Police Officer (Lateral/Academy Graduate)

City of La Mesa - Police Officer (Lateral/Academy Graduate) Job Opportunity

Job Summary

The City of La Mesa is seeking an exceptional Police Officer (Lateral/Academy Graduate) to join our team. This is a regular full-time position with a competitive salary range of $102,710.40 to $137,633.60 annually. The selected candidate will be responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining law and order in the city.

Benefits

• Future scheduled salary increases: 4.0% increase effective July 1, 2026
• Up to $15,000 hiring incentive bonus for lateral candidates
• $2,000 - completion of hiring process
• $3,000 - successful completion of the LMPD Field Training Program
• $5,000 - 2 years of service with successful performance and possession of Basic P.O.S.T. Certification at time of hire
• $10,000 - 2 years of service with successful performance and possession of Intermediate or Advanced P.O.S.T. Certification at time of hire
• Additional pay incentives and benefits: • Educational POST Incentive Pay • Bilingual Pay • Tuition Reimbursement • Computer Loan Program • Competitive Benefits Package

Job Responsibilities

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Patrol designated areas of the City in car, by foot, or other means to preserve law and order, discover and prevent the commission of crimes, and enforce traffic and other laws and ordinances
• Maintain awareness of and remain alert for wanted suspects, known criminals, stolen vehicles, missing persons, traffic violators, and crimes in progress
• Issue warnings and citations
• Respond to calls for the protection of life and property, the enforcement of laws and ordinances, general public service calls, and complaints
• Conduct investigations at scenes of incidents to which summoned or incidents observed
• Determine what, if any, crime has been committed
• Identify, collect, preserve, process, photograph, and book evidence
• Locate and interview victims and witnesses
• Identify and interrogate suspects
• Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants
• Apprehend and arrest offenders for crimes committed under Federal, State and local laws and codes
• Control and mitigate people under the influence of drugs or alcohol or other potentially hostile situations
• Direct traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency situations
• Provide traffic and crowd control at parades, festivals, riots, and other events
• Serve as liaison and public relations officer for the assigned area
• Establish and preserve good relationships with the general public
• May develop reliable informants and provide intelligence information to divisional and/or departmental personnel
• Contact and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses
• Participate in continuous training to enhance law enforcement skills
• Perform a variety of administrative and other types of duties in support of law enforcement services, programs, and activities
• Attend meetings
• Prepare and submit news releases
• Maintain and calibrate specialized equipment including preliminary alcohol screening devices
• Prepare a variety of reports including those on activities, operations, arrests made, and unusual incidents observed
• Prepare investigative reports and case information
• Testify in juvenile, civil, traffic, municipal, and criminal courts, and parole and DMV hearings
• Answer questions from the public concerning local and State laws, procedures, and activities of the department
• Assist in receiving, searching, booking, fingerprinting, and transporting prisoners
• Make presentations before a variety of public groups to promote crime prevention activities and to enhance public understanding of Police Department activities
• Serve as liaison to neighborhood watch groups and schools

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• General: Must be at least 20-1/2 years of age at time of application submission
• Education/Training: Requires high school graduation, passage of the General Education Development Test (GED) or attainment of a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited college or university
• Experience: Police Officer - Lateral Transfer: Any experience as a sworn peace officer in the State of California, or equivalent. Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate, California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver Certificate, or a California P.O.S.T. Basic Academy Certificate.
• Police Officer - Academy Graduate: Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved police academy. Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Academy Certificate.
• License: Possession of an appropriate, valid drivers license.

Examination Process

Interested applicants must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire. This recruitment is open until the needs of the City are met and may close at any time. Persons interested in this exceptional law enforcement opportunity are encouraged to apply immediately. Candidates whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the City will be invited to participate in the examination process.

The examination process for Police Officer (Lateral and Academy Graduates) will consist of an oral interview and a written exercise with La Mesa Police Department staff. Both of these examination components are designed to assess candidates knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates will be notified when testing dates have been established. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation, psychological evaluations, and thorough background investigation (includes polygraph examination). The medical evaluation includes an alcohol/drug screen.

Application Process

Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to continue in the selection process. Resumes in lieu of this questionnaire will not be accepted. Please be as descriptive as possible in your responses. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process.

Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

Yes No

I understand that I must be at least 20-1/2 years of age at time of application.

Yes No

I understand that I must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship.

Yes No

I have experience as a peace officer in the State of California, or equivalent.

Yes No

I possess a California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate, a California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver Certificate, or a California P.O.S.T. Basic Academy Certificate; OR I expect to obtain one of the above within the next 90 days.

Yes No

At the time you are submitting this job application, please provide a response below that accurately pertains to your status in graduating from a California POST-approved police academy.

Yes i have successfully graduated from a California POST-approved police academy

No I have not attended a California POST approved police academy

At the time I am submitting this job application, I will graduate in three months (90 days) or less from a California POST approved police academy

At the time I am submitting this job application, I am at least half-way through, or I have successfully completed at least 50% of the California POST approved police academy

Please indicate the name of the police academy you graduated from or are currently enrolled in. If you have not yet graduated from a police academy, please indicate the date you anticipate to graduate. Note: If you replied, "No I have not attended a California POST approved police academy" on Question #6, enter NA below.

If you were referred by a La Mesa Police Department employee to apply for this position, please provide their name below. By including this referral, you are certifying that the referred person informed and/or assisted you in the recruitment process and acknowledge that you will not be eligible for any portion of any incentive award provided to the referrer.

APPLICANTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT - NOTIFICATION VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL)

The City of La Mesa Human Resources Division uses e-mail to notify our applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of your application. Therefore, as an applicant, you are hereby advised of the following:

1. Ensure that the e-mail address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. Do not share e-mail addresses. Spam or other filters should be adjusted to accept our e-mails. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our e-mail notifications, i.e., for the non-delivery of e-mail or if you fail to check your e-mail inbox on a timely basis, etc.

2. Carefully read any notices that we send in a timely manner. Follow further instructions, if any. We recommend that you print and keep a hard copy of our notices for your records.

I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above.

Yes No

Contact Information

City of La Mesa 8130 Allison Avenue La Mesa, California, 91942 Phone: 619-667-1175 Website: https://www.cityoflamesa.gov/