Public Safety Officer Trainee

Two Distinct Jobs

ONE GREAT CAREER

The City of Rohnert Park has 5 openings for the April 2024 Academy.

The City of Rohnert Park is one of the few cities in the nation to consolidate delivery of primary police and fire services by utilizing cross-trained personnel. All officers are trained as firefighters. These personnel are truly "Public Safety Officers" and not just specialists in one area of Public Safety. This "Public Safety" concept has been in operation since the City was incorporated. Public Safety Officers in the City of Rohnert Park have the unique opportunity of combining two great careers in one job.

The City of Rohnert Park is pleased to announce an exciting career opportunity for Public Safety Officer Trainee. The Public Safety Officer Trainee is a non-sworn, training-level classification requiring no prior law enforcement experience. Trainees are considered probationary City of Rohnert Park employees and will be sent to a basic police academy at the City's expense, in addition to receiving a full salary while attending the academy. Upon successful completion and graduation from the academy, a trainee may be considered for appointment to the position of probationary Public Safety Officer. Please note: Candidates must be at least 21 years of age by date of appointment.

The Public Safety Department is seeking motivated individuals with a strong commitment to providing excellent and friendly customer service to the members of the community, who possess high ethical standards and are team players.

The Public Safety Department's mission statement is, "Dedicated to working collaboratively with the community to maintain trust and safety by providing professional services with compassion and integrity

TO APPLY:
To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete an online application and the required supplemental questions. Please note that work history must include all employment for the last ten years. All applications will be screened for completeness and possession of minimum qualifications. Applications will be reviewed in detail to select the most qualified candidates to proceed in the recruitment process.

If you are having difficulty applying online please click on this Application Help/FAQ's link www.governmentjobs.com/home/faq

PLEASE NOTE:
You may submit a resume or other relevant document to further describe your qualifications; however, "SEE RESUME" will NOT meet the requirements to submit a complete application, including employment history, or be accepted in lieu of responses to supplemental questions. Be advised that your resume and other attachments not specifically requested may not be used to determine your qualifications.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND TIMELINE:
The most qualified candidates will be selected to proceed to the testing phase in the recruitment process.

The recruitment process timeline for these positions is very aggressive to ensure we have 5 candidates ready for the April 2024 Police Academy. Candidates are encouraged to visit the POST website at: https://www.post.ca.gov/ to review the Personal History Statement Peace Officer under the Forms tab and begin gathering the required documentation.

TESTING:
Successful candidates will receive an invitation to participate in a physical/agility testing. Candidates who pass the physical/agility testing will take the written POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLET B). (Note: If you have previously completed the California POST PELLET B exam, we will accept results from another agency on their agency letterhead if the T-Score is not more than a year old and indicate a "T" score of 42 or higher.) Please attach your T-Score results to your online application. Please be sure it has the Test Selection breakdown of the Reading and Writing component.

Testing will take place on a Sunday, Date TBD at the SRJC Public Safety Training Center located at 5743 Skylane Boulevard in Windsor as follows:

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. - Physical/Agility Testing, which includes four components:

• 6 foot solid wall climb with 25 yard sprint and 6 foot chain link fence climb with 25 yard sprint
• 99 yard obstacle course run
• Body drag pulling a 165 pound dummy 35 feet
• 500 yard run

11:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. - POST PELLET B Testing

Candidates will be notified of their PELLET B score in writing within 10 business days after taking the test. Candidates must receive a score of T42 or higher to pass the test.

Oral Interviews
Candidates who complete the POST PELLET B written test will be invited to an oral interview scheduled date TBD. Applicants who pass their interview will be scheduled to take a Polygraph Examination scheduled date TBD.

Background Check
Candidates who receive a passing score of T42 or higher on the PELLET B and pass the oral interview will proceed to the background check process. Background check requirements include:

• Must successfully complete a thorough background investigation, which includes fingerprints, criminal, personal, driving, credit, employment and education history.
• Must meet the Department's drug and alcohol standards; pass a polygraph, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.
• Any felony conviction is considered disqualifying.

DEFINITION
Attends a Basic Police Academy as approved by the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and successfully completes the Academy's course of study to acquire the State of California peace officer status; and in a non-sworn capacity performs other work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Public Safety Officer Trainee attends the Academy. The position is limited to individuals who have not completed a California POST certified Basic Police Academy within the last three (3) years. This is a non-sworn class with no police officer powers, and does not perform active law enforcement duties.

The Public Safety Officer Trainee is a probationary employee and must successfully complete all academy courses, including but not limited to academic coursework, physical training, vehicle operation, and use of weapons. Incumbents are subject to termination without cause and without a reason. Upon successful completion and graduation from the academy, a trainee may be considered for appointment to the position of probationary Public Safety Officer.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED
Department of Public Safety personnel shall provide indirect supervision and will closely monitor academic progress and physical achievement.

(These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary)

• Attends and participates in a comprehensive training program at a Basic Police Academy for a period of approximately five (5) months
• Receives instruction in the interpretation and application of the Penal Code, Vehicle Code and other laws relating to the protection of life and property
• Receives, learns and understands instruction in basic criminal investigation procedures and techniques, including but not limited to police ethics, witness interrogation, and collection of evidence
• Receives and participates in firearm training, classroom instruction in enforcement psychology, enforcement tactics, effective writing, and speaking
• Learns radio operations and methods of traffic, riot and crowd control
• Participates in and trains for physical strength and agility, and in Emergency Vehicle operations

CITY EMPLOYEES ARE EXPECTED TO:

• Provide outstanding and friendly customer service
• Create and maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment
• Communicate honestly and behave in a manner that is ethical, legal and fiscally responsible
• Demonstrate care for the organization, customers and co-workers
• Practice and encourage initiative and innovation to improve the workplace

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Must be 21 years old at the time of appointment.

2. US Citizen or US Citizen prior to appointment.

3. For individuals wearing eyeglasses or hard contact lenses, uncorrected vision of 20/100 or better in both eyes is required; correctable vision of 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. If an individual has uncorrected vision of more than 20/100 they must use soft contact lenses. For individuals who wear soft contact lenses there is no "uncorrected" vision standard. However, individuals who wear soft contact lenses must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested, and have successfully worn soft contact lenses for six (6) months prior to employment.

4. Normal hearing acuity.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and any employment or volunteer work that demonstrates good work habits would be qualifying.
• Highly desirable: The completion of some college level semester units.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATES:

• Possession of a Class C California Driver's License.
• Highly desirable: Completion of a Firefighter 1 Academy. Firefighter I or Firefighter II Certification through the California Office of the State Fire Marshal.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITY:

• Read, learn, and understand various laws, policies, rules, procedures, law enforcement techniques and first aid
• Analyze situations and/or problems and rationally and calmly take quick, effective action in emergency and stress situations
• Undergo strenuous physical training
• Successfully complete a structured academic training program as required to successfully complete law enforcement recruit academy
• Possess sufficient strength and agility necessary to perform the duties of a Public Safety Officer within an environment as described under Working Conditions

BACKGROUND REQUIREMENT:

• Must successfully complete a thorough background investigation, which includes criminal, personal, driving, credit, employment and education history.
• Must meet the Department's drug and alcohol standards; pass a polygraph, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.
• Any felony conviction is considered disqualifying.

The Public Safety Officer Trainee learns and trains to potentially become a Public Safety Officer. As such, he/she must be able to sit, stand, walk, run, reach, twist, turn, kneel, bend, squat, and crouch to perform the daily activities of a Public Safety Officer. The Trainee must also be able to grasp, make repetitive hand movement, and have fine coordination to write reports and use a computer keyboard. Additionally, the Trainee must see near, far, at night, and have color vision to view crime scenes, evidence, and fire a weapon. The incumbent must be able to frequently run in pursuit and subdue suspects while taking them into custody; walk on uneven and slippery surfaces. They work outdoors in all weather conditions, around loud siren noise and moving vehicles. The Public Safety Officer Trainee must be able to work around chemicals, pesticides, blood, and other potential toxic exposures and around electrical hazards. The Trainee should be aware that he/she would be subjected to physical threats, verbal abuse, and other stressful situations. They must be prepared to work a variety of shifts, including a 24-hour schedule. During fire suppression activities, he/she is required to wear protective gear, carry appropriate tools, and wear self-contained breathing apparatus weighing a combined total of 100 pounds, while performing many of the emergency related duties; may be exposed to very hot and very cold conditions, and enter smoke filled buildings. While performing emergency aid, lifting and carrying victims and moving heavy equipment may be required. Incumbents will be required to work in small, cramped crawl spaces, areas where vision is limited, and/or at heights including rooftops and on ladders.

CALPERS RETIREMENT: Per the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), effective 1/1/13, new CalPERS members will be in the Misc. 2% at Age 62 retirement formula with a 3-year final compensation. Employees pay the member's contribution.

The City does not participate in Social Security nor State of California Short-Term Disability Insurance (SDI). Medicare Taxes are withheld.

MEDICAL INSURANCE: Employees may select from Kaiser, REMIF, or Sutter health plans. The City contributes a set credit amount based on coverage level.

DENTAL & VISION INSURANCE: City provides Delta Dental and VSP (vision) insurance at no premium cost to employee and eligible dependents.

HOLIDAYS: 14.5 paid holidays per year.

ANNUAL LEAVE PROGRAM: New employees accrue 13.167 hours per month of personal time off according to a schedule which increases with length of service.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: City-paid $50,000 life insurance policy, Short-Term Disability Insurance, LTD Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Education and Tuition Reimbursement Program, Dependent Care Assistance Program, Health Care Tax Free Dollar Account Program, Computer Purchase Program, Catastrophic Leave Program, and free use of the City's Sports Center and lap swim in City's swimming pools. Employees may purchase supplemental life insurance, participate in a deferred compensation program and join a credit union. In addition, the City is a non-smoking workplace.

EMPLOYEE UNIT: This position is in the Rohnert Park Public Safety Officers' Association (RPPSOA) Unit.