Police Sergeant - Open to Internal and External Candidates

Job Description:

Police Sergeant - Open to Internal and External Candidates

Description

Continue your career in law enforcement with the Town of Los Gatos.
The Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department (LGMSPD) invites qualified internal and current Sworn Corporals (or equivalent) from other California Law Enforcement Agencies to apply for the Sergeant's Promotional Examination. This recruitment will be used to establish a promotional eligibility list. Final appointments will be made by the Police Chief from the eligibility list. Sergeants must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays. There is an 12-month probationary period. This position is a FLSA, non-exempt classification represented by the Los Gatos Police Officers' Association (LGPOA).

Please read this job announcement carefully as it contains time sensitive information. For any questions, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@losgatosca.gov .

POLICE SERGEANT

$76.7013 - $88.7914 per hour

$80.5364 - $93.2310 per hour (Effective July 2025)

$83.7579 - $96.9603 per hour (Effective July 2026)

Plus excellent benefits.
Placement within the range depends on experience.

Additional Specialty Pay above the base salary for qualified candidates includes:

Bilingual - 2.5%
4 Year College Degree - 2.5%
*Intermediate POST - 5%
*Advanced POST - 2.5%
*Total of 7.5% for Intermediate and Advanced POST

Recruitment Schedule
Dates may be subject to change. We will notify impacted candidates of any changes. See “Assessment Dimensions and Preparation Materials” for more information on how to prepare for this recruitment.

March 7, 2025: Recruitment Closes

March 8, 2025: PHQ Assessment (external applicants only) and Take Home Exercise are sent to candidates
March 13, 2025: PHQ Assessments due from external applicants.
March 24, 2025:
- Sergeant’s Core Exam at the Police Operations Building (POB) (15900 Los Gatos Blvd., Los Gatos, CA 95032). The exam is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. and take about two (2) hours.
- Take Home Exercise due. Candidates must bring four (4) copies to the Assessment Center.

March 31, 2025: Assessment Center at the Jewish Community Center ( 4855 Oka Rd, Los Gatos, CA 95032). The assessment will last about four (4) hours. Candidates may be scheduled for a morning or afternoon assessment.

Assessment Dimensions & Reading Materials
The Town of Los Gatos has hired Donnoe & Associates, Inc. to help with this recruitment. The Candidate Orientation video provides general exam information, including tips on how to prepare for the written tests and the assessment center.

Please read below for details about each phase of the recruitment process.
Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ): The first step in the recruitment is completing a Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) that asks applicants about their personal history and background. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are selected to move forward in the recruitment process will be emailed instructions to complete a PHQ.
Take Home Exercise: Applicants will be required to complete a take home assignment which will be an exercise where applicants will prepare a written and oral presentation to a panel of raters. Sergeant’s Core Exam: The Sergeant’s Core Exam is estimated to take two (2) hours. The exam was developed by Donnoe & Associates, Inc. , who specializes in the development of Police department promotion examinations. The exam has a written and multiple-choice section. Below is a list of the reading materials to help you prepare for this exam and how to access them. Candidates sitting for the Sergeant’s Examination should be prepared to answer questions that test knowledge of information from the reading list.

Reading Materials Internal Candidates External Candidates
California Peace Officer Legal Sourcebook
This book is available online at www.copware.com and on the App on your assigned work cell phone under “CopWare.” Sign in with your PD username and password as you would sign into a PD desktop. This book is available online at www.copware.com and on the App.
Pocket Guide to the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act. California Public Employee Relations, 18th Edition (2019).
Contact Claudia Martinez for a hard copy of the book or visit Pocket Guide to the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (18th ed., 2019) - California Public Employee Relations (berkeley.edu) . Visit Pocket Guide to the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (18th ed., 2019) - California Public Employee Relations (berkeley.edu) .
De-escalation: Strategies & Techniques for California Law Enforcement Copyright 2020. California Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training.
Visit DeEscalation Publication Visit DeEscalation Publication
CA POST Use of Force Standards and Guidelines, California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (2021)

For a PDF copy, click on CA POST Use of Force Standards and Guidelines, California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (2021) .

For a PDF copy, click on CA POST Use of Force Standards and Guidelines, California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (2021) .

Supervision of Police Personnel. Iannone, N., Iannone, M. Bernstein, J. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 9th Edition (2019)

Contact Claudia Martinez for a hard copy of the book or click on Supervision of Police Personnel

For a PDF copy, click on Supervision of Police Personnel
Assessment Center: The Assessment Center is approximately four (4) hours long. Candidates may be assigned a morning or afternoon time. The Assessment Center will include three oral boards with subject matter experts who will ask you structured questions to help them evaluate your education, work experience and training as they relate to the Police Corporal position. You will be asked behavioral and technical questions. You will also be asked to give a presentation based on the Take Home Exercise.

Duties and Responsibilities

As a Police Sergeant, you are expected to perform the following duties:

• Supervise, train, and evaluate police officers and professional staff.
• Plan and coordinate patrol, investigative, and administrative assignments.
• Respond to and manage major incidents, providing leadership and command.
• Conduct timely briefings and debriefings for officers.
• Ensure compliance with department policies, procedures, and legal requirements. This includes periodic review of department policies and procedures in addition to legal updates.
• Assist in recruitment, hiring, retention and training programs to include monitoring training that is occurring on the team being supervised and ride alongs for safety and compliance with applicable rules and guidelines.
• Conduct or assist with internal investigations and review supervisor referral complaints regarding officer or professional staff conduct in collaboration with command staff.
• Act as a liaison between the department and the community to build and maintain public trust.
• Oversee and timely completion and review of crime reports, evidence handling, and case assignments in compliance with department policy and datapoint requirements of RIPA, NIBRS/ CIBRS, and other pertinent details.
• Develop crime prevention and public safety initiatives to address current trends.
• Collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, emergency services, and community groups.
• Provide tactical leadership during critical incidents.
• Familiarity with related County Protocols (Officer Involved Incident, Hate Crimes Protocol, Domestic Violence Protocol, Call-Out Guidelines for County Communications by Santa Clara County D.A., etc.).
• Perform administrative duties such as scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Mentor and coach members within the department, support training interests and future succession.
• Oversee at least one collateral team, i.e. Drone, Canine, Defensive Tactics and De-escalation, Firearms / Range, Peer Support, Bike Patrol, Crisis Response Unit, Explorers, Field Training SAC, Reserve Officer program, DART, etc.
• Document conduct not in alignment with supervisor expectations, department or Town policy and procedures, or legal obligations.
• Participate in monthly Management Meetings with content, attendance, and collaborative input.
• Awareness of supervisory role in Community Complaint process, Use of Force review process, On-Duty Accident documentation, and Pursuit Review.

Visit Police Sergeant Job Classification for more information.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Experience

• Police Sergeant (Internal Applicants): Four (4) years of sworn service in a California Law Enforcement agency.
• Police Sergeant (External Applicants): Four (4) years of sworn service in a California Law Enforcement agency. Currently holding the rank of Corporal (or a comparable position with similar responsibilities) within a California Law Enforcement agency is a desirable qualification.

Education

• Completion of high school and 60 semester college units from an accredited university.
• Employee must not be on probation or participating in a Performance Improvement Plan at the time of application.
• A completed college degree is highly desirable and will be viewed favorably in the selection process.

Certificates & Licenses:

• Possession of POST Basic Certificate.
• POST Supervisory Certificate is required within one year of appointment.

Application and Selection Process

To be considered for this career opportunity, click on the "Apply" button to complete the online application. Resumes may be attached, but not accepted in place of a complete online application. Only complete applications will be accepted. Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee continuation in the process. Only the most qualified applicants with the most relevant experience and education will be invited to continue in the selection process. The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The Town of Los Gatos is an Equal Opportunity and does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, medical, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by law. Qualified individuals with a disability will receive reasonable accommodation, as required by the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504, during any phase of the selection process, providing such request is made to Human Resources at least five working days in advance. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation. Under federal law, all employees must provide documents that authorize the right to work in the United States.

Bargaining Unit: Los Gatos Police Officers' Association (POA)

Please refer to the Benefit Summaries postedon theTown of Los Gatos Human Resources Department Webpage.

Closing Date/Time: 3/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$159,536.00 - $184,683.20 Annually