Police Officer Recruit, Trainee & Lateral Officer

Modesto Police Officer Recruit position:

The Police Officer Recruit position is available for candidates who will be sponsored by the Modesto Police Department to participate in a Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) – certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy, resulting in graduation and certification, to enable the individual to become a sworn Police Officer Trainee with the city.  

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applicants must submit POST-certified entrance examination test results with their application.  Written verification must be on agency or academy letterhead where the test was administered and must list the test date, type of test administered, and the results.  The results must show a minimum t-score of 45.0 dated within 12 months from application in order to qualify for the position with the City of Modesto.  Failure to attach Pellet B Scores to application will result in disqualification.  If you do not possess the required test results, the Modesto Police Department is offering testing dates.  Spaces are limited.  To obtain more information about the available dates and to enroll, please visit the Modesto Police Department website at http://modestogov.com/1539/Post-Pellet-B-Testing.  If those dates do not work for you, you can find a list of POST-certified law enforcement academies on the POST website at https://post.ca.gov/basic-training-academies and you can contact them directly to find out their next available testing session. 

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and possess a t-score of 45.0 or higher will be invited to the next phase of testing which will be a physical agility examination. The test battery can be found here. 

Candidates do not have to take the Pellet B if they possess an associate's degree or higher from an accredited college or university (accreditation must be from an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education of the United States of America). The city uses the following database to verify institutions. https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. Transcripts with the degree posted or the diploma must be attached to the application.

If an institution is unable to be verified through the database and a equivalency verification form is not attached to the application, the Human Resources Department will require that the Pellet B be taken.
 

ALREADY completed the Academy?

Apply for the Police Officer Trainee position:

The Police Officer Trainee is responsible to perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce State and local municipal codes, violations, and traffic regulations; to perform investigative work; to participate in and provide support and assistance to special crime prevention and enforcement programs; and to perform a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of the department.

This is the entry level class in the sworn Police Officer series.  The classification is designed for candidates currently attending a California POST-certified Regular Basic Course academy or for those who will have successfully completed a California POST-certified Regular Basic Course academy (Intensive, Extended, or Modular formats) by time of appointment.  This classification is distinguished from the Police Officer by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series since this class is typically used as work experience. 

Are you currently a Police Officer (Lateral) with your Basic POST Certificate, or higher?

Lateral Police Officer position:

The Police Officer is responsible to perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce State and local municipal codes, violations, and traffic regulations; to perform investigative work; to participate in and provide support and assistance to special crime prevention and enforcement programs; and to perform a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of the department.