Police Officer Recruit Salary $96,158.40 Annually Location Berkeley, CA Job Type Temporary Job Number 2025-03-7014 Department Police Opening Date 03/31/2025 Closing Date Continuous Description Benefits Questions BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BERKELEY Berkeley, California is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay. As an employer, the City of Berkeley offers all the benefits of a career in the public sector while fostering diversity, creativity, and innovation. Join a team of high-caliber, experienced staff with a shared mission of serving the Berkeley community and promoting an accessible, safe, healthy, environmentally-sound and culturally-rich city. JOB OPPORTUNITY The City of Berkeleys Police Department is recognized as one of the most progressive and innovative law enforcement agencies in the country, and continually strives to develop programs which focus upon increased service to the community in conjunction with enhanced effectiveness in combating crime. The City of Berkeley is seeking qualified candidates who are interested in becoming Police Officers. As a Police Officer Recruit, you will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified police academy to receive education and training in all aspects of law enforcement such as laws of arrest, search and seizure, crime prevention, community relations, first-aid, physical conditioning, self-defense, handling of weapons and other related duties. Upon graduation from the academy, the Police Recruit is sworn in as a Police Officer and assumes the duties of that position.See the full job class specification here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/berkeley/classspecs/105026Click the following links for more information about this exciting career opportunity:Police Officer Recruit FlyerJoin Berkeley PD | Police Officer Jobs MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:Completion of 60 college semester units. Previous volunteer or paid experience in a law enforcement support area is desirable. Other requirements include:Must be free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions.Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.Must be 21 years of age or older at time of appointment.Must be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose a criminal record.Must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.Must be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development Test or other high school equivalency test approved by the State Department of Education that indicates high school graduation level, pass the California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or university.Must be found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.Must possess a valid drivers license and have a satisfactory driving record. Must be able to meet physical, psychological and background standards. Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend and holiday shifts. Must be able to obtain required POST certification and maintain firearms qualification. APPLICATION PROCESS Applicants must submit a complete application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire. Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application. Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to ada@berkeleyca.gov. Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format. EXAM PROCESS The exam process will include, but may not be limited to:Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date)Written Exam: POST PELLETBPerformance Exam: Physical Abilities Test (PAT)The written exam and performance exam will be administered on the same day. There is no cost to take the exams with the City of Berkeley. Upcoming City of Berkeley exam dates:Saturday, June 14, 2025 (Applications due May 12, 2025)Saturday, August 16, 2025 (Applications due July 21, 2025)Saturday, October 18, 2025 (Applications due September 15, 2025)Saturday, December 13, 2025 (Applications due November 10, 2025)If you are unable to attend the City of Berkeley exam dates, you may register and take your exams with The Academy. The Academy charges a non-refundable materials fee of $10 for the written exam, $25 for the practice PAT, and $100 for the official PAT. After taking the exams and receiving passing scores, please attach your scores to your application.POST will not authorize you to take the exam within 30 calendar days of having taken your last POST written exam. Please refer to the POST website for additional information.Applicants may waive the written exam only by submitting a California POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) T-score of 43 points or higher. We will accept California POST T-scores from other agencies provided the test was taken no more than two years prior to the date of application. Applicants must submit, on agency letterhead, a letter that states that the individual has taken the California PELLETB written exam. The letter must contain the total T-score and the date of the test. For information on where the PELLETB test is offered, please visit www.theacademy.ca.gov/tests.Applicants may waive the performance exam only by submitting a California POST physical agility certificate, known as the Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB), with a score of 325 or higher. The 1.5-mile run is not a requirement. The test should not be dated no more than two years prior to the date of application.Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to hr@berkeleyca.gov at the time of application. PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background/reference check that may include, but is not limited to: employment history, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including drivers license, registrations, certificates, other credentials, credit check, criminal history check, and Live Scan fingerprinting. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans' status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. DISASTER SERVICE WORKER All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster. Benefited employees receive a myriad of financial and other benefits, including CalPERS pension and other retirement plans, medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, paid time off and more.Benefit-eligible employees include those with a regular work schedule of at least 20 hours per week. Employees working less than 30 hours per week may receive pro-rated benefits.RetirementCalPERSCity employees are included in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The retirement formula is either 2% at age 62 (PEPRA members) or 2.7% at age 55 (Classic members). Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (SRIP)The City contributes 6.7% of the first $32,400 of the employees salary (up to $2,170 annually) into a 401(a) account. The City is not a member of Social Security, therefore only the Medicare portion is deducted from employees salaries.Deferred CompensationThe City offers voluntary 457 deferred compensation plans with CalPERS or Empower. Employees may contribute up to the IRS maximum on a pre-tax basis.Medical PlansEmployees can choose coverage under Kaiser HMO or Sutter Health Plus HMO. The City contributes up to 100% of the family premium for the Kaiser plan, or up to 99% of the family premium for the Sutter Health Plus plan. Employees who have medical coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided medical coverage and receive a monthly stipend.Dental PlanThe City provides group dental benefits through Delta Dental of California. The City contributes up to the family coverage for the plan, which covers 90% of the dental charges up to $2,000 annually per person. Orthodontic benefits are offered at a $2,000 lifetime maximum per person. Employees who have dental coverage under another group plan may choose to waive City-provided dental coverage and receive a monthly stipend.Life InsuranceThe City provides employees with a $25,000 Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy. Employees have the option to purchase additional term life insurance up to a maximum of $300,000.Sick LeaveEmployees earn one day of paid sick leave per month. VacationNew employees accrue 2 weeks of vacation annually, with an increase to 3 weeks annually after 4 years of service.Holidays14 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays annuallyYMCA MembershipThe City provides a subsidy of 75% of the membership fee for employees who choose to join the Downtwon Berkeley YMCA. (UNREP - GENERAL) 01 Do you possess the equivalent of a high school diploma? Yes, I have a high school diploma Yes, I passed a GED test or completed at least a 2-year college degree in an accredited US college/university Yes, I attended a Defense Department HS No 02 Please indicate your highest level of education. (You must list all schools attended and number of units completed on your application. Failure to provide this information will be an automatic disqualification) High School or Equivalent Completed 60 college semester units or more Completed 90 college quarter units or more Completed a combination of semester and quarter units to be converted to 60 semester units or 90 quarter units. None of the above 03 Have you taken the POST PELLETB written exam and possess a PELLETB T-score of 43 or higher issued within the last twenty-four (24) months from the application file date? Your PELLETB test results can be submitted, and you will not be required to take the written exam. Please respond "Yes" if this applies to you and to acknowledge that you understand this provision. If your response is "No", you will be required to take the PELLETB written exam through City of Berkeley in order to continue in the recruitment process. Yes No 04 If you answered "Yes" to the question above, do you understand that you must provide a copy of your qualifying T-Score letter with your application? You may attach a copy of your qualifying T-score letter with your application. Yes No, I do not possess a T-score of 43 or higher issued within the last 24 months of application file date. 05 Have you taken the California POST physical agility known as the Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB), with a score of 325 or higher issued within the last twenty-four (24) months from the application file date? Your Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) test results can be submitted, and you will not be required to take the physical agility exam. Please respond "Yes" if this applies to you and to acknowledge that you understand this provision. If your response is "No", you will be required to take the physical agility exam through City of Berkeley in order to continue in the recruitment process. Yes No 06 If you answered "Yes" to the question above, do you understand that you must provide a copy of your qualifying WSTB score letter with your application? You may attach a copy of your qualifying WSTB score letter with your application. Yes No, I do not possess California POST physical agility score of 325 or higher issued within the last twenty-four (24) months from the application file date. 07 Please indicate where you first learned about this job opening (check all that apply). Digital Billboard on Freeway Banner on Public Safety Building Instagram Facebook Nextdoor YouTube GovernmentJobs Join Berkeley PD LinkedIn Indeed Zip Recruiter Career Fair / Event Presentation at Academy Presentation at School POST Exam Presentation at Military Event Berkeley Careers Website City of Berkeley Employee 08 I acknowledge that I have reviewed all my answers to all above supplemental questions for accuracy. Yes Required Question Employer City of Berkeley Address 2180 Milvia Street (1st floor) Human Resources Department Berkeley, California, 94704 Phone (510) 981-6800 Website https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/jobs