Police Officer Trainee

Police Officer Trainee

Salary

$30.22 Hourly

Location

City Hall, Cypress, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

00409

Department

Police Department

Opening Date

10/12/2026

Closing Date

11/13/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

The position of Police Officer Trainee is a temporary and non-benefitted, agency-sponsored position during attendance at a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) approved Police Academy. Upon successful completion of academy training, the Police Officer Trainee will be reclassified to Police Officer.

The Police Officer Trainee is a non-sworn position and attends formalized training at a police academy to learn practices, procedures and techniques of law enforcement, crime prevention, community policing, first aid, physical conditioning and handling of weapons. Under the general supervision of Academy Command Staff and a Cypress Police Sergeant or Officer, a Police Officer Trainee is expected to actively participate, maintain an acceptable class standing at all times during training and successfully complete the prescribed training program with acceptable results in order to effectively perform the duties of a sworn Police Officer.

Example of Duties

Police Officer Essential Functions

Under the general supervision of a Police Sergeant or Police Lieutenant, a Police Officer performs a variety of public safety duties in the enforcement of law and order. Duties include, but are not limited to:

Patrol assignment in police unit, answer calls and act for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of City, County and State laws.

Conduct preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, burglaries, deaths and other criminal incidents.

Make arrests as necessary.

Interview victims, complainants and witnesses.

Interrogate suspects/gather and preserve information.

Testify and present evidence in court.

Work cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies.

Prepare legible and accurate written reports on a timely basis.

Search, fingerprint and transport prisoners.

Direct traffic.

Maintain positive relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties.

Adhere to all safety rules and regulations.

Perform other duties as required under emergency situations or as assigned.

A Police Officer is eligible for special assignments based on years of experience, skills, abilities, qualifications, and acceptable performance.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Basic goals and objectives of law enforcement.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Basic mathematical principles.

Ability to:

• Meet the requirement for sworn Police Officer contained in the California State Government Code.
• Learn, understand, interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Learn police safety principles and techniques.
• Understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Prepare comprehensive records and reports.
• Exercise self-control and good judgment in emergency/hazardous situations.
• Meet the public with courtesy and tact.
• Establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with those contacted in the performance of duties.

Education: High school diploma or G.E.D. A Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or related field from an accredited college or university is desirable.

Other Requirements:

• Minimum age of 21 at time of appointment.
• Must be of good moral character with no felony convictions.
• Must have a U.S. citizenship or have filed application for citizenship.
• Must have a valid California Class "C" driver license and an acceptable driving record.
• Bilingual skills are highly desirable.

Physical Requirements:

Requires heavy lifting, carrying, climbing, running and exposure to potentially hazardous situations and environmental conditions. Applicants vision must be 20/70 uncorrected and 20/20 corrected. Color vision must be normal. Applicants hearing must be consistent with POST guidelines. Applicant must be in good physical condition as determined by a medical examination, with weight proportion to height.

Supplemental Information

Selection Process:

All application materials will be thoroughly screened and "the most qualified" applicants will be invited to participate in the testing process which shall consist of, but may not be limited to the following:

• Written Examination (Pass/Fail) - Scheduled for Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at the Cypress Community Center.
• Physical Agility Test (Pass/Fail) - Scheduled for Friday, January 8, 2027 at Golden West College in Huntington Beach.
• Oral Interview (Weighted 100%)

Acceptable results qualify candidates to be placed on an eligibility list for a period of six months. After a thorough background review, including a fingerprint check, polygraph examination and a Chiefs oral interview, a Conditional Officer of Employment is made pending candidates pass a comprehensive physical examination with alcohol and controlled substance screening and a psychological examination prior to appointment as a Police Officer Trainee.

CYPRESS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Employment Disqualification Standards

CRIMINAL

• Any felony conviction except as provided in Government Code 1029(b)-(e).

ILLEGAL USE OR POSSESSION OF DRUGS

• Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as an illegal opiate, hallucinogen, stimulant or depressant in the past 7 years. This includes cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, GHB, ecstasy, etc.

FINANCIAL

• A pattern, history, or irresponsibility as evidenced by debt collections, civil judgments, or failure to pay, etc. Exigent circumstances may be evaluated on an individual basis.

MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATIONS

• Any conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within the past seven years of the date of application or more than one conviction of driving under the influence at any time.

ALL POLICE DEPARTMENT APPLICANTS WILL UNDERGO A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE CANDIDATES ARE OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER (GOVT CODE SECTION 1031). ALL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

Paid Vacation - All full-time employees accrue 80 vacation hours per year, up to a maximum of 160 hours at eleven years of employment.

Sick Leave - 8 hours per month. There is unlimited accumulation, and the City has an annual payoff plan for unused sick leave, plus a payoff plan upon termination.

3/12 and 4/10 Schedule - Employee works three (3) twelve and one-half (12.5) hour or four (4) ten (10) hour shifts in a seven (7) day work period. May be assigned to work a varied schedule including weekends and/or evenings.

Holidays -11 paid holidays per year plus floating holiday time (hours depend on assigned schedule).

Tuition Reimbursement - Employees receive up to $1,320 per fiscal year to attend accredited colleges.

Health Insurance - The City pays 100% of the employees group insurance premium, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, long and short term disability. Dependent/ additional benefits are available, a portion of which is paid by the City.

Retirement Health Savings Plan - $125/month contribution towards Retiree Health Savings (RHS) Plan.

Retirement - Cypress is a member of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). Employees shall pay 12% of salary towards their retirement benefits with CalPERS. The plan includes the following options: 3% at 50, one year highest compensation, 1959 survivors benefit and post retirement survivor continuance for "Classic" members. Employees hired after January 1, 2013 and are new to CalPERS or have had a 6 month or more break in service, are subject to laws, statutes, rules and regulations of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA).

Deferred Compensation - A voluntary program is available.

01

Are there any negative entries on your credit report? If so, please explain.

02

Have you ever committed a misdemeanor or felony crime, whether convicted or not? If so, please explain.

03

Have you ever used illegal drugs? If so, what type(s) of drug(s) and when was the last time used? Specify month and year.

04

Have you ever been arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs? If so, please explain.

05

What was your grade point average in high school and college?

06

In the last five years, have you been arrested or detained (detention includes being stopped for violations of traffic laws or questioned by police for any reason other than witnessing a crime)? If so, please explain.

07

List any traffic violations in the last five years. Please specify the violation(s) and date(s) of occurrence.

08

List any "at fault" traffic collisions in the last five years.

09

Have you ever spent money on anything illegal, to include (but not limited to) drugs, prostitution or the purchase of illegal documents? If so, please explain.

Required Question

Employer City of Cypress

Address 5275 Orange Avenue

Cypress, California, 90630

Phone (714) 229-6684

Website http://www.cypressca.org