POLICE OFFICER – Lateral

Thank you for your interest in becoming a police officer with the City of Alameda. There are many law enforcement agencies in the area and we are excited that you are interested in working with the Alameda Police Department. A Police Officer performs a variety of law enforcement activities during an assigned shift. Major duties may include crime response, patrol, investigation, traffic enforcement, crime prevention and public safety, case presentation and testimony in court. Officers may work weekends, overtime, holidays, and variable shifts. All officers are afforded excellent training and career development opportunities.

The City of Alameda is offering a $75,000 HIRING INCENTIVE for qualified lateral candidates while funds are available.

A little bit about APD:

The Alameda Police Department has 88 sworn staff (Police Officers, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, and Police Chief) and 36 non-sworn staff (Public Safety Dispatchers, Records Clerks, Animal Control Officer, Police Technicians, etc.).

As a Police Officer with APD you will have the opportunity to work in the following specialized areas: K9, Motors/Traffic Enforcement, Marine Patrol, Community Resource Unit, Peer Support, Critical Incident Response Team (which includes SWAT and Crisis Negotiations), Honor Guard and Detectives.

We offer excellent pay, benefits, opportunities for promotion, and the opportunity to serve a great community that values the services we provide.

The following highlights some of our pay/medical benefits:

Step 5 Pay Rate: $68.43/hour
Holiday In-Lieu Pay Rate: $4.74/hour
Total Top Step Pay: $73.17/hour or $152,193.60
Annual Salary with Incentives up to $181,810.47

In addition, you will also be eligible for the following:

• Uniform allowance: $2,000/year
• Initial equipment allowance: $750
• Bilingual Pay: $1,200/year
• Education Incentive
  • Intermediate POST Certificate: $1,000 bonus
  • Advanced POST Certificate: 4% of Base Pay
  • Bachelor's Degree: 5% of Base Pay
  • Master's Degree: 6% of Base Pay
• 1.5% Retention Pay after 5 years or 3% after 10 years of service, additional 4% after 15 years, and an additional 5% after 20 years
• Pension
  • 3%@50 CalPERS formula for Classic Members
  • 2.7%@57 CalPERS formula for PEPRA Members
• Employer paid medical benefits for you and your family

To learn more about these and other benefits, please visit: https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefits

LATERAL HIRING INCENTIVES: The City of Alameda offers hiring incentives for Lateral Police Officers. Click HERE for the full hiring incentive policy.

• Incentives may include: $75,000 cash incentive paid out as follows:
  • $25,000 upon swearing in
  • $50,000* upon completion of Field Training Program
    • * To be eligible for the 50,000 payment, hired personnel must commit to five years of service with the City of Alameda Police Department.
• Reduced probationary period from 24 months to 12 months (must have at least two years experience as a Police Officer)
• Advanced starting salary step
• Vacation accrual rate commensurate with years of experience
• 80 bonus hours of vacation for Laterals with 5+ years of service
• Up to 10 years of service credit towards retention pay incentives
• Front loaded sick leave

If this interests you, please keep reading to learn more about our application process.

Qualifications to Apply for Police Officer – Lateral:

• You must be currently employed as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency.
• If out of state, you must meet California POST Peace Officer Standards. Please visit https://www.post.ca.gov/basic-course-waiver-process.aspx for more details.
• You must be in excellent physical condition and demonstrate a state of physical and mental health consistent with the ability to perform assigned duties and the requirements of California Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Do you meet those qualifications? If so, read on and after you finish reading, please click the "Apply" button to apply online today!

Application Process for Police Officer – Lateral

• Complete and submit the application and supplemental questionnaire. We will review your application and questionnaire responses and if you receive a passing evaluation, these are the next steps:
  • You will be required to complete and submit a Personal History Statement (PHS).
  • If your application and PHS meet qualifications, the department will reach out for a departmental interview.
  • You will need to enter and pass the background process (which includes a polygraph).
  • After a conditional offer of employment is made, you will need to successfully complete a medical and psychological evaluation.

Police Officer is the full working level class in law enforcement, performing all duties required to effectively respond to and resolve the normal scope of peace officer situations encountered. Incumbents may be assigned to patrol, traffic, detective, crime prevention or other police-related functions depending on rotational assignments. This class is distinguished from uniformed professional police-related classes by the responsibilities and authorities associated with designation as a sworn peace officer under the laws of the State of California. It is further distinguished from Police Sergeant, which both supervises and participates in law enforcement activities.

1. Patrols assigned areas to ensure the security of life and property, observe situations, and deter crime by providing high visibility.
2. Responds to emergency calls for service, disturbances, thefts, burglaries, vehicle accidents, domestic disputes, suspicious activities and other incidents to protect public safety and property, resolve problems, diffuse situations and enforce laws and ordinances.
3. Provides information, directions and assistance to the public in a variety of situations; takes reports and assists the public with complaints or unusual situations.
4. Observes, monitors and controls routine and unusual traffic situations; stops and warns drivers or issues citations as appropriate; investigates traffic accidents; provides direction and traffic control in accident, incident situations, or special events or other congested situations.
5. Makes arrests and serves warrants and subpoenas; takes individuals into custody and may transport them for medical clearance and/or booking at a longer-term facility, as required.
6. Secures crime scenes and evidence; interviews suspects, victims, and witnesses; collects and preserves evidence; performs complete investigations and/or cooperates with other law enforcement agencies providing investigative and case development support.
7. Assists the City Attorney or the District Attorney staff in preparing, documenting and developing cases and gathering information; testifies in court as required.
8. Prepares written reports; prepares and maintains logs, records, and accurate files.
9. Engages in community-based policing and collaborative problem solving in order to build trust, familiarization, and a working relationship between law enforcement and community residents.
10. Provides emergency aid and assistance to incapacitated persons and requests additional response.
11. Provides mutual aid to other law enforcement agencies as dispatched and in accordance with departmental policy.
12. May perform dispatch duties on a relief or as needed basis.
13. May serve as a field training officer.
14. Perform related duties as assigned.

Education/Experience

Education: High School Diploma or G.E.D

Experience: At least 2 years of related work or volunteer experience requiring public contact

Knowledge

Knowledge of community-based policing, intelligence-led policing, and other similar practices used to develop relationships with the community in order to best identify and solve public safety problems; law enforcement principles, practices and techniques related to patrol, traffic enforcement, crime scene control and investigation, protection of life and property, pursuit, apprehension and transportation of suspects; investigation and identification techniques and equipment; rules of evidence regarding search and seizure and the preservation of evidence; courtroom procedures and techniques for testifying; applicable laws, codes, ordinances, court decisions and departmental rules and regulations; safety practices and equipment related to the work, including the safe use and proper care of firearms, chemical agencies and impact weapons; computer applications related to law enforcement work; techniques of first aid and CPR; communication techniques for dealing with and solving the problems presented by a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Ability

Ability to successfully complete all California P.O.S.T. certified police academy requirements; maintain physical and mental condition appropriate to perform assigned duties and responsibilities; maintain effective audio and visual discrimination and perception needed to perform assigned duties; observe and accurately remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places; learn and interpret laws, regulations, policies and procedures; carry out oral and written directions; analyze situations and make quick decisions requiring sound judgment; effectively deal with, direct and perform work activities under potentially dangerous situations; communicate situations; operate a variety of specialized police department equipment including computerized telecommunications and dispatch equipment; become proficient in self-defense techniques and in the care and use of firearms; maintain level of knowledge and physical condition required for satisfactory job performance; establish and maintain accurate records; prepare concise, comprehensive reports; communicate effectively; act with resourcefulness, courtesy and initiative; exercise independent judgment; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public.

Other Requirements

Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License by time of appointment and satisfactory driving record as a condition of initial and continued employment.

Must be 21 years old by date of appointment as a Police Officer.

Be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law

Must possess satisfactory hearing capabilities and visual acuity and be able to meet physical, psychological, and other background standards including passing a polygraph test.

Must have required P.O.S.T. certification and maintain firearms qualification.

Willingness and/or ability to work variable shifts, weekends, holidays, irregular days and hours overtime and on call; and wear a uniform and safety equipment; work outside in inclement weather; work under undesirable and hazardous condition; attend meetings and training sessions as required; travel locally and out-of-the-area on special assignment and to attend meetings and classes; and observe department standards and image.

Selection Process
- Review and Evaluation of the Job Application and Supplemental Questionnaire.
- Personal History Statement (PHS) Review: Qualified applicants will be invited to submit a Personal History Statement for review.
- Initial Interview: Applicants who pass the PHS review will be invited in for an initial interview.
- Background Investigation: A thorough investigation of a personal history, including but not limited to work history, education, military, arrest record, etc. will be conducted on candidates certified to the Police Department. A polygraph is a part of the background examination.
- Medical/Psychological Evaluation: After passing all components listed above and receiving a conditional offer of employment, candidates must successfully complete a required medical/psychological examination prior to appointment.

The examination process may test for, but is not limited to, the essential knowledge and abilities listed in the job specification and announcement and will be designed to provide a comprehensive review of each candidate's technical knowledge and overall suitability for the position. Qualified applicants will be notified of the exact date, time, and location of examinations approximately two weeks in advance.

Candidates passing all components of the examination process will be placed on an Eligible List. A list of names is certified to the department(s) having vacancies based on the type of examination conducted pursuant to the provision of the City's Civil Service Rules. Final selection will be made from the Eligible List by the Department Head subject to approval by the City Manager. The Department Head may utilize additional selection procedures to make a final hiring decision. Placement on an Eligible List does not guarantee employment. Tie scores will be broken by giving priority to the candidate with the highest rating on the most heavily weighted portion of the exam or if weighted 100% on any given portion, based on the earliest application date and time. The selection process may be evaluated and revised based on the number of qualified applicants. Federal law requires that prior to employment, you must furnish proof of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States, as required the U.S. Department of Justice.

E-VERIFY: The City of Alameda utilizes the Federal government's E-Verify program and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization, which includes showing a valid United States Social Security card at the time of hire (photocopies not accepted).

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE CREDIT: A job applicant qualifies as a veteran if honorably discharged from active military, reservist, or National Guard duty of at least 18 consecutive months within the past five (5) years of the date of application. In case of discharge attributable to service-connected injuries or illnesses, the 18 months active duty requirement need not be fulfilled. An applicant claiming veteran's preference credit must attach to their application, a legible copy of their DD-214 verifying the type of discharge and date(s) of active service. NO OTHER DOCUMENTATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City of Alameda encourages minorities, women and the disabled to apply. It is the City's policy that all aspects of employment and promotion shall be without regard to sex, marital status or disability (except where dictated by requirements of the position), race, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious creed, color, national origin or age. Qualified disabled persons must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. No individual may pose a direct threat to the health or safety of himself/herself or other individuals in the workplace. Barring undue hardship, reasonable accommodations can be made in the application and examination process for disabled individuals or for religious reasons. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be made in advance to the Human Resources Department. Hearing Impaired TDD (510) 522-7538

The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.