City of Petaluma
Police Officer Trainee
Important:
You must have a POST Entry‑Level Law Enforcement Test Battery T‑Score of 42 or higher within the last 12 months. Attach a letter verifying the T‑Score. If you cannot attach the letter, send it to hr@cityofpetaluma.org.
Applicants will be considered for the Santa Rosa Junior College Basic Intensive Police Academy in 2026. Acceptance to the Academy, which includes passing the POST test, is a condition of employment for this position.
After successful completion of the Police Academy, a Police Officer Trainee who meets the City’s employment standards may be sworn in as a Police Officer and begin the Field Training Program.
Base Salary Range:
$100,588.80 – $122,324.80 annually
Special Pay (as a sworn Police Officer)
Uniform Pay: 1.5% of Step 5 of salary
POST Certificate Pay: 5% (Intermediate), 7% (Advanced/ Supervisory)
Bilingual Pay: up to $200 per month
Special assignments (Field Training Officer, Traffic Officer, Detective, K‑9 Officer, SWAT): 5% as assigned
Shift Differential: 3% (swing shift), 5% (graveyard shift)
Longevity Pay: 2.5% after 5 years, 5% after 8 years, 7.5% after 11 years, 10% after 15 years
Benefits (as a sworn Police Officer)
CalPERS Retirement: 3% at age 55 for classic members, 2.7% at 57 for new members. Trainees enroll as a miscellaneous member of CalPERS.
CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents.
Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and 50% of Dental premium as cash.
Dental/Vision/Life/LTD Insurance: 100% paid by City.
Holiday Pay: 156 hours per year.
Sick Leave: 96 hours per year with unlimited accrual.
Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn up to 240 hours at 1.5× actual hours.
Vacation Time: 80–200 hours per year depending on service years.
Paid Parental Leave: up to 8 weeks.
$500 Annual Wellness Reimbursement.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Employer support.
About the Petaluma Police Department The Petaluma Police Department serves approximately 59,000 residents over 13 square miles. The department has 84.5 full‑time employees, including a Chief, Deputy Chief, four Lieutenants, one Technical Services Manager, ten Sergeants, fifty Officers, K‑9 Officers, a Traffic Unit, Motorcycles, SWAT, Investigations, and a Reserve Community Service Officer Program. The department is proactive in Community‑Oriented Policing.
Application and Testing Process
Complete an online application and supplemental questionnaire. All materials must be submitted to be considered.
All applications will be screened. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications and a T‑Score of 42 or higher will be invited to the next stage.
Three parts:
Part I – POST Test Battery ;
Part II – Review of Applications ;
Part III – Oral Interview . Successful completion of each part is required for advancement.
Hiring Requirements
Background investigation including criminal history, employment, education, military, fingerprint, DMV, polygraph, and physical agility test.
Pre‑employment medical, drug screen, and psychological evaluation.
Police Chief interview.
Minimum Qualifications
At least 21 years of age at graduation from the Academy.
High‑school completion or equivalent.
Valid California Driver’s License.
Job Duties (Summary)
Observe and learn duties of a peace officer, operate police equipment, process paperwork, assist in investigations, maintain equipment, transport items to court and court offices, issue bicycle licenses, provide traffic direction for special events, and perform related duties as assigned.
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You must have a POST Entry‑Level Law Enforcement Test Battery T‑Score of 42 or higher within the last 12 months. Attach a letter verifying the T‑Score. If you cannot attach the letter, send it to hr@cityofpetaluma.org.
Applicants will be considered for the Santa Rosa Junior College Basic Intensive Police Academy in 2026. Acceptance to the Academy, which includes passing the POST test, is a condition of employment for this position.
After successful completion of the Police Academy, a Police Officer Trainee who meets the City’s employment standards may be sworn in as a Police Officer and begin the Field Training Program.
Base Salary Range:
$100,588.80 – $122,324.80 annually
Special Pay (as a sworn Police Officer)
Uniform Pay: 1.5% of Step 5 of salary
POST Certificate Pay: 5% (Intermediate), 7% (Advanced/ Supervisory)
Bilingual Pay: up to $200 per month
Special assignments (Field Training Officer, Traffic Officer, Detective, K‑9 Officer, SWAT): 5% as assigned
Shift Differential: 3% (swing shift), 5% (graveyard shift)
Longevity Pay: 2.5% after 5 years, 5% after 8 years, 7.5% after 11 years, 10% after 15 years
Benefits (as a sworn Police Officer)
CalPERS Retirement: 3% at age 55 for classic members, 2.7% at 57 for new members. Trainees enroll as a miscellaneous member of CalPERS.
CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents.
Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and 50% of Dental premium as cash.
Dental/Vision/Life/LTD Insurance: 100% paid by City.
Holiday Pay: 156 hours per year.
Sick Leave: 96 hours per year with unlimited accrual.
Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn up to 240 hours at 1.5× actual hours.
Vacation Time: 80–200 hours per year depending on service years.
Paid Parental Leave: up to 8 weeks.
$500 Annual Wellness Reimbursement.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Employer support.
About the Petaluma Police Department The Petaluma Police Department serves approximately 59,000 residents over 13 square miles. The department has 84.5 full‑time employees, including a Chief, Deputy Chief, four Lieutenants, one Technical Services Manager, ten Sergeants, fifty Officers, K‑9 Officers, a Traffic Unit, Motorcycles, SWAT, Investigations, and a Reserve Community Service Officer Program. The department is proactive in Community‑Oriented Policing.
Application and Testing Process
Complete an online application and supplemental questionnaire. All materials must be submitted to be considered.
All applications will be screened. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications and a T‑Score of 42 or higher will be invited to the next stage.
Three parts:
Part I – POST Test Battery ;
Part II – Review of Applications ;
Part III – Oral Interview . Successful completion of each part is required for advancement.
Hiring Requirements
Background investigation including criminal history, employment, education, military, fingerprint, DMV, polygraph, and physical agility test.
Pre‑employment medical, drug screen, and psychological evaluation.
Police Chief interview.
Minimum Qualifications
At least 21 years of age at graduation from the Academy.
High‑school completion or equivalent.
Valid California Driver’s License.
Job Duties (Summary)
Observe and learn duties of a peace officer, operate police equipment, process paperwork, assist in investigations, maintain equipment, transport items to court and court offices, issue bicycle licenses, provide traffic direction for special events, and perform related duties as assigned.
#J-18808-Ljbffr