Police Recruit

Job Description:

Police Recruit

Description

Description/Special Instructions

The City of Elk Grove is currently accepting applications for

POLICE RECRUIT

The Elk Grove Police Department is inviting motivated individuals seeking a challenging and rewarding career in law enforcement to apply for the Police Recruit position. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with the desire to begin a career in law enforcement and participate in a high level of community collaboration.

This is a non-sworn position designed for individuals considering a career in law enforcement and for the purpose of preparing potential Police Officer candidates. Employees in this position are temporary at-will employees who are preparing for and attending the Police Academy. Upon successful completion of the academy, incumbents are then appointed to the sworn Police Officer classification. Upon appointment to the sworn Police Officer- Entry Level position, incumbents will earn a salary of $88,171.00/annually plus any applicable incentives and holiday in lieu pay pursuant to the EGPOA MOU.

Learn more about the City of Elk Grove Police Department

Tentative Recruitment Timeline (subject to change)
Filing Deadline: February 17, 2026, at 11:59pm
Written Exam: February 28, 2026 (In Person)

Oral Board Interviews: February 24 - 25, 2026 and March 10 - 12, 2026 (In Person)

February 24th - 25th, will be interviews for qualified candidates who submit a valid passing Pellet B score at the time application submission.

March 10th - 12th, will be interviews for all other qualified candidates who take the Pellet B with the City of Elk Grove on February 28, 2026 , and obtain a passing score.

The City offers a competitive salary and generous benefit package including CalPERS retirement benefits, a deferred compensation match and more.

Why work for the City of Elk Grove? Proud Heritage. Bright Future.

Community Profile
Elk Grove is a vibrant, family-friendly community of approximately 178,124 people in the Sacramento, California region, located 14 miles south of the State Capital and 60 miles east of the Bay Area. Elk Grove is a young, ethnically diverse, modern city that was incorporated in 2000. Elk Grove has low crime, excellent schools, over 100 community parks and 28 miles of trails, plentiful dining and shopping options, numerous annual events and festivals, and over 270 sunny days per year.

Representative Duties

Under general supervision, performs developmental assignments and support to various programs within the Police Department and may attend a California P.O.S.T. Basic Peace Officer Academy. Police Recruits participate in basic law enforcement training, gain an understanding of police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, acquire physical and emotional skills needed to successfully complete the police academy and may perform non-sworn, non-hazardous duties in support of a variety of police operations.

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.

• Attend and successfully complete a California P.O.S.T. Basic Peace Officer Academy to the City’s satisfaction.
  
  
• Participate in and provide support and assistance to special crime prevention and enforcement programs.
• Control traffic flow and enforce State and local municipal codes violations and traffic regulations.
• Operate a variety of motor vehicles.
• Operates a wide variety of law enforcement equipment, including radio and communications equipment to transmit to and receive information from Police personnel using a coded response system.
• Perform investigative work.
• Attend briefings, meetings, seminars, and training activities.
• Review Department operating procedures, criminal law changes, crime maps, and other related information.
• Perform and variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of the Police Department.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Basic law enforcement theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and department rules, policies, and procedures.
• Self-defense principles and practices.
• Research and report writing techniques.
• Methods and techniques used in customer service and public relations.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and reporting.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Geographic features and locations within the area served.

Ability to :

• Learn the principles, practices, procedures, laws and ordinances, terminology, and operation of equipment used in law enforcement, crime prevention, and investigation.
• Use and care for firearms.
• Observe, assimilate, remember, and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Read maps and mapped information.
• Follow oral and written directions
• Write clearly, accurately, concisely, legibly, and with correct grammatical construction and spelling.
• Use tact and maintain cooperative relationships with public.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  

Education and Experience Requirements :

Education:

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade AND must have a minimum of 35* semester units. Four (4) years of U.S. Military Service with an honorable discharge or a reservist member with a Joint Service Transcript showing 35 credits can be substituted for the 35-unit requirement. Proof of such must be provided with the application. *NOTE: Candidates will earn a minimum of 25 college units upon graduation of the Police Academy.
• May submit proof of a California POST Pellet B T-score of 42 or higher.
  
  WHERE TO OBTAIN A PELLETB TEST AND A PHYSICAL ABILITY TEST (PAT): ThePELLETB and PAT must be obtained through a California law enforcement agency or law enforcement training academy.
  
  Other Testing Resources:
  • Sacramento County Sheriff's Training Academy
  • Sacramento Police Department Training Academy
  • South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium
  • Modesto Police Department

• For additional testing resources and for more information about Police Officer Standards and Training, please click on the following link www.post.ca.gov

Experience :

One year of experience working with the public.

License or Certificate :

Possession or ability to possess an appropriate, valid California driver’s license, and a satisfactory driving record by date of hire.

Other Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of completion of the Police Academy.
• Please note that Pellet B test scores from other agencies will only be accepted at the time of application submission. You must submit proof of a California PELLETB score of 42 or higher. The PELLETB must have been taken within one year from the date of application OR applicant must attend and pass the Elk Grove Police Department Pellet B Exam scheduled for February 28, 2026, in order to move forward in the recruitment process.
• Physical Requirements: Positions in this class require the incumbent to:
• Be able to meet medical standards as prescribed by POST and detailed in the POST Medical Screening Manual.
• Possess sufficient physical ability to successfully complete the POST certified basic academy and to perform the full scope and functions of a Police Officer.
• Applicants must be of good moral character and have no convictions of a felony offense or any offense reflecting lack of character or judgment. Conviction of a felony or serious misdemeanor is disqualifying.
• Incumbent will need to pass a POST background investigation which includes a drug screen, polygraph/CVSA examination, psychological and medical evaluatio n.

Retired Annuitants:

This is a regular full-time position. Retired Annuitants are not eligible for appointment to this position under Government Code Sections 7522.56, 21224, 21227, and 21229. Retired CalPERS members may apply only if they are planning to voluntarily reinstate from retirement.

Employment Sponsorship:

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship or any other type of employment-based visa sponsorshi p.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment : Work is generally performed in a typical field environment, with most time spent sitting, standing or walking. Position will require work outdoors and using body, ear and eye protection. Incumbent may be required to work rotating shifts and assignments, and may work overtime with little or no notice.

Physical : Due to the varied and unpredictable nature of police work, the incumbent may also be required to perform the following: make precise arm-hand positioning movements and maintain static arm-hand position such as when sighting and shooting a firearm; may require continuous and repetitive arm-hand movements; use sufficient strength and agility to enable the incumbent to sprint, or jump; coordinate the movement of more than one limb simultaneously such as when using hand radio while driving a vehicle or searching a building with firearm drawn, flashlight on and opening and closing doors; bend or stoop repeatedly and continuously over time such as getting in and out of patrol car or gathering evidence at crime scenes; wear a 15 lb. utility/gun belt which requires the continuous support from stomach and lower back muscles; may require the movement of heavy objects 50 lbs. and more. The incumbent may respond to complex police situations or emergencies and is therefore subject to any of the hazards encountered by police patrol officers. Operate various office equipment such as telephones, computers, copiers, fax machines, etc. Safely operate the following equipment in the performance of duties: A variety of City-owned vehicles; firearms; communications equipment, such as two-way radios, cell phones, and pagers; Mobile display terminals (MDT), various audio-visual equipment and any other equipment assigned. Required to physically take a resistive or combative subject into custody.

Vision : Within California POST standards as verified by a medical background.

Hearing : Within California POST standards as verified by a medical background.

The information listed above is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Elk Grove is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and professionalism. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (916) 478-2230. City of Elk Grove participates in E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires.



Closing Date/Time: 2/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$32.76 Hourly