Police Officer Trainee

Salary: $6,297.12 - $8,419.60 Monthly
Location : El Segundo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 24/25-00183
Department: POLICE
Opening Date: 01/05/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
SALARY: $6,297.12 - $8,419.60 Monthly
$75,565.41- $101,035.20 Annually

• Excellent Benefits
• Educational Reimbursement
• Paid Police Academy Fees
• Uniform and Equipment Allowance

Upon graduation from Police Academy and swearing-in by Chief of Police, Police Officers can receive the following incentives:

• Monthly salary $8,431.07 - $11,273.88*
• Voluntary Binding Arbitration - $10,000*
• Longevity Pay: $208.00 - $1,196.00 depending on years of service*
• Education Pay: $310.02 - $1,407.76 depending on highest level of education*
• Tuition Reimbursement: $20,000*
• Special Assignment Pay Opportunities*
• Holiday Pay*

*Per Police Officer Association Memorandum of Understanding (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2029)

WHO WE ARE: El Segundo, incorporated in 1917, is home to approximately 17,000 residents and is known as a major aeronautical and industrial business center. The City is headquarters to several corporations including Mattel, Chevron and most recently, the Los Angeles Times. El Segundo is also home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Chargers, and Kings training facilities.

The El Segundo Police Department is a full-service agency, providing the highest levels of crime prevention and quality service to a community that strongly supports its public safety members. The Department's mission is to provide a safe and secure community while treating all people with dignity and respect.

Under close supervision, incumbents in this non-sworn, entry-level position complete a formal, comprehensive California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Certified Basic Academy training program of about 26-weeks duration and perform other related work as required. Upon successful completion of the mandatory policy academy, trainees may be elevated to the rank of sworn Police Officer at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
Essential Job Functions
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following duties and responsibilities, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list of duties and responsibilities is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Position in this classification typically perform a full range of duties at a level of complexity represented by the following types of responsibilities:

• Attend scheduled training sessions;
• Participate in physical fitness regimen as required by Academy;
• Learn principles, practices and theory of criminal and civil law enforcement;
• Learn basic criminal investigation processes and techniques, including the identification, collection, and preservation of evidence, courtroom testimony, and witness interrogation;
• Learn to prepare various reports, including but not limited to vehicle reports, crime reports, suspect information reports, and missing persons reports;
• Learn to respond to radio and computer messages and calls for service;
• Learn techniques to make arrests as necessary;
• Learn to investigate crimes, traffic collisions, and suspicious activities;
• Learn to interview victims, complainants and witnesses;
• Learn to detain and interrogate suspects;
• Learn to analyze situations and make decisions appropriately under stressful situations;
• Learn to collect and preserve evidence;
• Learn to testify and present evidence in court;
• Learn to direct traffic, including regulation of vehicle flow at times of emergency or congestion;
• Learn to stop drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws and issue citations as necessary; and
• May be required to work shifts, weekends or holidays.

Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES:
Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma, pass the General Education Development test indicating 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.
Candidates who have successfully completed a full-time California P.O.S.T Certified Basic Police Academy or currently attending an Academy (with a ranking within the top 25 percentile of their class) may be allowed to substitute their academy training in lieu of having to attend the City's mandatory academy. The decision is at the sole discretion of the Chief of Police
Licensing/Certification Requirements: Must possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's License.
Age: Must be a minimum of 20 ½ years of age at the time of the written test.
Special Requirements:

• Must be of proportional height to weight, be physically able to handle the rigorous duties of police work;
• Possess normal hearing and color perception, minimum vision of 20/100 in each eye, correctable to 20/20;
• Prior to appointment, candidates must successfully complete a polygraph test, psychological and medical examination, and an extensive background investigation process;
• Smoking and/or the use of tobacco products on or off duty are prohibited as a condition of employment; and
• Any visible tattoo(s), body art and/or body piercings are prohibited while performing department duties.

Knowledge, Skills and Other Characteristics:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing; ability to read and interpret complex technical documents;
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Observe, record, and recall pertinent facts and details;
• Adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances;
• Learn and apply proper and appropriate use of force techniques; and
• Perform strenuous physical activities.

Skill In:

• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the members of the public, the community, co-workers and superiors; and
• Skill in using a personal computer.

Police Officers Association (POA)
Benefit Summary

PERS Retirement: Tier I - 3%@50 for individuals employed as of 10/5/12. Tier II- 3%@55 for individuals employed by the City on or after 10/6/12 who are already PERS members. Single highest year. for new employees/members hired on or after 1/1/13. Three year average final compensation. Members pay 50% of normal cost (12%).
Retiree Medical: City offers paid retiree medical insurance at same rate as active employees.
Medical Insurance: City contributes $1,800/mo. (effective 1/1/25) for employee and dependents' medical insurance under PERS.

Optical/Dental/Life/AD&D: City contributes $184.25/month. Employee & eligible dependents may be covered for optical and dental. $10,000 term life policy provided by City; employee can purchase additional self and dependent coverage at group rates. AD&D insurance policies provided for employees.

Flex Plan: Section 125 Plan, allows for payment of employee paid insurance medical treatment, and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

Holidays: Paid 120 hours per year in lieu of holidays

Vacation Leave: 96 hours (1-5 yrs); 120 hours (6-10 yrs); 144 hours (11-15 yrs); 176 hours (16 yrs); 192 hours (17 years); increasing 8 hours each year thereafter until a maximum of 256 hours for 25 years is reached. Hired prior to 7/1/94: 96 hours (1-7 years); 136 hours (8-14 years): 176 hours (15-16 years); 184 hours (17 years), increasing 8 hours each year thereafter until a maximum of 256 hours for 25 years is reached.

Sick Leave: Eight (8) hours per month. Percentage of unused leave paid upon retirement or separation.

Bereavement Leave: Three (3) days (or 40 hours when travel beyond 500 miles is required) per qualifying incident.

Tuition Reimbursement: 100% of cost of tuition and books at UCLA/UCI rates, whichever is higher, for undergraduate or graduate courses.

Educational Incentive Pay: Hired prior to 2/21/2017 Depending upon level of education, position held and step within range, may receive pay from $270.39 to $1622.85. Hired on or after 2/21/2017 Bachelor's education incentive pay applies.

Differential Pay:

Detective / SPA / K-9 Officer $425.84 designated by the Chief of Police
Motor Officer $511.01 Sergeants $640.19
Bilingual Officer $283.90 Sergeants $355.66

Other: Voluntary participation in Credit Union; Deferred Compensation Program (457); Payroll Direct Deposit; Up to $4,000 interest free computer loan.
2/15; 3/15; 6/15; 2/17
01

The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Based upon the application materials and responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the best qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the selection process. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response, detailing your experience. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the free response questions. You will not have an opportunity to provide additional information if your application is not selected to proceed in the recruitment process, so you should be sure to detail ALL relevant work experience within your application and supplemental questionnaire. I certify that I have read the online job posting and understand the experience requirement for this position, that all information provided in this questionnaire is true, and I agree and understand that any misstatements or omissions of material fact may forfeit my rights to continue in this examination process. Do you understand and agree to the foregoing?

• Yes, I acknowledge
• No, I do not acknowledge

02

The minimum age requirement at time of appointment is 21 years of age (20 1/2 years by the time of the written test). Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record?

• Yes
• No
• I have a valid Driver's License from another state

04

Do you possess a high school diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

05

The City of El Segundo Police Department requires no visible tattoos while wearing a long sleeve uniform. Do you meet the requirement of the Police Department policies?

• Yes
• No

06

The El Segundo Police Department is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service through a community-oriented policing and problem-solving philosophy. Please describe how you would apply the department's mission if you were hired as a Police Officer Trainee for the City of El Segundo Police Department.
07

Why do you want to be a Police Officer for the El Segundo Police Department?
08

Please describe how you have prepared for the demands of a P.O.S.T. Certified Basic Police Academy.
09

Have you previously applied for a position with the El Segundo Police Department?

• Yes
• No

10

If you answered "yes" to the previous question, please list ALL prior application dates and the disposition of your application. (For example, "Application April 2023, invited to exam, passed written and physical agility, failed interview"). If you have never applied with the El Segundo Police Department, please type N/A.
Required Question