The Police Officer Recruit position is for individuals interested in a career as a Police Officer but have not yet completed Basic Academy training. Once hired, Recruits will be enrolled in the Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center’s Basic Police Academy in July 2020, where they will learn the skills and duties of performing law enforcement functions. While in the Academy, Recruits are paid an hourly wage with limited benefits. Upon successful graduation from the Academy in December 2020, Recruits are appointed to the rank of Police Officer.
Please note: If Recruits are not enrolled in time for the July Academy, they will be enrolled in the next available Academy.
Our Department
The Albany Police Department is committed to serving others while keeping Albany a safe and welcoming community. The uniqueness of Albany’s size, combined with its location in a densely populated portion of the Bay Area, allows for our officers to handle a variety of priority calls for service, while still being able to perform the highest level of proactive policing. Officers have the ability to focus on community-based policing where they can develop and maintain good relationships with Albany residents and business owners.
We are searching for hard-working and dedicated individuals to join our organization. Our ideal candidate is someone who is committed to serving the public and has values that closely align with ours. Our department’s supportive, family-like environment makes Albany an attractive place to work and grow as a Police Officer.
Examples of Essential Job Functions
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
- Ensures active community policing pursuant to codified department policy and strategies.
- Patrols an assigned area by car, bicycle, or on foot; observes, investigates, and reports suspicious and hazardous conditions; apprehends and arrests law violators.
- Responds to routine and emergency calls for protection of persons and property, and for the enforcement of city ordinances, state laws, and federal laws.
- Investigates crimes, accidents, deaths, and disturbances; gathers evidence; interviews, questions, and takes statements from complainants, suspects, and witnesses; completes reports.
- Takes charge of juveniles and delinquents and works on cases involving unfit homes and crimes committed against or by juveniles; handles missing persons cases; works with community organizations and governmental agencies in delinquencies and in delinquency control programs.
- Directs traffic, including regulation of vehicle flow at times of emergency or congestion; stops drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; issues citations.
- Appears in court to present evidence and testimony in connection with criminal prosecution.
- Searches, transports, and assists in the booking of prisoners.
- Serves warrants, subpoenas, and other legal documents.
- Participates in specialty units including hostage negotiation teams, tactical response team, and other related police specialty units.
- Completes and submits reports and documentation of work performed.
- Organizes community outreach events; speaks before business, school, civic and special groups, as necessary.
- Participates in continuous training to enhance law enforcement skills including defensive driving skills, apprehension and arrest techniques, investigative skills, and general law enforcement skills.
- Answers questions from the public concerning local and state laws, procedures, and activities of the department.
- Maintains department equipment and records related to equipment; researches and purchases equipment as necessary.
- Provides responsible staff assistance to superior officers.
- Serves as Field Training Officer, as assigned; trains new recruits and lateral police officers; documents trainee progress and prepares evaluations.
- Assists in performing a variety of non-sworn police duties as necessary.
- Serves as acting Police Sergeant, as assigned.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
Education and Experience
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:
- 20 ½ years of age or older
- High School Diploma or GED
Licenses and Certifications
- Valid California Driver’s License, with a satisfactory driving record.
Special Requirements
- California POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB)
- Qualifying score minimum: T-Score of 42.5
- Assessment results are valid within one year (12 months) from the date the test was administered. Applicants must submit their PELLETB scores on official letterhead from an approved training institution with their application.
- Physical Agility Testing: Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center
- Qualifying score minimum: run 1.5 miles in 17 minutes, perform 17 push-ups within one minute, and perform 25 sit-ups within one minute
- Assessment results are valid within one year (12 months) from the date the test was administered. Applicants must submit their score on official Napa Valley letterhead.
- NOTE: Applicants may substitute the Napa Valley College Physical Agility Test Score for a minimum score of 384 on the POST Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB). No other substitutions will be allowed.
- Positions in this classification independently travel within and outside of City limits to fulfill the assigned duties and responsibilities.
- Positions in this classification may be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and work overtime.
- Positions in this classification must be free of felony convictions and successfully pass a police department pre-employment screening process which include, psychological interview, medical examination, background check, and polygraph test.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience working in a law enforcement agency
- Completion of an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree with major course work in criminal justice, social science, management, or a related field
Salary and Incentive Pay
While enrolled in the Academy, Police Recruits will be paid an hourly rate of $27.43. Once appointed to the position of Police Officer, the following salary range will apply, and the following incentive pays will become available.
Police Officer Salary: $93,726.65. - $125,602.68 *includes holiday pay
Education Incentives
- 2.5% for possession of an AA/AS degree; or
- 5% for possession of a BA/BS degree; or
- 7% for possession of a MA/MS degree.
POST Incentives
- 2.5% for possession of an Intermediate POST certificate; or
- 4% for possession of an Advanced POST certificate.
Other Incentives
- 2% Bilingual Pay (must pass examination to qualify)
- 5% Night Shift Differential
- 5% Acting Pay
- Up to 5% for Special Assignment
Benefits
While attending the Academy, Recruits and their eligible dependents will be eligible for CalPERS Health Insurance with a 100% City contribution up to the Kaiser Region 1 family rate, and will be enrolled in our CalPERS Retirement Plan as Miscellaneous Classic 2% at 60 or PEPRA 2% at 62. Once appointed to the position of Police Officer, the following benefits will apply:
Retirement
- CalPERS Classic Members (employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, and defined as “classic” CalPERS members) participate in a 3% @ 55 retirement formula
- New CalPERS Members as defined by PEPRA (employees new to CalPERS or with greater than 6 months gap in service) participate in a 2.7% @ 57 formula
Health Insurance
- The City pays up to the Region 1 Kaiser family premium rate. Employees may choose between 10 CalPERS Health Plans.
- Alternate benefit in-lieu of health insurance - Elective paid leave with a quarterly cash out for employees choosing to opt out of the City's medical plan (must provide proof of outside coverage)
Dental, Orthodontia, Life Insurance, and Disability
- Employer paid dental insurance through Delta Dental
- Supplemental Orthodontia reimbursement up to $1,000
- Employer paid Life and AD&D insurance in the amount of $50,000
Other Optional Benefits
- Vision Insurance (VSP) - with competitive rates
- Section 457 deferred compensation program, administered through ICMA
- Section 125 flexible spending benefits plan for health care and dependent care expenses
- Retirement Health Savings Plan – Employee Contributions
- Commuter Checks
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Free on-site Fitness Gym
Leave
- 11 days of vacation per year (increases with years of service)
- 13 days of holiday pay per year
- 12 days of sick leave per year with a partial sick leave buyout upon retirement
Hiring Process
All completed applications will be reviewed. Based on the information in the application documents, the most qualified applicants will be invited for further examination. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.
- Application – Applications must be submitted by 11:45pm on March 1, 2020. A completed application includes the following -
- Written Exam Score: Applicants must furnish a T-Score of 42.5 points or higher from the California POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB). Assessment results are valid within one year (12 months) from the date the test was administered and must be provided on official letterhead from an approved training institution.
- Physical Agility Test Score: Applicants must furnish a passing score from the Napa Valley Physical Agility Test by running 1.5 miles in 17 minutes, performing 17 push-ups within one minute, and performing 25 sit-ups within one minute OR applicants may submit a minimum score of 384 on the POST Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) offered at another institution. Assessment results are valid within one year (12 months) from the date the test was administered and must be provided on official letterhead from an approved training institution.
NOTE: The Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center will be hosting one testing date for the Written Exam and Physical Agility Test. The cost of both the Written Exam and Physical Agility Test is $20.00. The exam date is as follows:
- Saturday, February 8, 2020
Register for the exams here - https://www.nvccjtc.org/register-for-a-course/basic-police-academy-entrance-exam/.
- Oral Board & Chief’s Interview – After all applications have been reviewed, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an oral board interview consisting of two to three members of the Albany Police Department. The oral board interviews are tentatively schedule for Thursday, March 12, 2020. Candidates that pass the oral board interview will be placed on an Eligibility List. A select number of candidates from the Eligibility List will then be invited to participate in the Chief’s interview. The Chief's interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of March 16, 2020.
- Background Investigation – The most qualified candidates will be invited to complete a comprehensive background investigation, including a polygraph exam.
- Job Offer – Candidates may be provided with a conditional job offer. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation, and a psychological and medical examination.
- Academy – Recruits will be enrolled in the Napa Valley College Basic Police Academy in July 2020. While in the Academy, Recruits are paid an hourly wage with limited benefits.
- Appointment - Upon successful graduation from the Academy in December 2020, Recruits are appointed to the rank of Police Officer with full benefits. Please note: If Recruits are not enrolled in time for the July Academy, they will be enrolled in the next available Academy.
Recruitment Contact
Contact phone: (510) 528-5715
Contact email: mimcquiston@albanyca.org
The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. The City of Albany is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, color, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, sex origin or disability. 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 (510) 528-5715 a minimum of five days prior to any examination.
