| Location | Garden Grove, CA |
| Salary | $17–$19 Per Hour |
Police Cadet
Salary
$17.00 - $19.00 Hourly
Location
Police Department, CA
Job Type
Part-Time
Job Number
2027-017
Department
Police
Opening Date
10/19/2026
Closing Date
11/16/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
City and Job Overview
The City of Garden Grove is currently accepting online applications for the position of:
POLICE CADET
Deadline to apply for this recruitment is Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST
Click here to apply online: Join Our Team
THE GARDEN GROVE POLICE DEPARTMENT
We recognized the value of having our Police Department work in close partnership with our community long ago, and have seen the quality of life in Garden Grove steadily improve as a result. A community policing philosophy has created strong alliances with citizens, businesses, schools, and other governmental agencies and special interest groups throughout the City. The Police Department consists of 182 sworn staff, including the police chief, three (3) captains, seven (7) lieutenants, 23 sergeants, and 148 police officers, in addition to civilian personnel.
BEING A POLICE CADET
The City of Garden Grove takes pride in our Police Cadet program. This program is designed to provide a service to the City, the Police Department and the community. The goal of the Police Cadet program is to expose young adults to hands-on experience, and a broad overview of a career in law enforcement and what it takes to be a member of the Police Department. Police Cadets may work in various units of the Police Department, such as Investigations, Neighborhood Traffic, Property and Evidence, Gang Suppression, Crime Prevention, and Youth Services.
Essential Duties
Police Cadets perform various non-sworn law enforcement station and field duties including:
Requirements
AGE: The maximum age for a candidate to enter this program is 22 and one-half years old (22 years and six months old) at the time of application close. Police Cadets may remain active in the program until their 25th birthday.
EDUCATION: Along with meeting the age requirements at the time of application close, applicants must meet one (1) of the following:
Be a senior in high school
Have graduated from high school (or completed the G.E.D.) and enrolling to attend college in the next possible school term
Be currently enrolled in college and carry a minimum of 9 units in an acceptable major with a 2.0 GPA or higher
possess a Bachelors degree or higher
WORK AUTHORIZATION: Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States under federal law.
CALIFORNIA DRIVERS LICENSE & DRIVING RECORD: Applicants must possess a valid California Class "C" drivers license and an acceptable driving record prior to and throughout employment. An acceptable driving record is one that has three (3) or fewer DMV points issued within the past five (5) years, and no more than one (1) DUI within the past ten (10) years.
ABILITIES AND SKILLS: Applicants must demonstrate that they possess: the ability to pay close attention to details; the ability to understand and accurately apply oral and written instructions, laws, orders, policies and procedures, effective oral communication, strong customer service skills; and ability to work closely, cooperatively and effectively with City staff members, Garden Groves diverse citizens and various representatives of other agencies.
BILINGUAL SKILLS: Applicants possessing the ability to speak Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean are highly desirable.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have no felony convictions.
Other Important Information
HOW TO APPLY
Applications may be completed online by visiting www.ggcity.org/hr. Questions regarding this recruitment should be sent to ggjobs@ggcity.org. Operating hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and every other Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The deadline to apply is Monday, November 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Online application packets must include:
The job application must be completely filled out. Please do not refer to a resume. Only applicants who appear to have the best qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation.
APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH EMAIL ONLY. Applicants should check their email and spam mail for any notices regarding their status.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process takes approximately 180 days from initial application to final selection depending on the duration of each step during the selection process. Some of the steps may take longer than anticipated due to availability and scheduling.
Applicants who fail any part of the selection process will not be further considered for this position.
Candidates who may need accommodations during the selection process must contact the Human Resources Department at ggjobs@ggcity.org at least one week prior to any test dates.
RE-APPLICATION
Candidates who applied for the Police Cadet position with the City of Garden Grove in the past and did not pass the following tests in the selection process may re-apply as indicated:
WHO TO CONTACT
For further questions, please contact Corporal Benjamin Elizondo at bene@ggcity.org or Human Resources Analyst Lydia Tran at lydiatb@ggcity.org.
NEPOTISM POLICY
The City has adopted a Nepotism Policy. Please refer to the Garden Grove Municipal Code 2.44.440 Nepotism Policy for more information.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The City of Garden Grove is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, marital status, religion, ancestry, national origin, medical condition, non-disqualifying disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, military/veteran status, or other protected class covered by appropriate law.
DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
Per Government Code 3100, in the event of a disaster, employees of the City of Garden Grove are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
Follow GGPD on social media:
Facebook (keyword: Garden Grove Police Department)
X @GardenGrovePD
Instagram gardengrovepd
City of Garden Groves Excellent Police Cadet Benefits!
BILINGUAL PAY: After certification, employees are eligible for pay for the use of their Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean bilingual skills.
RETIREMENT: Police Cadets participate in a deferred compensation package, which means that payroll retirement payments will be deducted from their pay and placed in a deferred compensation account, to be available after the employee leaves or retires.
SICK LEAVE: Employees receive sick leave time in accordance with the California Health Workplace Healthy Family Act (AB1522).
RIDESHARE PROGRAM: A variety of Rideshare incentives are provided, such as gift certificates and transportation subsidies.
01
Your responses to the supplemental questions below will be used to determine your qualifications for the position. You are required to answer ALL of the supplemental questions as truthfully and accurately as possible. Your responses to these questions are subject to verification and may be assessed in subsequent examination parts. Any sign of deliberate misinformation or intentional exaggeration will result in disqualification from this examination process.
02
The maximum age for this position is 22 years and 6 months.
Will you be 23 years of age OR OLDER on November 16, 2026?
03
Please indicate which of the following criteria apply to you.
04
The position of Police Cadet requires a drivers license. Do you currently possess a valid California Class "C" Drivers License?
05
Candidates who failed the panel interview with the City of Garden Grove must wait 12 months to re-apply for the same position. Have you failed the panel interview for Police Cadet within the last 12 months?
06
Candidates who failed the background investigation (including CVSA exam) with the City of Garden Grove must wait 12 months to re-apply for the same position. Have you failed the background investigation for Police Cadet within the last 12 months?
07
The ability to read, write, or speak Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean is highly desirable, but not necessary to be successful in this position.
Of the following languages, please check all of the languages in which you are fluent. (Being fluent is defined as having the ability to read, speak, or write a foreign language effectively and with relative ease)
Check all that apply.
08
As an adult, have you ever been convicted (or are currently out on bail or out on your own recognizance pending trial) of a felony?
09
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please give the date(s) and provide relevant details, such as the offense, where the violation occurred, sentence, status, etc.
If you answered "No" to the previous question, please write "N/A."
10
As an adult, have you ever been convicted (or are currently out on bail or out on your own recognizance pending trial) of a misdemeanor (including DUI, street racing, driving with a suspended license, etc.) other than a minor traffic violation(s)?
11
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please give the date(s) and provide relevant details, such as the offense, where the violation occurred, sentence, status, etc.
If you answered "No" to the previous questions, please write "N/A."
Required Question
Employer City of Garden Grove
Address 11222 Acacia Parkway
P.O. Box 3070
Garden Grove, California, 92840
Phone (714) 741-5004
Website https://ggcity.org/hr