POLICE OFFICER TRAINEE

Job Description

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT:  www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs

POLICE OFFICER TRAINEE
Police Department
Recruitment #18-K19-001
Salary: $5,868.95/Month

INTRODUCTION
Do you like helping those in need, preventing and solving crime, protecting the innocent and serving our community? Are you a leader with courage, integrity, self-discipline and compassion? If you are interested in a career in law enforcement, consider becoming a Police Officer Trainee with the City of Ventura's progressive Police Department and apply on-line today at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs!For additional information regarding the Ventura Police Department, please visit our website at: https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/816/Police-Department.

Please note that applications are being accepted on a continuous basis and the recruitment may close at any time.

THE POSITION
This is a non-safety, non-sworn, at-will position.  Attends a high-stress, POST-certified, police academy, and receives additional department training designed to provide an overview of the criminal justice system, various laws and procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, physical fitness, and other related duties. Trainees learn the philosophy of community problem-oriented policing and working closely with the community to resolve problems.
This position is designated as "at-will," serving at the pleasure of the appointing authority, and subject to discharge without cause and without right of appeal.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Is trustworthy, honest, physically active and has good leadership qualities.
• Takes responsibility and uses a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Maintains control when resolving delicate issues or responding to emergency situations.
• Makes logical, fair decisions with calm professionalism, while adhering to the law and carrying out a law enforcement agenda.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education:  Graduation from High School, or a GED is required. College coursework in Criminal Justice, behavioral, or other social science coursework is preferred.
Age: Must be 20 years of age at the time of application.
Convictions: Must be of good moral character, with no felony convictions
Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen, or able to provide proof of application for US citizenship at least one year prior to applying for a Police Officer Trainee position with the City of Ventura. 
Medical: Excellent physical condition.  Must meet California POST medical and psychological standards.
Other: Candidates are required to undergo an extensive background investigation, polygraph examination, post-offer psychological evaluation, and post-offer medical examination, including screening for drugs and alcohol.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATES
License: Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and acceptable driving record are required.

BENEFITS
To view benefits, please visit our website at https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/971/Benefits

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE REVIEW
A review of application and supplemental questionnaire will be conducted and applicants meeting the minimum qualifications and desired background experience for successful performance as a Police Officer Trainee will continue in the next step of the process, the written examination.  Applicants must successfully meet the written examination requirement to be certified to the eligibility list.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION
Applicants successful in the application and supplemental questionnaire review are required to successfully meet the qualifying written examination requirement as follows:

• Submit California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) test score with your application. Test scores are valid for exams administered within one year of application submittal and applicant must submit a letter from the testing agency on agency letterhead at time of application submission. Applicants must meet the minimum T-score of 42 and acceptance of other agency’s T-score is subject to verification with the testing agency.

OR

• Submit National Testing Network (NTN) FrontLine National Written examination test results through NTN. Test must have been administered within one year of application submittal. Applicants must meet the minimum scores of: Video (65), Reading (70), Writing (70) and acceptance of NTN test scores are subject to verification with National Testing Network.

OR

• Register yourself to participate in the NTN FrontLine National Written examination administered by NTN as soon as possible. There are three components to the written examination: a video-based human relations test, a reading ability test, and a written language ability test. Testing takes approximately 2 ½ hours. Following, are instructions to register for and schedule your exam:

Go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com, select Law Enforcement and sign up for the City of Ventura Police Department. If you have problems scheduling the written examination.

What to expect at the www.nationaltestingnetwork.com website:

• You will need to establish an account with NTN.  A fee is required to take the written exam. Candidates with demonstrated financial hardship may submit a request to have the fee waived prior to test registration.  See “Candidate FAQ #27 on the NTN website at https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/faqs.cfm for information on how to apply for a fee waiver.
• Opportunity to take online practice tests at www.frontlinetest.com.
• Schedule your own convenient test time. Tests are offered multiple times a week, including Saturdays.
• Take high quality job simulation tests in a standardized, fair testing environment. 

Upon completion of the written examination, NTN will provide applicant scores to the City of Ventura Human Resources Department.  Applicants who attain a passing score on the written examination will be placed on the City’s eligibility list.  

National Testing Network is a service provided to conduct entry level testing in a standardized, professional environment. National Testing Network does not replace the City of Ventura’s responsibility and decision making in the testing process.  All candidate results are provided to the City of Ventura Human Resources Department where the final decisions are made.

Applicants are encouraged to take the written exam as soon as possible as recruitment may close at any time.

ELIGIBILITY LIST
Applicants that meet the written examination requirement by providing qualifying POST PELLETB or NTN test scores or passing the NTN written examination will be certified to an eligibility list, which will be sent to the Police Department for further consideration.  The Police Department will administer the remaining processes outlined below.

Additional Information

SELECTION PLAN
Submit a City application and supplemental questionnaire by the filing deadline. The preferred method of application is on-line and you are highly encouraged to apply at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/jobs. If you are unable to apply electronically, you may request paper application materials by calling (805) 654-7853 during regular business hours. Paper applications can be FAXed to (805) 648-4467, or mailed, or hand delivered to City Hall at: 501 Poli Street, Room 210; Ventura, CA 93001. If you FAX, it is highly recommended that you also send the original documents. The Eligibility List established may be used to fill other regular and temporary vacancies at the discretion of the City.

NOTE: After you apply, all future correspondence from the City will be via e-mail. Please check your messages regularly and be sure to update the contact information contained in your on-line application. You may wish to set your email spam filter to accept email from Recruitment.