Police Officer (Pre-Service)

Continue your career in law enforcement with the Town of Los Gatos.

New Salary: $60.61-$73.68 per hour (Effective April 1, 2024)

July 2025: $63.65-$77.36 per hour

July 2026: $66.19-$80.46 per hour

Plus excellent benefits. Placement within the range depends on experience.

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno (LGMS) Police Department is dedicated to serving and protecting the community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. We are accepting applications from Police Officers (Pre-Service) who are equally c ommitted to providing the highest quality of service to our community and thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

Who is a Pre-Service Police Officer? A Pre-Service Police Officer is a candidate who has completed the California Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) Basic Police Academy training program or is currently enrolled in a California Basic Police Academy (unaffiliated) within at least four weeks of completing instructions and in good standing with the Academy. See "Required Education, Experience and Training" for other requirements.

Grow your career with us! The Police Officer classification series offers career growth opportunities for both new professionals and those with more work experience. The Department has a culture of promoting from within and offers different opportunities to broaden and gain specialized experience.

• Crisis Response Team
• Bicycle Team
• Collision Reconstruction Team
• Defense Tactics Instructor
• Peer Support Team
• Crime Scene Investigation Team
• Crisis Negotiations Team
• Task Force Officer
• Explorer Police Advisor
• Crisis Intervention Team
• Homeless Liaison

Specialized Assignments (receive additional 5% incentive pay)

• Canine Officer
• School Resource Officer
• Motorcycle Officer
• Field Training Officer (FTO)
• Investigations

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Town of Los Gatos and the City of Monte Sereno have a combined population of about 34,000 residents who enjoy a high quality of life with low crime rates. The LGMS Police Department is budgeted for 39 sworn and 21 civilian personnel and has over 50 community volunteers. The members of the LGMS Police Department work hard to provide a full range of services. They are committed to providing our residents, businesses, and visitors with the highest quality service. We are proud of the relationship with our community and are constantly solidifying that relationship through partnerships, collaboration, and individual contacts. The Police Department’s vision includes:

• Building a highly competent, professional police department.
• Building community relationships.
• Engaging in community problem solving.

Learn more about the LGMS Police Department.

ABOUT THE TOWN The Town of Los Gatos is a general law city operating under the Council/Manager form of government. The Town Manager and Town Attorney are appointed and directly report to the Town Council. The Town’s 200 full- and part-time employees are organized into the following departments: Parks & Public Works, Community Development, Police, Library; and Administrative Services. The Town’s fiscal year 2023/24 General Fund budget is $56.1 million. Learn more about the Town of Los Gatos.

Duties and Responsibilities

ABOUT THE POSITION
Under general supervision, police officers perform various peace officer duties involving protecting life and property, enforcing laws and ordinances, criminal investigation, traffic control, crime prevention and suppression. Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Identify problems or issues that are important to the community, and seek resolution of such problems through the resources of the Police Department, other Town Departments, and/or governmental agencies.
• Conduct preliminary or follow-up investigations of burglaries, thefts, robberies, deaths, accidents, and other disturbances.
• Collect and present evidence and testify at hearings and in court in connection with criminal prosecutions.
• Answer calls for protection of life and property in the enforcement of Town, County and State laws.
• Initiate or maintain the custody of prisoners and transport to jail.

Officers must be available to work nights, weekends, and holidays. There is an 18-month probationary period. This position is a non-exempt classification represented by the Los Gatos Police Officers' Association (POA).

Minimum Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
To be eligible for consideration, applicants must have successfully completed the Basic Police Academy within the past year OR are currently enrolled in a California Basic Police Academy (unaffiliated) within at least 4 weeks of completing instructions and in good standing with the Academy, and;

• Must be 21 years of age at time of appointment as a sworn Police Officer
• Must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent alien who is eligible for and applied for citizenship.
• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License at time of appointment.
• Graduation from high school or equivalent; and
• At least one of the following criteria:
  • 60 semester college credits or 90 quarter college credits from a U.S. accredited college or university at time of graduation from academy. (Police Academy credits are accepted as part of the education requirements); or
  • Military Veteran with four (4) or more years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, or the National Coast Guard and an honorable discharge. Application

MUST INCLUDE, and will n ot be considered without the following:

• POST Academy Certificate
• WSTB Score dated within one year
• Pellet-B Score

Desired Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Ability to fluently speak and understand a foreign language.

Application and Selection Process

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
To be considered for this career opportunity, click on the "Apply" button to complete the online application, and attach copies of your:

• California P.O.S.T Basic Certificate or P.O.S.T. Basic Course Waiver, or proof of completion of the P.O.S.T. Requalification process.
• Current WSTB (Agility Test) score dated within one year.

Resumes may be attached but not accepted in place of a complete online application. Only complete applications will be accepted.

Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee continuation in the process. Only the most qualified applicants with the most relevant experience and education will be invited to continue in the selection process.

The testing process may include, but is not limited to a phone interview, personal history questionnaire, and oral panel interview. Final candidates for the position will be subject to a thorough background investigation, including, but not limited to criminal history; Department of Justice fingerprinting; medical exam, including drug screening; polygraph; and psychological exam.

The information in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute an express or implied contract.

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The Town of Los Gatos is an Equal Opportunity and does not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, medical, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by law. Qualified individuals with a disability will receive reasonable accommodation, as required by the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and federal laws including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504, during any phase of the selection process, providing such request is made to Human Resources at least five working days in advance. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Bargaining Unit: Los Gatos Police Officers' Association (POA)

Please refer to the Benefit Summaries postedon theTown of Los Gatos Human Resources Department Webpage.

• 

• Town of Los Gatos

• 408-399-6829

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