Hiring Process

The first step to Joining Our Team is to meet certain legal requirements:

• US Citizen
• 21 years old at the time of appointment
• No felony convictions
• HS Diploma or GED
• Good Moral Character as defined by Government Code 1031 and the Ten POST Job Dimensions (see below)

Application: You can apply in person either before or at the time of testing or you can apply on-line. APPLY NOW! (Application screened)

POST Written Exam: Written Examination: As announced or may be taken at local Law Enforcement Academies. For availability please visit www.theacademy.ca.gov.  There is no fee to take the exam but appointments are required.

The written test takes 2.5 hours and is a multiple choice test on reading, writing and understanding written material. Visit the POST website www.post.ca.gov/selection for a sample test.

Those applicants who have graduated from an approved CA P.O.S.T police academy or have previously taken the P.O.S.T written exam within one year and received a T-Score of 50 or above are not required to retake the written exam.  A copy of the P.O.S.T. scores must be included with the application or faxed to (831) 755-3850..

Physical Ability Test: Upon successfully passing written exam, applicants are required to take the Physical Ability Examination. See Testing Dates for availability.       View the course diagram.

Background Process:

1. Personal History Statement (PHS) 28-page questionnaire distributed after successful completion of Physical Ability and Written Examinations. Please make sure this document is filled out completely.
2. PHS due on specific date given (Approximately two weeks after testing)
3. Initial PHS Screening
4. Background Interview
1. Fingerprints
2. Photo
3. Waivers signed
4. Interview/ Review PHS with applicant
   
5. Pre-employment Computerized Voice Stress Analyzer Examination
6. Background Investigation
   1. Mail outs
   1. Relatives/Neighbors/Friends/Acquaintances
   Employment History
   3. Educational Institutions
   4. Police Academy
   5. Law Enforcement
   6. Credit History Report
   2. Field Work
   1. Home Visit/ Neighborhood Check
7. Sheriff’s Review

Conditional offer will be given upon successfully passing the Background process.

Psychological Examination:

Conducted in Los Gatos

Medical Examination:

Conducted in Salinas

Background Investigator’s Final Report:

Sheriff via Chain of Command for Review

1. Not Hired
2. Hired
1. To Academy as a Recruit
   
   Our Office utilizes the services of local Basic Law Enforcement Academies. The Academy generally runs 22 weeks following a Monday – Friday 0800-1700 hr. schedule.
    
2. Upon Academy Graduation- Jail FTO Program
   
   The entire hiring process from the time you take the written exam to the time you finish the medical exam can take three to six months. It is helpful to make sure persons you list as references are made aware they may receive a request for information from us. If they are diligent about returning the information, the process moves much quicker.

State of California’s Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Job Dimensions:

1. Moral Character
2. Impulse Control/Attention to Safety
3. Substance Abuse and Other Risk Taking Behavior
4. Handling Stress and Adversity
5. Conscientiousness
6. Controlling and Overcoming Problems, Obstacles and Adversity
7. Interpersonal Skills
8. Decision Making and Judgment
9. Learning Ability
10. Communication Skills