Police Officer I

Veteran-Friendly Employer – Serve Your Community with the San Diego Police Department

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) proudly honors your military service and sacrifice. As a Veteran-friendly employer, SDPD is certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under 38 U.S.C. § 3675 to provide On-the-Job Training (OJT) for eligible veterans and qualified individuals. This means you may use your GI Bill benefits while employed by SDPD—beginning with attendance at a paid California POST-approved Police Academy and continuing for up to one year after graduation as you complete the Field Training Program and probationary period.

If you have a strong commitment to public service, a career with SDPD offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community while building a rewarding profession.

As a national leader in Community-Oriented Policing, SDPD values its longstanding partnerships with San Diego’s diverse communities. Officers are entrusted to uphold this tradition of service, professionalism, and collaboration.

In addition to competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, SDPD provides substantial career mobility and advancement opportunities. With more than 70 specialized assignments, career paths include Detective, SWAT, ABLE (Air Support), K9 Handler, Dive Team, Field Training Officer, Beach Patrol, Motor Officer, and many others. Whether you seek operational specialization, leadership development, or community-focused roles, SDPD offers a structured and supportive environment to help you grow.

The following skills and desirable attributes exemplify what we look for in a Police Officer I:

Integrity; leadership skills; excellent judgment under pressure; ability to maintain sufficient level of fitness to safely perform as a law enforcement professional; the ability to be aware of, control, and express emotions appropriately, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically; ability to maintain confidence in uncertain situations; excellent judgment and ability to act under pressure; ability to thrive in diverse populations.

A San Diego Police Officer I:

• Contributes to the team effort of maintaining a presence in the community that helps to deter crime and provide support to citizens.
• Collaborates in building strong relationships with community members, upholding best practices of Community Oriented Policing.
• Acts as a police presence at major public events to ensure public safety.
• Identifies potential criminal activity or other hazardous situations and takes proper actions to protect citizens and property.
• Helps to secure crime scenes and process evidence.
• Responds to calls for service; Observes violations; makes arrests and citations when necessary.
• Conducts criminal investigations by gathering evidence and interviewing victims and witnesses.
• Documents observations and actions by radioing information; completing reports.
• Fulfills court orders by testifying in court regarding criminal investigations and citations.
• Maintains safe traffic conditions by monitoring and directing traffic; enforces laws and ordinances; investigates collisions; reports unsafe streets and facilities.

Police officer I is not an entry-level position. If you have not graduated from a California P.O.S.T. academy or do not have prior peace officer experience within the last one year, you must apply for Police Officer (Recruit Level).

Police Officer I positions are designed for recent California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy graduates and persons that possess current California Basic P.O.S.T. certificates. Police Officer I positions work under immediate supervision in a training program to perform increasingly responsible law enforcement and crime prevention duties; respond to emergency calls for police assistance; patrol an assigned area to enforce laws; investigate suspicious conditions, traffic accidents, and complaints; make arrests; question witnesses and suspects; issue citations; prepare evidence and testify in court; fingerprint, photograph, book, supervise, and transport prisoners; report unsafe or hazardous conditions; answer inquiries from the public; and perform other duties as assigned.

Note:

• Eligible benefitted employees will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).
• Police Officer I employees must complete the Regional Academy Training and receive a Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate within ONE year of hire.
• Police Officer I employees may work a 4 day/10-hour, rotating shift work schedule, depending on assignment.
• After one year, Police Officer I employees receive a $900 annual uniform allowance.
• Bilingual pay (3.5% of base pay) is provided to qualified officers, if skills are required.
• Additional add on pays may be available if you meet the requirements.
• Initially, Police Officer I employees may either be assigned to the Field Training Program right away or they may be required to attend the Regional Police Academy.

State Standards:

In accordance with P.O.S.T Standards, candidates must be free of any felony convictions. Candidates will be screened by the San Diego Police Department and are subject to immediate disqualification if any of the following are found during the background investigative process: domestic violence conviction(s), or if you are a registered sex offender; for additional information refer to the following link: P.O.S.T. Disqualifiers.

Note:

• Candidates screened by the San Diego Police Department must present proof of legal right to work in the United States when they submit their Background Investigation Questionnaire.
• AGE: 21 years of age at time of hire.
• LICENSE: A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.

Benefits:

SDPD offers a competitive base salary, great benefits, and many additional pay opportunities.

Flexible Benefits Plan Options for Police Safety Members or review the Benefits Summary for POA Employees. (Download PDF reader)

Education: You must meet ONE of the following options:

• Graduation from a High School located within the United States or a United States territory.
• Passage of the California High School Proficiency Examination (C.H.S.P.E.) or General Education Development (G.E.D.) with scores that meet the California standard established by the American Council on Education.
• Possession of a two or four-year degree from an accredited college or university. (Accreditation must be from an institutional accrediting body which has been recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.)

Note: Candidates screened by the Police Department must present proof of education when they submit their Background Investigation Questionnaire.

Post certification/ Experience: You must meet ONE of the following options:

• Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved Police Academy with a Basic Peace Officers Course Certificate dated within the last one year.
• Possession of a California Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate dated within the last one year.
• Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver letter dated within the last one year.
• Full-time employment as a paid sworn peace officer with a city police, county sheriff, state or federal law enforcement agency performing correction duties, patrol functions, or traffic enforcement WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. Time served in a training capacity as a recruit/trainee as part of the Police Academy does NOT qualify for the experience requirement. Applicants meeting the experience requirement as specified above who lack the California P.O.S.T. Certificate may apply. If hired, attendance at a PAID Regional San Diego Police Academy is required to satisfy California state certification requirements. This certification is necessary to work as a Police Officer for the City of San Diego.

Note:

• Applicants attending and within six weeks of completing a California P.O.S.T. certified standard-length Police Academy or extended format Police Academy may apply. NOTE: Provide a letter of good standing from your Training Officer. The letter needs to be on letter head, include your name, your academy standing, and the estimated date of graduation.
• Applicants with certificates over one year old may qualify if they also submit a P.O.S.T. requalification certificate dated within the last one year; or apply for Police Officer (Recruit Level) and waive the written test.
• Applicants who do not meet the California P.O.S.T. certificate or experience requirement as specified above may apply for Police Officer (Recruit Level).

Still have questions? Click here for more https://www.sandiego.gov/join-san-diego-police-department?redirect=joinsdpd.com