Full Job Description
Police Sergeant
Under general supervision of the Police Lieutenant and/or Police Captain, this promotional opportunity as Police Sergeant is a working supervisory position overseeing police officers, reserve police officers, non-sworn staff and other department personnel. Sergeants are responsible for performing journey and advanced level law enforcement activities and function as the first level supervisor in an assigned functional area or field assignment.
This position may be responsible for analyzing and recommending improvements to equipment and procedures for various operations and may be assigned to complete special administrative tasks including research, analysis of information and documentation of results.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Models the Department's mission, values, and expectations while fostering trust with employees, community members, and partner agencies.
• Creates an environment that promotes employee wellness, ethical decision-making, teamwork, and continuous professional development
• Works on a rotating shift, supervising police officers and other assigned staff in their duties.
• Supervises the scheduling and coordinating of shift changes.
• Reviews a variety of police related reports prepared by subordinate officers or others for completeness and accuracy.
• Supervises and evaluates officers' arrests based on circumstances and evidence.
• Makes day-to-day police assignments as required by the needs of the department.
• Makes plans about individual tactical matters such as equipment to be used for particular operations or the detailed plans needed for an investigation. Develops new approaches to investigate crimes, and problems in the community.
• Advises supervisors on deployment of personnel.
• Maintains contact with all police personnel to coordinate efforts of members at the scene of major investigations, provides assistance to a request for mutual aid, and provides general information about Department activities.
• Maintains contact with the general public, court officials, and other City officials in the performance of police activities, as assigned.
• Coaches, mentors, evaluates, and develops assigned personnel through regular feedback, performance evaluations, planning sessions, recognition, and accountability conversations. Counsels assigned personnel on job performance and disciplinary matters.
• Personally participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the City limits, obtaining evidence and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing of charges, testifying in court, and related activities.
• Directs a shift in the performance of security patrols, traffic control, investigation and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
• Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedent.
• Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.
• Patrols City streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies and other law violations' and to otherwise serve and protect.
• Responds to emergency radio calls and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, and other criminal activity. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.
• Interviews and/or interrogates suspects, witnesses, and victims; preserves evidence; arrests violators; investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents; summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles; takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene; conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift; develops leads and tips; searches scene of crimes for clues; analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders.
• Participates in investigation of criminal law violations, obtains evidence and compiles information regarding these crimes, prepares cases for filing of charges, testifies in court, and related activities.
• Undertakes, understands and values the concept of community oriented policing as outlined in departmental mission and value statements and holds subordinates accountable for delivery of services.
• Prepares a variety of reports and records including officer's daily call entries, reports of investigation, field interrogation reports, alcohol reports, influence reports, vehicle impound forms, traffic hazard reports, traffic citations, etc.
• Assists citizens with such matters as locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education (DARE), traffic safety, and other related public service tasks as needed.
• Coordinates and supervises the training, assignment, development of subordinate police officers.
• Coordinates activities with supervisors or other City departments, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney, Court Administrator, and District Attorney's Office regarding cases, policies and procedures.
• Analyzes and recommends improvements to equipment and facilities, as needed.
• Reviews, evaluates and develops programs, policies and procedures for various departmental operations.
• Assists in the preparation and administration of the department budget.
• Provides supervisors with regular information on Department activities and employee related issues or concerns.
• Schedules and conducts meetings; Maintains departmental equipment, supplies and facilities.
• May be assigned to complete special administrative tasks, including research, analysis of information and documentation of results.
• May serve as liaison with community groups.
• May serve as the supervisor of the Investigative Services Section, or supervisor of the Support and Community Services Section, or other unit as assigned.
• May serve as chair and/or as a member of various employee committees.
Typical Qualifications:
The ideal Police Sergeant candidate will possess the following:
• Possession of, and ability to maintain a valid State of California POST Peace Officer Certification
• Minimum of three (3) years work experience as a fully commissioned Police Officer
• Possession of an Associate's Degree or equivalent number of college units in a general education field, law enforcement or related field
• Possession of, or eligibility to receive, POST Intermediate Certificate
• Possession of, and ability to maintain, a valid California driver's license
• Ability to meet and maintain department's physical standards as necessary to perform the required job duties
• Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal history are not allowed
In addition, candidates will have a successful track record of the following:
• Establishing and sustaining trusting relationships by accurately perceiving and interpreting own and others' emotions and behavior; leveraging insights to effectively manage own responses so that one's behavior matches one's values and delivers intended results.
• Having achieved a satisfactory level of technical and professional skill or knowledge in functional areas related to the position of Police Sergeant; maintaining a solid understanding of policies, procedures and the law; keeping up with current developments and trends in law enforcement.
• Interacting with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization.
• Guiding others to make the most of their available skills and providing timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem.
• Demonstrating an ability under pressure to identify priorities and assert command and control over a major incident or incidents to promote public safety through managing, deploying and directing personnel and resources; thinking critically; communicating effectively; understanding and employing the incident Command System (ICS) as appropriate.
• Demonstrating leadership behaviors that inspire trust, promote accountability, develop employees, and build high-performing teams committed to serving the community. Actively identifying new areas for learning; regularly creating and taking advantage of learning opportunities; using newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learning through their application.
• Demonstrating a commitment to organizational improvement by embracing innovation, identifying opportunities to improve service delivery, and contributing to a positive, collaborative Department culture.
• Effectively managing one's time and resources to ensure that work is completed efficiently; meeting established deadlines.
Compensation
The annual salary range for this represented position is currently $146,653 - $179,961. The City is proud to offer a competitive total compensation package with the following highlights:
• Enrollment into CalPERS retirement program of 3% @ 50 for classic members or 2.7% @ 57 for new members
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance for employee and eligible dependents
• 80-104 vacation hours per year depending on length of service
• 96 sick leave hours per year
• 14.5 paid holidays per year
• Uniform Allowance
• POST Educational Incentive Pay
• Opportunity for 2.5% bilingual pay
• Employee Home Loan Assistance Program
• Deferred compensation
• Tuition reimbursement
• Section 125 flexible benefit plan
• Life insurance equal to one year's annual salary at no cost
• Long term disability insurance provided at no cost
For a listing of employee benefits, please see the Public Safety Mid-Management column in our benefits summary linked here.
How to Apply (Internal Recruitment Only)
You must be a current City of San Bruno employee to apply for the position. Applications must be submitted online at BambooHR by 5:00 p.m. on August 20, 2026. The City of San Bruno utilizes a merit-based selection system. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the position.