Police Officer Recruit

 OAKLAND HOUSING AUTHORITY

POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT

$43.09 / Hourly (Full-Time)

CLOSING DATE/TIME:  This will be a continuous recruitment until sufficient applications have been received.

DEFINITION

The Police Officer Recruit is a non-sworn civilian employee that attends a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) certified police academy to learn and perform the responsibilities of an entry-level California Police Officer. Prior to the start of the academy, the Police Officer Recruit will participate in a pre-academy preparation process, which includes a human resources orientation and a police department physical and educational training program. The training program will consist of running, core and strength conditioning, weaponless defense tactics, firearms training, and educational topics including but not limited to applicable laws covered in the police academy. Upon graduation from the academy and award of the Academy Basic Course Certificate, the Police Officer Recruit may, upon recommendation of the Chief of Police be appointed to and sworn in as a probationary Police Officer and perform work under general instructions, within established policies and procedures.

Incumbency in this position shall not exceed twelve (12) months. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Successful completion of academy training program which includes:

• Various written assignments, application skills, rigorous physical exercise, and scenario-based tests; and 
• Participation in a rigorous physical conditioning program which culminates in a Work Sample Test Battery (physical ability test) at the end of the academy.

Recruits must pass all tests in order to graduate from the basic academy. Students will receive academy instruction in the areas of patrol methods, causes of criminality, courtroom procedures, community relations, safe firearms operations, emergency driving operations, exposure to less-lethal chemical agents, and other law enforcement related topics to prepare the student for the position of Police Officer.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

Performs related duties as required to achieve successful results in support of the Oakland Housing Authority’s mission, goals, policies and objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from High School or GED. 
• Be at least 20.5 years of age at time of application.
• A valid California Driver’s License, and maintenance of an insurable driving record;
• Eligibility to attend a State of California POST-certified Basic Police Academy.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien who is eligible and has applied for citizenship.
• No felony convictions, or any convictions that would bar the applicant from legally possessing a firearm.
• Must not have completed a California P.O.S.T. certified Basic Peace Officer Academy within the last 36 months.
• Must be willing to work nights, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, and shift rotations.
• Bilingual skills in ASL, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and/or Spanish are a plus.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF: 

• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts

ABILITY TO: 

• Successfully complete a State of California POST-certified Basic Police Academy; 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; Acquire a working knowledge of Vehicle and Penal Codes; 
• Laws of arrest, rules of evidence, legal rights of citizens, and court procedures; 
• Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents and places; 
• Use and care for firearms and small equipment; Learn, understand, and interpret laws and regulations; 
• Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports; 
• Respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective manner; 
• Understand, explain, and apply policies and procedures; 
• Make clear and concise radio transmissions; 
• Understand and follow verbal and written directions; 
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions; 
• Establish and maintain cooperative work relationships. 

Work indoors, and outdoors, and around multiple potential environmental hazards including but not limited to: heights, temperature changes, dust, fumes, smoke, gas, chemicals, noise, electrical energy, solvents, grease, oil, vibration, open flames, explosives, blood-borne pathogens, and human waste.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Possession of a California POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) "T-score" of 42 points or higher submitted at the time of the application and dated within one year of application. NOTE: California POST "T-scores" from other agencies will be accepted if it has been taken within one year of the date you submit your Oakland Housing Authority application. Applicants must submit, on agency letterhead, a letter that states that individual has taken the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) written exam. The letter must contain the total "T-score" and the date of the test. For information on where the PELLETB test is offered, please visit www.theacademy.ca.gov/tests.

National Testing Network: Provides law enforcement testing elements covering:

• Situational Judgment
• Report Writing
• Reading
• Public Safety Assessment
• Acceptable scores for each element: Situational Judgment (65), Report Writing (70), Reading (70), and Public Safety Assessment (52).
• Scores are valid for one (1) year.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants who previously tested for employment with this Department and were not hired for a position may start the testing process again from the beginning. Applicants who fail any portion of the testing process may re-apply when the job is announced, in accordance with the listed re-application testing time period scale. For the position of police officer, applicants must wait the following prescribed time periods before reapplying:

FAILED TEST                                        RE-APPLICATION PERIOD

Written Examination                                      Six Months

Physical Ability Test                                      Six Months

Oral Interview                                                Six Months

Background Investigation                              One Year

Psychological Exam                                      Two Years

Candidates who are not selected and who wish to have the reason reevaluated shall contact the background Lieutenant, who will promptly prepare a report for the Chief. The Chief of Police shall reevaluate the case and notify the candidate in writing of the final decision.

SELECTION

All applications will be carefully reviewed. The selection process will include a physical ability test, an oral interview and a personal history review. Successful applicants will be placed on a list of qualifiers. Based on position on the list, applicants will complete a polygraph examination and intensive background investigation. Successful candidates will be scheduled for an interview with the Chief of Police. Those passing will be given a conditional job offer and scheduled for a medical and psychological examination. The entire process should be completed within 90 days. Note: applicants currently enrolled in police academies may substitute the basic academy entry level examination and successful completion of the academy’s physical ability program for the written & physical ability portions. 

The physical ability performance test is mandatory and only given to those applicants who are applying for the position of police officer. The test has been developed by POST as a standard to measure physical characteristics of strength, endurance, and the agility necessary to perform job-related functions of a police officer. The applicant must pass all parts of the test within the allotted time period. The test shall be scored as pass or fail.
 1. Elements of the physical ability performance test are:

1. Obstacle Course/Agility Run: Run a 99-yard obstacle course consisting of several sharp turns, a number of curb-height obstacles, and a 34-inch high obstacle that must be vaulted.
2. Body Drag: Life and drag a 165 pound lifelike dummy 32 feet.
3. Solid Fence Climb: Run 5 yards to a 6-foot solid fence, climb over fence, and continue running another 25 yards.
4. 500 Yard Run: Run 500 yards

2. Scoring of each elements (see attached tables) will be cumulative. A minimum score of 384 must be obtained to demonstrate sufficient physical ability to perform as a patrol officer. See attachment: POST Physical Ability Test Tables.pdf

3. OHAPD will accept similar physical ability tests proctored by other law enforcement agencies that have been taken within the last six months from application.

• One year experience in a police department, serving in one or more of the following categories: police dispatcher, parking enforcement officer, police records clerk, or in a clerical capacity where police related systems were used.

TO APPLY: Please complete an Employment Application online at www.oakha.org. This recruitment will remain open until a sufficient number of applications have been received. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application form.