Location
Description
Applications are being accepted for the position of Police Recruit with the City of South San Francisco.
CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT
As a continuous recruitment, please ensure timely and complete submission of employment application and supporting documents. This recruitment is to establish an eligible list for anticipated future vacancies.
Please note: This job posting is for recruit/entry-level applicants and NOT for lateral-transfer, academy graduates, and academy attendees.
THE CITY OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE BENEFIT PACKAGE AS WELL AS CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN.
The City of South San Francisco is a General Law city with a population of 68,000 residents that grows to 110,000 during business hours. South San Francisco is strategically located on the west shore of the San Francisco Bay, in northern San Mateo County, 10 miles south of San Francisco. This City is also located along the Bay Area's main transportation routes, included 101, 280, Caltrain, BART, San Francisco Bay Ferry, and the San Francisco International Airport.
The City of South San Francisco is a full-service city with 12 City Departments including Police; Fire; Parks and Recreation; Public Works; Economic and Community Development; City Attorney; Library; Finance; Information Technology; Human Resources; City Clerk; and Office of the City Manager. The City has a Council-City Manager form of government with more than 460 full-time regular employees.
The City of South San Francisco proudly remains The Industrial City, a reflection of its steel mill and ship building past. In recent years, the City has been redefined to reflect the innovative, entrepreneurial and industrious spirit, which has made South San Francisco the Biotech Capital of the World.
South San Francisco’s biotechnology cluster is the largest in the world, with roughly 45,000 life science workers, 200 biotech companies, and over 12 million square feet of office/R&D facilities – with an additional 9 million square feet of new R&D facilities in the development pipeline.
South San Francisco enjoys a high quality of life with an extensive public parks system, active library and learning programming and a dynamic, engaged community making South San Francisco a great place to live, learn, work and play.
THE DEPARTMENT:
The City of South San Francisco has 85 sworn and 35 civilian positions. The Department’s philosophy is one of participative management, with a high degree of emphasis on training and education. It employs team and community-oriented policing and problem-solving concepts and recognizes the importance of staying contemporary with technological advances. The Department acknowledges that the responsibility for public safety and the quality of life in our neighborhood is a responsibility share with the whole community.
A new state-of-the-art Police Department building and 9-1-1 Communications Center was built at 1 Chestnut Avenue, across the road from the former police building. The new Police Building includes a large training room for defensive tactics, a dedicated indoor firearms range, and progressive construction incorporating the latest in Police Station design concepts. The 9-1-1 Communications center has the latest communications and dispatching technologies to provide improved service and response to South San Francisco residents.
Ideal Candidate
Under close supervision, positions within this classification attend a Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certified police academy. Upon successful completion of academy training and courses and upon availability, Police Officer Recruits are appointed to a probationary Police Officer with the City.
Ideal Candidate:
- Will display unquestionable integrity, reliability, and judgment
- Be able to recognize and apply alternative solutions to problems and make legal, logical, and critical decisions in emergencies while working in a stressful environment
- Have a service orientation with an understanding of community-oriented policing and problem-solving concepts
- Be motivated and have the ability to work independently or in groups to achieve common goals
- Accept and adapt to technology in the work environment
- Skill in using and carrying firearms
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must be at least 21 years of age at date of hire.
- Must be free from felony or domestic violence convictions.
- Must meet standards of adequate physical stature, endurance and agility.
- U.S. citizenship or a permanent resident alien who is eligible, and has applied for, U.S. citizenship.
- High school diploma or GED. Additional education at the community college level is preferred.
- Possession of, or the ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
- POST Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) written examination certificate with a T-score of 48 or higher obtained within the 12 months immediately preceding application submission OR an associate degree from an accredited college.
- POST Entry-level physical agility examination - Work Sample Test Battery (WSTB) certificate with a score of 384 and above and successful completion of a 1.5-mile run (completed in 14 minutes or less). Certificate must be issued within the 12 months immediately preceding application submission.
These examinations are administered by South Bay Regional Public Safety Consortium (SBRPSTC) and are designed to meet the Commission of Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) requirements.
Website to take PELLETB written test and WSTB physical agility test:
http://theacademy.ca.gov/tests
SBRPSTC requires a fee from applicants for taking the PELLETB & WSTB tests. There are a limited number of seats for the examination dates listed at SBRPSTC for both PELLETB & WSTB tests. Register early before all seats are sold out.
Required Documents:
The following items are required and must be attached to your application. Applications submitted without them will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered further:
- Copy of PELLETB Score OR Copy of College Transcript/Certificate (whichever is applicable)
- WSTB certifications demonstrating a physical agility exam score of 384 or higher and successful completion of the 1.5-mile run.
*PELLET B and WSTB certificate issuance dates must be no older than 12 months from the date of the application submission.
Selection Process:
The examination process will consist of a review of application materials, including submission of all required supporting documentation and possession of minimum qualifications. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and have submitted a complete application packet will be invited to participate in an oral panel interview. Upon completion of this interview, successful candidates will be placed on an employment list for further consideration by the Police Department. Employment lists are valid for one year, unless exhausted sooner. Appeals concerning administration of an examination must be submitted in writing within two business days from the date the event occurred.
Candidates deemed most qualified following departmental interviews will be invited to subsequent phases of the selection process which may include personal history background check, polygraph examination, fingerprint examination and pre-employment psychological testing and medical examination. Candidates may be disqualified at any point in this process. The City reserves the right to use alternate testing procedures if deemed necessary. Candidates must also be able to furnish proof of legal right to work in the United States. Police Recruits are initially hired in the non-sworn civilian classification while attending the Police Academy and will become a Police Officer when sworn in.
Benefits
Retirement: As a Recruit, participation in the CalPERS Miscellaneous benefit formula. CalPERS retirement formula is either 2% at age 60 for Classic members or 2% at age 62 for new members, depending on individual's eligibility. Medicare participation and option to participate in 457 deferred compensation plans. Social Security participation while in the Miscellaneous classification only. City contributes the equivalent of 1.5% of base pay towards a medical after-retirement account. Once a sworn Police Officer, CalPERS benefit formula changes to that of Safety employees and employee contributes 1% of base pay each pay period towards a medical after-retirement account.
Health Insurance: City offers a choice of medical HMO (two providers) or PPO plan, and offers vision and dental coverage. City pays 100% of vision and dental premiums for employee and eligible dependents. Employees shall contribute 10% of the HMO premium cost based on category of coverage (single, two, family). For PPO, employee pays cost difference between PPO and HMO plans. City provides 100% City-paid short- and long-term disability insurances. The City offers a discretionary benefit account for employees who demonstrate health coverage elsewhere.
Vacation: Fifteen to thirty working days annual vacation, depending on length of service.
Holidays: Thirteen total paid holidays per year plus one floating holiday.
Programs: 457 Deferred Compensation, Paid Family Leave (Misc)/Paid Parental Leave (Sworn), Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program, Long-Term Care, Disability and Life Insurance Programs, City Recreation Classes, Reduced-fee Childcare Programs and Commuter Benefit Programs are available.
Special Instructions
Prior to appointment, candidates will be required to submit to any or all of the following (as applicable):
- Reference Check
- Department of Justice (DOJ) Fingerprint Check
- Police Department Background Check (includes review of Personal History Statement)
- Polygraph
- Psych Evaluation
- Pre-Employment Medical Examination and Drug Screen
- DMV Check
A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment. Determinations are made on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to the nature and recency of the conviction and relationship to job duties. All City standards must be met before the final appointment is made.
Candidates with a disability who may require special assistance in any phase of the recruitment process should advise the Human Resources Department upon submittal of application.
Candidates requesting veteran’s preference must provide a copy of U.S. Government DD Form 214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" as an attachment to their CalOpps application.
The policy of the City of South San Francisco is to grant equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or national origin. It is the intent and desire of the City of South San Francisco that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The City of South San Francisco is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
DISCLAIMER: This general announcement does not constitute an express or implied contract and is subject to change. Any provisions contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.