Police Officer Academy Graduate / Lateral Transfer

Update: Effective the pay period that began on March 14, 2026, the salary for all classifications in the Police Officer Association increased by 4%. This job posting has been updated to reflect this increase. The City of Santa Cruz is now recruiting for Police Officer Lateral and Academy Graduate candidates. Join the SCPD team for a career that offers excitement, growth opportunities, great coworkers and the chance to make a positive impact in your community. Why SCPD? The Best People. Core values are people with positive attitudes, integrity, energy, and problem solvers. Our officers are trained leaders who value teamwork, care about the community and work daily to keep it safe. Come join a department that has received national and international acclaim for our innovative community-based policing strategies. We believe in fostering an environment of strong critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving. You will work alongside great team members and interact with our diverse community. We have state-of-the-art training combined with an opportunity to make a difference in our community. Each and every officer in our department embodies a commitment to change and improving the quality of life in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Police Department serves a community of over 65,000 citizens. During the summer months, the population may swell to over 100,000. There are 94 sworn officers assigned to patrol, traffic, parks, community services, downtown, investigations, K9 unit, motors and undercover task force assignments. The City of Santa Cruz has a strong interest in and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our recruitment, hiring and retention practices. We actively seek and encourage applications from talented individuals with diverse backgrounds. Recruitment #26-PD-05 APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: The following process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Human Resources Director. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. Apply Now with required application materials: Application - apply online. Resumes are not accepted in lieu of filling out an application form completely. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis. Responses to the supplemental questions Possession of one of these POST certificates awarded by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) must be attached to your online application or your application will be screened as incomplete. Entry-level candidates must attach their current POST Academy Completion Certificate Lateral Transfer Candidates must attach their current POST Basic Law Enforcement Certificate Proof of your educational degrees (if applicable) must be attached as verification in order to qualify for Educational Incentive. Applications will be screened based on the minimum qualifications for the job. For Lateral or Academy Graduate candidates, there is no written examination or physical agility testing. Personal History Statement: Candidates with a fully completed application who meet the minimum qualifications and submitted the required POST Certifications will be requested to submit a Sworn version of the Personal History Statement form (PHS) within 14 calendar days of notification. This is a lengthy document; if you wish to work on this ahead of time, the form is available on the City website . See our agency's customized instructions on filling out and submitting the PHS. You must wait until requested to submit a Personal History Statement, but you may review the form and reasons for disqualification and work on this document ahead of time here City website . Candidates who successfully pass review of their Personal History Statement will proceed as follows: Oral Interview Panel Background Investigation and polygraph examination Interview with the Chief of Police Psychological Examination Medical Examination(includes drug/alcohol screening) PAY INCENTIVES? YES, there are pay incentives! For the purpose of hiring incentives, new lateral Police Officers are defined as Police Officers currently employed by a law enforcement agency who have successfully completed a probationary period of at least twelve (12) months. HIRING INCENTIVE : Newly hired Lateral Police Officers will receive up to $20,000 in payments of $5,000 upon successful completion of the Field Training Officer (FTO) program, $5,000 at 1.5 years post hire, $5,000 at 2.5 years post hire, and $5,000 at 3.5 years post hire. EDUCATION INCENTIVE: * Newly hired Lateral Police Officers who have a two-year college degree (AA or AS) will receive a $2,500 education bonus at the end of successful completion of probation. * Newly hired Lateral Police Officers who have a four-year college degree (BA or BS) will receive a $5,000 education bonus at the end of successful completion of probation. If the Officer also has an AA or AS, they will receive only the higher incentive. EDUCATIONAL TUITION REIMBURSEMENT: After employment, employees are eligible to be reimbursed up to $500 per fiscal year for tuition and books upon successful completion of City-approved college or university courses or other courses directly related to an employee’s job duties. To be eligible for reimbursement, employees must receive approval of the Chief of Police prior to attending classes and comply with applicable department and City regulations. BILINGUAL PAY: For bilingual speaking skills, Police Officers are eligible for 5% differential of base pay per month, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police and the approval of the Director of Human Resources. To qualify for this compensation, employees must be certified by the Human Resources Director as conversant in a foreign language utilized frequently in the line of duty. EMPLOYEE REFERAL INCENTIVES: If you were referred by a City of Santa Cruz employee, please be sure to check the "City Employee" box where th