Police Officer in Training

Salary: $4,505 - $5,451 per month DOE

Application Deadline:

July 27th, 2026 @ 4:00pm

Begin Your Career in Law Enforcement

The City of Bishop Police Department is seeking motivated, ethical, and community-oriented individuals to join our team as a Police Officer Trainee. This is an outstanding opportunity for individuals interested in a rewarding career in law enforcement who have not yet completed a California POST Basic Academy.

The City will sponsor qualified candidates through a POST-certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy where trainees will receive comprehensive instruction in criminal law, patrol procedures, investigations, report writing, community policing, emergency response, physical fitness, and other essential law enforcement skills.

Upon successful completion of the academy and all departmental requirements, trainees may be promoted to the position of Police Officer and begin serving the Bishop community as sworn peace officers.

As a Police Officer Trainee, you will:

• Attend and successfully complete a California POST-certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
• Participate in classroom instruction, physical fitness training, and practical law enforcement exercises.
• Learn criminal law, police procedures, patrol operations, traffic enforcement, investigations, report writing, and community policing principles.
• Develop communication, problem-solving, and public service skills necessary for a successful law enforcement career.
• Prepare for transition into a sworn Police Officer position upon academy graduation.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong integrity and sound judgment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A commitment to public service and community engagement.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Initiative, reliability, and professionalism.
• The ability to work effectively with diverse members of the public.

Applicants must meet California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) requirements, including:

• At least 20 years of age at the time of application.
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident eligible for and actively pursuing citizenship.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• No felony convictions.
• Good moral character as determined through a comprehensive background investigation.
• Possess a valid California Driver's License and maintain an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to meet all POST medical, psychological, and physical fitness standards.

Qualified applicants may be required to successfully complete:

• Reading and Writing Ability Assessment
• Physical Agility Test
• Oral Interview
• Background Investigation
• Polygraph Examination
• Medical Evaluation
• Drug Screening
• Psychological Evaluation
• Administrative Interview

Physical Requirements

This position requires physical stamina and agility necessary to perform law enforcement duties. Candidates must meet POST-established vision, hearing, fitness, and physical performance standards and be capable of performing strenuous physical activities including running, lifting, climbing, and defensive tactics training.

Apply Today

Any questions regarding position or application process please contact, Jana Currie atjcurrie@cityofbishop.ca.gov. or 760-873-5863 ext. 122. EOE

Job description:

DEFINITION

Attends a regular POST certified law enforcement academy designed to provide an entire overview of the criminal justice system which includes training in laws, police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, and physical fitness.

Upon successfully completing the required training, employees may be promoted to Police Officer on a probationary basis. A Police Officer Trainee who fails to complete an academy in which he/she is enrolled will be terminated. A Police Officer Trainee is an at-will, non-sworn general employee of the City of Bishop. The Police Officer Trainee has a probationary period as described in Rule 5.8 of the City of Bishop Employee Personnel Rues.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Instruction is received from academy instructors; receives general supervision from a Police Officer or Sergeant.

QUALIFICATIONS OF POLICE OFFICER TRAINEE

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of modern practices and techniques of law enforcement, patrol, investigation, public relations, community policing, and report writing; Vehicle and Penal Code; laws of arrest; rules of evidence; legal rights of citizens; court procedures.

• Basic law enforcement theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Deal courteously and effectively with the general public.
• Principles and practices of community policing.
• Show initiative, alertness, integrity, and reliability.
• Principles and techniques of traffic control.
• Basic interviewing methods and principles.
• Principles, practices, and safe work methods used in collecting, processing, logging, storing, and safeguarding evidence, property, and materials including hazardous materials.
• Maintain contact and preserve good relations with the public; ability to respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Serve as liaison and public relations officer for the assigned area, working collaboratively with the public to resolve community problems; establishes and preserves good relationships with the general public; may develop reliable informants and provide intelligence information to diversional and/or departmental personnel; plans, coordinates, and participates in various community relations and crime prevention events, programs, and activities.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and department rules, policies, and procedures.
• Self-defense principles and practices.
• Safe work methods and safety regulations pertaining to the work including officer safety standards and safe driving principles and practices.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places.
• Use and care of firearms.
• Think and act quickly in emergencies, and judge situations and people accurately.
• Represent the City in a variety of meetings; learn, understand and interpret laws and regulations.
• Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports.
• Respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective manner.
• Understand, explain and apply policies and procedures.
• Make clear and concise radio transmissions.
• Understand and follow verbal and written directions.
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
  
  

Special Requirements:

Applicants must meet the California police officer selection standards (Code 1029 & 1031) as listed below:

• Free from felony convictions.
• A citizen of the United States or permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship.
• At least 20.5 years of age at time of application.
• Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
• Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• A high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or other high school equivalency test approved by the California Department of Education, or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited or approved institution.
• Found free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.

Applicants must successfully pass the following requirements:

• POST certified basic law enforcement training academy.
• Reading and Writing Ability Assessment.
• Physical Agility Test.
• Oral Interview.
• Background Investigation.
• Medical Evaluation.
• Drug Screening.
• Polygraph Examination.
• Psychological Evaluation.
• Administration Interview.
• Valid, current California Drivers License and satisfactory driving record.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must meet standards of physical stature, endurance, and agility established by the City and the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) as follows:

• Vision standard: correctable to 20/20, normal color vision
• Hearing Standard: normal hearing

Position requires standing, walking and/or running or uneven and slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, grasping, crawling, and making repetitive hand movements above and below shoulder level in the performance of daily duties. The position also requires both near and far vision when performing work and operating assigned equipment as required by POST. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and face-to-face service. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, fine coordination, and finger dexterity in handling a firearm. The need to lift, carry, pull and push tools, supplies and other equipment weighing up to 50 pounds is also required. Additionally, the incumbent may be required to respond to after-hours emergency call-outs. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

ADDITIONAL JOB DESCRIPTION FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER

Upon successful completion of the academy training, a candidate may become a full-time police officer. All full-time police officers will comply with the job functions outlined in the City of Bishops Police Officer Job Description.

This classification is not intended to be all-inclusive. An employee may be required to perform other reasonable duties as assigned by management. The City reserves the right, with the concurrence of the department head, to revise or change classification duties and responsibilities as the need arises and as consistent with the meet and confer process.

Approved by Council: May 10, 2021