Police Officer (Experienced & Academy Graduates)

• $25,000/$10,000 SIGNING BONUS***
  
  

The City of Costa Mesa now offers a $25,000, one-time signing bonus for qualified Lateral Police Officers to join our team. This bonus will be paid out at $7,500 upon hire, $7,500 upon successful completion of the Field Training program, and $10,000 upon completion of probation.

To qualify for this signing bonus, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

• Currently be employed with another California law enforcement agency
• Successfully passed that agency’s probationary period
• Possess a current POST Basic Certificate (or higher)
  
  

The City of Costa Mesa also offers a $10,000, one-time signing bonus for qualified Non-Lateral Police Officer applicants. This bonus will be paid out at $3,000 upon hire, $3,000 upon successful completion of the Field Training program, and $4,000 upon completion of probation.

The City of Costa Mesa is accepting applications for the position of Police Officer. Interested individuals may apply as an experienced peace officer (current or previously employed) or as a recent Academy Graduate.

SALARY

• Current: $8,204 - $10,995 monthly
  
  

Lateral Incentive Program - Applicants Who Are Currently Employed With Another California Law Enforcement Agency And Have Successfully Passed That Agency's Probationary Period Will Qualify For The City's Lateral Police Officer Incentives Which Include

• Reduced ten (10) month probationary period.
• Up to 80 hours of sick leave upon hire depending on current sick leave balance with current employer.
  
  

Entry-level candidates who do not meet the requirements of this position should apply for the Police Recruit position located on the City's Employment Opportunities page: click here.

For more information about the Costa Mesa Police Department, click here.

Application And Selection Process

Applications must be received by June 1st to be considered for the Physical Agility Test scheduled tentatively for June 27, 2026.

Applications are being accepted on a continuous basis in order to meet the needs of the City.

STEP #1: SUBMIT APPLICATION

Applications must be completed and submitted online. Candidates are required to provide specific information on their education and experience as it relates to the position by completing all fields of the application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete (resumes are not accepted). Candidate notifications are sent via email. Please make sure your email address is correct and check your email periodically during the application process. Candidates who pass an initial application screening will be invited to continue in the selection process.

Required Attachment(s)

Candidates must attach a copy of their applicable California POST Certificate(s) to their application as indicated below.

Academy Graduate Candidates Must Attach The Following

• California POST Basic Police Academy certificate of graduation (dated within the past 18 months of application date).
  
  

Experienced Police Officer Candidates Must Attach The Following

• Current California POST Basic certificate (or higher) or CA POST requalification Course certificate.
• Out-of-State applicants: California POST Basic Course Waiver.
  
  

Do NOT attach any additional documents (i.e. resume) to the application other than what is listed above, as they will not be accepted or reviewed in the application process.

STEP #2: PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST (PAT)

Qualified applicants who submit the required certificates, as stated above, will be invited to the PAT when a test date is established. The PAT is typically scheduled several times per year.

• To view a video detailing the PAT components click here.
  
  

STEP #3: ORAL INTERVIEW EVALUATIONS

Candidates who successfully pass the PAT will be invited to the interview evaluation.

ELIGIBILITY LIST

Candidates must pass all three (3) of the steps listed above to be placed on the City's Eligibility List. The application screening and physical agility test are all qualifying steps (pass/fail). The oral interview evaluation is weighted 100% and determines a candidates' placement on the eligibility list. Eligibility lists are valid for one (1) year from the date they are established unless it is exhausted sooner or extended for an additional period of time.

Final Phases Of The Selection Process

Upon being placed on the eligibility list, appointment(s) will be made after successfully passing each of the following components: polygraph examination, a comprehensive background investigation, interview with the Chief of Police, and the post-offer pre-employment psychological evaluation and medical examination. All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States.

Please call the Police Recruitment Hotline at (714) 754-4955 with any questions.

Leave a message with your question and a staff member will return your call within one business day.

• Please notify the Human Resources Division 72 hours in advance of a scheduled test date if you have a disability which requires accommodation for the testing process.
  
  

NOTE: The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained within may be modified or revoked without notice.

Please click the following link to review the essential functions in the job description:

Police Officer

If you do not meet the minimum qualifications, or if any of the automatic disqualifiers pertain to you, it is recommended that you do not submit an application for this position as you will be disqualified from the selection process.

Academy Graduate Applicants

• Must have graduated from a California POST Basic Police Academy within the last 18 months from the date of application.
  
  

Experienced Police Officer Applicants

• Must have successfully completed a training program and probationary period at another law enforcement agency as a Peace Officer or Deputy Sheriff, and
• Must possess a current California POST Basic certificate (or higher) or California POST Requalification Course certificate.
  
  

Out-of-State experienced applicants must have a California POST Basic Course Waiver by date of application. Certificate must be attached to application in order to be considered.

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS: Please be advised of the Costa Mesa Police Department automatic disqualifiers: click here for a list of background disqualifiers.

Education, Training And/Or Experience

• Must be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or other high school equivalency test approved by CDE, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited or approved institution.
• College course work with an emphasis in police science, social sciences, or related field is desirable.
  
  

License And/Or Certificate

• Class C California Driver's License. Revocation of license during employment may result in disciplinary action or reassignment.
  
  

Additional Requirements Per P.o.s.t. Regulations

• Vision: 20/20 each eye corrected or uncorrected. Normal color vision.
• Hearing: Normal hearing acuity.
• Height/Weight: In proportion to age and frame.
• Citizenship: Legal authorization to work in the United States under federal law.
• Age: 21 years of age or older at the time of appointment.
  
  

Special Note

• Smoking or use of any tobacco products at any time while on duty is prohibited. Tattoos shall not be visible while on duty.
  
  

Requisite Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• For detailed information on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities, please click the following link to view the job description: Police Officer
  
  

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker

In accordance with Government Code Section 3100 - all City of Costa Mesa employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

Physical Tasks And Environmental Conditions

Please contact Human Resources for a summary of the physical tasks and environmental factors for these classifications. Employee accommodations for physical or mental disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.