Visit www.JoinWalnutCreekPD.com to learn more about how to level up your career in law enforcement with Walnut Creek!

If you practice integrity, professionalism, and respect in all you do, we encourage you to begin your law enforcement career with the Walnut Creek Police Department today! We are a thriving, vibrant, and community-oriented City, committed to providing the highest level of police services to the Walnut Creek community.

To join us, start by taking your P.O.S.T. Entry Level Law Enforcement Test (Pellet-B exam), and then apply today with a T-Score of 50 or above. As a Police Officer – Trainee, the City of Walnut Creek will compensate you at an hourly rate while you attend the Police Academy as a Walnut Creek Police Department sponsored trainee. Upon graduation, you will be eligible to join the WCPD family as a sworn Police Officer with our generous salary and benefits package!

Already enrolled in a Police Academy? You’re welcome to apply here, also! Read more about whether your current experience meets requirements for the Police Officer – Trainee recruitment below (under “Qualification Guidelines”).
Walnut Creek Police Officers serve in patrol, traffic, and investigation assignments. Fixed sectors are assigned and patrol officers are responsible for providing patrol, investigation, crime prevention, juvenile, traffic, and public assistance on their sector. Investigative and traffic personnel are available for assistance when needed.

In addition to patrol duties, officers may have special and collateral assignments such as:

• Detectives
• K9
• Motor Team
• Regional SWAT Team
• Bomb Squad
• Drone Team
• Firearms Instructor
• Defensive Tactics
• Drivers Training
• Peer Support Team
• Social Media Team
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Police Information Technology Team

New officers receive field training from an experienced Walnut Creek Police Officer prior to assuming the responsibility of a solo sector patrol officer. Police Officers at this department are scheduled to work three days per week for shifts of 12.5 hours each day.

Police Officer - Trainees are assigned to attend a P.O.S.T. certified police academy. The next two scheduled courses tentatively begin in June and November 2026. During the academy program, Police Officer-Trainees receive the academic and physical training required for appointment to the position of Police Officer. Police Officer-Trainees are temporary employees and receive Workers' Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, and paid sick leave. In addition, pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, this position is eligible to enroll in the City sponsored Kaiser High Deductible Health Plan. (Note: Employee contributions are required and differ from those applicable to Police Officers appointed to a regular sworn position).

Upon successful completion of the academy, Police Officer-Trainees are then eligible to be appointed as a Police Officer and begin serving a probationary period at the City of Walnut Creek. At the time of appointment to a regular position, new Police Officers will be informed of all City employment rights and benefits available to regular employees. Please visit the City’s Human Resources website to view the Police Officer classification's salary and benefits information.

Please see the Police Officer class specification for a complete description of this classification's representative duties, requirements, working conditions, and physical requirements.
The classification of Police Officer at the City of Walnut Creek requires the following two elements of Education. Candidates must meet both criteria below in order to move forward in the selection process for Police Officer - Trainee:

Education:

1. High school graduation (or equivalent);
2. Completion of 60 semester units from a recognized college or university (up to 15 units from the police academy may be combined with other college units to meet the 60 semester units).

To qualify for this Police Officer – Trainee recruitment process, you must also meet the following requirements (a. through c.):


Note: if you do not meet the criteria above, you may qualify for the Police Officer – Academy Graduate or Police Officer - Lateral recruitments. If you apply to the incorrect Police Officer recruitment announcement based on your experience, you may be asked to submit your application anew. If you’re unsure which recruitment you’re most qualified for, please email us at jobs@walnut-creek.org for guidance prior to applying.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain prior to employment, a valid Class C California Driver's License and a good driving record.
• Candidate must meet City's medical standards pertaining to physical requirements prior to employment.
• Employees are assigned to shift work and rotated among various assignments.
• To learn more about the position of Police Officer, please visit the Police Officer class specification.

Applicants must apply online at www.walnutcreekca.gov/careers to be eligible for consideration.

A limited number of applicants displaying the most desirable qualifications on their application (and subsequent required T-score attachment) will be invited to participate in the oral board appraisal process which takes place monthly. Candidates who show that they have relevant skills, knowledge, abilities, training, and/or education will be placed on an eligible list as a result of this examination process. This list will be valid for a period of six months. The most highly qualified candidates will be invited to a Captains' Interview.

All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate in the examination process. If you have applied to the incorrect Police Officer recruitment announcement based on your experience, you may be asked to submit your application anew. If you’re unsure which recruitment you’re most qualified for, please email us at jobs@walnut-creek.org for guidance prior to applying.

Applicants considered for appointment to this position will be subject to a thorough background investigation (consisting of, but not limited to, criminal history, Department of Justice and FBI fingerprinting, driving history, credit check, previous/current employment references, and personal references), pre-placement medical exam including drug screening, and a psychological exam. The City reserves the right to request a candidate to submit to a polygraph exam.

The City of Walnut Creek is committed to providing a workforce with the highest standards of integrity and honesty. Honesty and integrity will be closely evaluated throughout the background process. All information provided by applicants is required to be truthful and accurate; failure to do so may result in disqualification.

If special accommodations are necessary at any stage of the examination process, please provide the Human Resources Department with advanced notice and every attempt will be made to consider your request.

As required by law, all public employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers. As such, all City of Walnut Creek employees may be called upon to assist in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or man-made disasters.

*This job announcement may close without notice when a sufficient number of applications have been received.