Police Recruit (Academy Enrolled)

Salary : $75,337.60 Annually
Location : Tustin, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-08
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 01/13/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
The City of Tustin Police Department is currently seeking applicants for academy enrolled Police Recruit. This recruitment is open to candidates who are currently enrolled in a POST certified Police Academy, or have graduated from one within the last six months, and is conducted on a continuous basis to meet the needs of the City as vacancies occur and may close at any time.
To be considered, the following must be submitted:
• A completed application and supplemental questionnaire
• Proof of Police Academy enrollment or graduation
THE DEPARTMENT
The City of Tustin Police Department operates under a community policing philosophy with approximately 100 sworn positions. The Department provides its officers opportunities to gain exposure to a wide variety of municipal police activities (Patrol Officer, Investigator, GRADE - Gang Reduction and Directed Enforcement, Field Training, K-9, Motors, Bike Patrol, Professional Standards & Training and School Resources).

SELECTION PROCESS

Each component listed below must be passed in order to continue to the next phase. Applicants will receive written notification of their current status in the selection process.

1. Physical Agility Exam - Pass/Fail

2. Oral Board Interview

3. Background Investigation and Polygraph Examination

4. Police Chief's Interview

5. Psychological and Medical Examinations (upon conditional offer of employment)

Candidates successfully completing all components of the selection process will be placed on an employment eligibility list from which hires may be made. The eligible list is valid for one year. The duration of the selection process typically lasts 6-9 months.

***IMPORTANT*** A comprehensive background investigation and polygraph will be conducted on any eligible persons considered for hire. Recent drug usage, theft or other illegal activity may be grounds for disqualification. A pre-employment medical, psychological evaluation AND a drug screen will be conducted upon a conditional offer of employment.

Examples of Duties
Successful candidates are appointed in a non-sworn capacity while attending a POST certified Basic Police Academy. Curriculum includes coursework mandated by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and/or the local Police Academy Advisory Committee. After meeting all department, State mandated and academy requirements, including graduation from the Police Academy, incumbents are considered for promotion to the position of sworn Police Officer. Once appointed to a sworn Police Officer position, successful completion of the Department's field training requirements (approximately 6 months) within an 18-month probationary period is required. Sworn officers perform the full range of law enforcement duties.

Minimum Qualifications
Must currently be enrolled in a POST certified Police Academy, or have graduated from one within the last six months.
• Age: Must be 21 years of age at time of appointment.
• Education: High school graduate or equivalent.
• Physical: Excellent physical condition. Must be physically capable of performing all tasks required of a Tustin Police Officer as determined by a physical agility test, medical examination and psychological evaluation. Normal hearing and color vision; vision 20/100 in each eye correctable to 20/20; weight proportional to height.
• Authorization to Work: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.
• Background: Must be of good moral character with no convictions for felony or crimes of moral turpitude and be able to pass a comprehensive background investigation.
• License: At time of appointment, candidate must possess and maintain a valid California driver's license and satisfactory driving record.
• Language: Must have fluent command of the English language in both oral and written form.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

For a complete job specification,
The City of Tustin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.
The City of Tustin offers a comprehensive compensation and benefit program that includes:

FLEXIBLE BENEFIT PLAN
The City provides a specific dollar amount to each employee to use toward the purchase of individual or family health coverage, dental plans, vision coverage, additional life insurance, deferred compensation, and other optional benefits. Currently, the flexible benefit amount for Employee + 2 is $1811 per month.

The City contracts through CalPERS medical program (PEMHCA) which offers multiple PPO and HMO options for health insurance providers. Employees also have the choice of Delta Dental PPO or HMO plans.

RETIREMENT
Employees will be enrolled in a defined benefit (pension) plan with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). CalPERS determines the retirement plan in which a new employee will be enrolled based on the individual's membership status with CalPERS or a reciprocal retirement system on the individual's first day of employment with the City.

Classic CalPERS members will be enrolled in the 2% @ 50 plan, with an employee contribution of 12% (pre-tax). New CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA"), will be enrolled in the 2.7% @ 57 plan, with an employee contribution of 13.75% (pre-tax). The City does not participate in Social Security, though participation Medicare is mandatory (1.45% employee contribution).

DEFERRED COMPENSATION
The City shall contribute $37 per month for each unit employee (except Police Recruits) to a 457 deferred compensation plan. Employees may elect to defer additional earnings, on a pre-tax basis, into a 457 deferred compensation program. The City contracts with Nationwide Retirement Services.

GENERAL LEAVE
General Leave may be used for vacation and/or illness. Annual accrual amounts increase from 160 to 248 with years of service. Annually, employees may request to cash out of a portion of their accrued General Leave.

HOLIDAYS
The City has 13 paid holidays per calendar year.

EDUCATIONAL/POST INCENTIVE PAY
Educational Incentive pay for unit employees as follows:

BA/BS degree - $412.50/month
Masters degree - $462.50/month

Police Officers shall receive 5% of base salary for having an Intermediate POST certificate and 10% for having an Advanced POST certificate.

LONGEVITY PAY
An employee who has been continuosly employed by the City of Tustin in any full-time position for between 10-19 years and 364 days shall receive 2.5% of base salary. Employees with 20 years or more shall receive 5% of base salary for longevity pay.

LIFE INSURANCE
Full-Time employees receive a $100,000 life insurance policy.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY
Employees receive Long-Term Disability benefits through The Tustin Police Officers Association (TPOA).

UNIFORM ALLOWANCE
The City provides a uniform maintenance allowance of $429 per year for those full-time employees required to wear a City uniform.

ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULE
Employees in this bargaining unit may be assigned the 3/12.5 or 4/10 alternative work schedules.

RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE
Employees who retire from the City of Tustin with ten (10) years of full-time service and continue enrollment in the City's health plan are eligible for reimbursement of $350 per month toward retiree health insurance costs. Employees first hired into a benefitted position with the City of Tustin prior to July 1, 2011 are eligible for this benefit after five (5) years of service.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
After passing the probationary period, employees may request reimbursement up to a maximum of $4000 per calendar year for tuition and related expenses when attending a community college or four year university.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Employees are enrolled in an Employee Assistance Program that provides a variety of legal and counseling services.

MEDICARE
All newly hired employees contribute a portion of gross salary for Medicare coverage. The employee contribution to Medicare is 1.45%.

SECTION 125 MEDICAL & DEPENDENT CARE PROGRAM
The section 125 program is optional for employees and provides a method to pay medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

ADDITIONAL PAY
The City has additional forms of pay for designated positions. Examples of additional pay include Bilingual Pay, Stand-by Pay, Call-Back Pay, Court Pay, Special Assignment, and Shift Differential.
01

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law?

• Yes
• No

02

Will you possess and maintain a valid Class C California Driver's License, proof of insurance, and have a satisfactory driving record at the time of appointment?

• Yes
• No

03

Are you a high school graduate or do you possess equivalent education?

• Yes
• No

04

Will you have attained the minimum age requirement (age 21) upon appointment?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have fluent command of the English language in both oral and written form?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have any felony convictions or convictions for crimes of moral turpitude?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you currently enrolled in a POST certified Police Academy?

• Yes
• No

08

If yes, what is the name of the Police Academy?
09

Have you applied for any position with the City of Tustin in the last twelve (12) months?

• Yes
• No

10

If yes, what position(s) did you apply for?
Required Question