Public Safety Officer 1 - Lateral

Salary : $149,443.00 - $172,999.00 Annually
Location : Sunnyvale, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-00144
Department: Public Safety
Division: Division of Strategic Services
Opening Date: 07/13/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER I - LATERAL
Upon successful completion of the Public Safety Officer I training requirements,
incumbents will promote to Public Safety Officer II (Salary range is $158,141 - $197,027 annually).
Regular Full-Time Employment Opportunity
For a full range of benefits information, including retirement benefits, please click on the Benefits tab above.
Applicants in California must submit a copy of their current (dated within the last 30 days) California DMV driver record printout, California POST Basic certificate, and current Physical Agility Exam, including a 1.5 mile run in order for their application to be considered complete.

Out-of-state applicants must submit a copy of their current (dated within the last 30 days) State DMV driver record printout and currentPhysical Agility Exam, including a 1.5 mile run with their application, and a copy of their California driver license and California POST Basic Course Waiver (in lieu of the POST Basic certificate) by time of appointment.
Under close supervision of a Public Safety Lieutenant or Captain, learns to perform a wide range of public safety work involving the protection of life and property including law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical services; and performs related work as required.

To watch a video with information on careers with the Department of Public Safety, please click on the following link:

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Public Safety Officer I is a sworn training position. Public Safety Officer I is distinguished from the lower-level classification of Public Safety Officer-in-Training in that the Public Safety Officer-In-Training is a non-sworn classification where the main duty is to complete a police academy. Public Safety Officer I is further distinguished from the higher-level Public Safety Officer II in that the Public Safety Officer II is the fully qualified sworn level where incumbents are capable of performing the full range of police and fire duties. Assignment to this classification is temporary. If incumbents do not successfully complete field training and a fire academy, they will be terminated.

Upon successful completion of all phases of training, members of the Public Safety Officer I classification are promoted to the position of Public Safety Officer II. Although members of this classification are not necessarily required to use the full range of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics listed elsewhere in this document, they nevertheless must possess all of them in order to advance to the level of Public Safety Officer II. As with all public safety work, incumbents face an element of personal danger.
Essential Job Functions
(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Successfully completes field training and fire academy to prepare for position of Public Safety Officer II.
• Patrols assigned area and preserves law and order through the prevention of crime and enforcement of laws.
• Responds to calls for service involving traffic accidents, robberies, disturbances, and other misdemeanors and felonies and takes appropriate action including making arrests.
• Investigates crimes against property and persons which include crime scene investigation, the collection and preservation of evidence, the identification and interrogation of suspects, and the pursuit and apprehension of suspects.
• Performs duties related to crime prevention and the correction of public hazards.
• Provides testimony in court related to assigned duties.
• Prepares and maintains investigative records.
• Actively enforces traffic laws through observation, use of radar, traffic checkpoints, and DUI suspicion stops; investigates traffic accidents; takes appropriate enforcement action.
• Plans, executes and participates in raids.
• Learns to perform the full range of public safety administrative duties, including, but not limited to, providing administrative and support services, field and on-the-job training, staff development, planning and research, problem resolution, internal investigation, disaster coordination, community education and crime prevention services, and other special duties as they occur or as assigned.
• Performs public education activities such as making presentations and providing demonstrations; participates in community events.
• Provides on-the-job training and evaluations for Public Safety Officers I and veteran Public Safety Officers II in new assignments.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision. Acute hearing is required to perform the duties of the Public Safety Officer. The need to lift, drag and push equipment and bodies weighing up to 165 pounds, the ability to run continuously for 500 yards and climb 6 foot high fences is also required. When in the field, positions are required to walk and stand during emergency situations, including on uneven and slippery surfaces; wear police officer and firefighter clothing and carry equipment; climb ladders and work from elevated positions and enter confined spaces wearing appropriate breathing apparatus. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:

The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:
Associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university; AND
Two years of experience in police work; AND
Successful completion of a post approved police academy.

OR

Associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university; AND

Successful completion of a POST approved police academy as a City of Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer in Training, Public Safety Officer in Training Academy Attendee or employment as a Public Safety Officer In Training Academy Graduate.
Knowledge of:

• Laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures necessary to perform the essential functions of this classification.
• Basic principles of electricity.
• Principles of physics, chemistry of fire, and mechanics.
• Weights, measures and capacities.
• Principles of business letter writing and crime report preparation, including English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Mathematical calculations as they relate to the essential functions of this position.
• Presentation techniques.
• Crime scene investigation techniques including sketching such things as crime scenes and accidents.
• Principles and practices of good customer service.
• Principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication.
• Principles and practices of risk assessment for public safety agencies.
• Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.

Ability to:

• Apply principles and practices of law enforcement.
• Successfully complete field training and a fire academy.
• Use firearms and other modern police equipment and communications and information systems related to law enforcement.
• Interpret and apply department policies and procedures and related State and Federal laws.
• Learn to perform firefighting, emergency response and rescue and medical aid duties in response to calls for service.
• Learn to drive and operate fire vehicles and equipment.
• Visually identify and accurately distinguish colors and between various visual inputs at long and short ranges and in dark and smoky environments.
• Hear and comprehend auditory inputs in radio transmissions, long range conversations, commands, and cries for assistance when obscured by background noises.
• Detect and distinguish the smell of different materials/chemicals, smoke/fires, and toxic gases.
• Speak in an understandable voice during in-person and radio conversations, to project voice, and to be heard over background noises.
• Observe, assimilate, remember and recall pertinent facts and details.
• Read maps and mapped information.
• Apply selected learned knowledge in collecting, organizing and analyzing a variety of information.
• Speak with a wide variety of people, using tact, self-restraint, judgment, and strategy.
• Make quick and reasonable decisions under stressful emergency situations.
• Exercise tact, self-restraint and good judgment, and exhibit good moral character.
• Operate a computer using word processing and business software and other office equipment.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain and promote positive and effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Demonstrate initiative and exercise good judgment in the performance of duties.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive, complex and political situations.
• Work independently and as a team member; recognize and set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Observe safety principles and work in a safe manner.

Willingness to:

• Comply with department appearance standards and wear a uniform furnished by the department.
• Adhere to ethics of law enforcement as stated in the "Law Enforcement Code of Ethics".
• Enforce all laws, policies and procedures regardless of personal ethics or feelings
• Carry and use approved weapons, including (but not limited to) firearms and batons, if justified by laws, policies, and procedures.
• Take the life of another, if justified by laws, policies, and procedures;
• Work in, around, or with severely decomposed, burnt, or dismembered bodies.
• Train citizens as well as other employees.
• Work irregular hours, irregular days, overtime, weekends, holidays, variable shifts, evenings, on-call and 24-hour shift.
• Obtain and maintain Standard First Aid Certificate and CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) Certificate.
• Work at any location on short notice.
• Attend meetings or classes during regularly scheduled work hours as well as un-scheduled work hours.

Licenses/Certificates:

• Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California driver's license and a safe driving record.
• Possession of a current California POST (Police Officers Standards and Training Commission) Basic Certificate.
• Physical health, strength and agility necessary to meet the physical demands of police and fire work, as determined by a physical agility exam and a medical exam (based on current California POST Commission guidelines).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice or related field.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum vision of 20/200 correctable to 20/20; ability to wear soft contact lens if vision is less than 20/50.
• Must be 21 years of age at time of appointment. Must comply with citizenship requirements in effect at time of hire.

Outside candidates who have been eliminated from a hiring process, either as a result of a background investigation or as the result of any psychological interview, are ineligible to re-apply until an 18 month period has elapsed since the final filing date of the last recruitment for which they have applied.
Application and Selection Process
APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions, as well as a copy of your current (dated within 30 days) California driver record printout, California POST Basic certificate as listed below, and a current physical agility exam including a 1.5 mile run (dated within one year of application) to the Department of Human Resources (faxes are not accepted). Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. This recruitment may close at any time without notice.

Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted on-line through the City's website at , click City Jobs.

For information on the Physical Agility Exam and 1.5 mile run, click here: FAQ

Out-of-state applicants: Out-of-state applicants must submit a copy of their current (dated within 30 days) State DMV driver record printout with their application in order for it to be considered complete. A California driver license and POST Basic Course Waiver in lieu of a POST Basic certificate will be required by the time of employment.

Obtaining a POST waiver is a multiple step process. You must have your training and experience requirements evaluated by California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) and be considered eligible to participate in the Basic Course Waiver Examination (BCWE).

Basic Course Waiver (BCW) is a multiple step process for evaluating prior law enforcement training and testing knowledge and skill levels.
• To view detailed information about the BCW process including the application, click here:

If POST determines that you meet the training and experience requirements of the BCW process, POST will send an eligibility letter with instructions for requesting the Basic Course Waiver Examination (BCWE). The BCWE must be taken within 180 days (six months) of the eligibility letter date.

You must have your POST waiver submitted to the Department of Human Resources no later than time of appointment. Once you receive the eligibility letter from POST, submit a copy to the Department of Human Resources via email at

EXAM PROCESS
Applica