. Candidates that earn their place on the resulting eligible list may remain active on the eligible list for up to two (2) years. The Recruitment Process: The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position. Stage I: The first stage in the selection process is the completion of an employment application, supplemental questionnaire, a copy of a current California Basic POST Certificate, and a copy of a passing score (320 and maximum 14 minutes on the 1.5 mile run) on the WSTB Physical Agility Test from South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium ( https://www.eventbrite.com/o/wstb-physical-agility-tests-12069656292 ). Applications received without all of the required documents will be not be considered . Stage II: Structured Oral Interview. Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas. For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the online Structured Oral Interview (weighted 100%) , which will be evaluated and rated by subject matter experts. Photo identification will be required at the time of this examination. Candidates who pass the oral board interview will be placed on the eligibility list for further consideration, subject to successful completion of the remaining stages. Human Resources Management will provide OPD the names of qualified individuals in rank order for further processing. Candidates must earn a scale score of 70 in this examination process to be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. The Structured Oral Interview will be scheduled as follows: TENTATIVE EXAM DATES For applications received between 09/29/2026 - 11/01/2026 Structured Oral Interview (virtual): The week o