Reserve Police Officer
Any candidate selected must pass a pre-employment medical, psychological, and polygraph exam administered by City-selected personnel before hire. Candidates must be fingerprinted and take a loyalty oath as required by the State of California at the time of hire.
Minimum qualifications:
- High school graduation or G.E.D. certificate/equivalent.
- Proof at time of application that candidate will be 21 years old by date of hire.
- Must be U.S. citizen or must have applied for citizenship and will obtain citizenship within 3 years.
- Record free of any felony convictions.
- Must reside or be willing to relocate within a 60 minute drive to the police department.
Physical condition:
- Physical health, strength, and agility necessary to meet the physical demands of police work, as determined by a physical agility test and a medical exam based on current California's Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) guidelines.
- Applicants that have not had corrective surgery, and do not wear contact lenses or glasses must have 20/40 or better vision. Applicants wearing glasses must have 20/20 vision in each eye and 20/40 or better in worst eye without glasses. Applicants wearing hard contact lenses are not allowed unless vision is 20/40 or better in worst eye. Applicants wearing soft contact lenses must be 20/20 in each eye, 20/200 or better in each eye without lenses, and applicant must have successfully worn soft lenses for one year. Applicants that have had corrective surgery must have 20/40 vision or better without contact lenses and surgery must have been performed at least one-year prior to date of application. Depth perception, peripheral vision and color discrimination must be free of significant deficiencies and within guidelines established by POST (refer to vision standards sheet for details).
License/Certificate:
- Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C /Class 3).
Reserve officers are citizen volunteers who are dedicated to providing police services to the citizens of Scotts Valley. Reserve officers are uniformed and equipped identically to our department's full-time officers. They are required to complete all the in-service training that our full-time officers must complete such as firearms training, defensive tactics, first aid/CPR certification, defensive driving, and legal updates. Reserve officers are required to work a minimum of 16 hours each month, but on average they usually work more.
Classifications of a Reserve Officer:
- Level III reserve officers may perform specified limited support duties, and other duties that are not likely to result in physical arrests, while supervised in the accessible vicinity by a Level I reserve officer or a full-time regular officer. Additionally, Level III reserve officers may transport prisoners without immediate supervision.
- Level II reserve officers may perform general law enforcement assignments while under the immediate supervision of a peace officer who has completed the Regular Basic Course. These officers may also work assignments authorized for Level III reserve officers without immediate supervision.
- Level I reserve officers may work alone and perform the same duties as full-time regular officers.
Required training needed to become a reserve police officer:
- The local reserve officer training provider and recruitment resource continues to be the South Bay Regional Training Consortium in San Jose.
- Level III classified reserves must complete 144 hours of instruction.
- Level II classified reserves must complete the 144 hours of Level III instruction plus an additional 189 hours of instruction.
- Level I classified reserves must complete the Level III and Level II instruction plus an additional 394 hours of instruction. A Level I reserve must also successfully complete a 400 hour (minimum) Field Training Program. In addition, Level II and Level I reserves must complete 24 hours of continuing professional training every 2 years. For more information about reserve requirements and training, visit www.post.ca.gov
Functions of a Reserve Officer:
- Assist with traffic control due to power outages, automobile accidents, special events and storm related incidents
- Assist with criminal investigations, stakeouts and crime scene security
- Prisoner Transports
- Patrol supplement during holidays such as New Years Eve, July 4th and Halloween as well as during staffing shortages
- Crime Prevention and public service events
Reserve officers make a very important contribution to the department. These dedicated men and women save this department several thousands of dollars each year through their selfless dedication.
The Scotts Valley Police Department serves a community of over 11,000 citizens. During work hours, the population may swell to over 30,000. There are 19 sworn police officers assigned to such areas as patrol, traffic enforcement, investigations, juvenile, training, and Special Response Team (SRT). The Police Department is a service oriented agency.
Application and testing process:
- Applicants are required to fill out and complete a City application form.
- Reserve Officer applicants will be required to complete the POST Entrance Assessment Process (written and physical tests) and submit certificates of completion with their application.
- The written and physical test Entrance Assessment Minimum Requirements:
- Successful completion of the POST Reading and Writing entrance exam with a minimum T-Score of 48.
- Successful completion of the POST WSTB Physical Agility Test with a minimum score of 320 total points and run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes or less.
- The City of Scotts Valley accepts written and physical agility test results from the POST Entrance Assessment Process available at any accredited criminal justice training facility as long as the exams were taken within 1 year of the date of application.
- Local training centers where testing is available :
- South Bay Coyote Valley 560 Bailey Ave San Jose, CA 95041
- College of San Mateo 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94402
- Monterey Peninsula College 2642 Colonel Durham St. Seaside, CA 93955
- For test information, fees, calendar of test dates and locations, and to make online reservations, go to www.theacademy.ca.gov. From the Home Page, click on Pre-Employment Testing and Training, then click on Pre-Employment Testing and Training, then click on the links for both the POST Written Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) and the Physical Agility – WSTB Exam:
- Click here to view PELLETB test information, to view upcoming PELLETB test dates, and to make a reservation.
- Click here to view WSTB test information and upcoming WSTB test dates, and to make a reservation.
- Reserve Officer applicants are also required to complete a Personal History Statement (PHS) – Peace Officer at the following link and email it to the police department's Administrative Secretary at clocke@scottsvalley.gov:
- (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader)
- Hearing-impaired individuals can access the Department's TDD machine by calling (831) 440-5670. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to Personnel at the time of application. After reading this announcement, if you have further questions, call (831) 440-5602.
- Qualified applicants will be invited to a pre-screening interview to be held at the City of Scotts Valley Police Department, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley.
- Qualified candidates will be invited to a selection interview to assess an applicant's experience, education, judgment, oral communication skills and interpersonal skills.
- All candidates who receive a score of 80% or more on the selection interview will be placed on a hiring list. Top candidates will be selected for a background investigation in accordance with the POST Commission and Peace Officer Background Investigations Guidelines.
- Candidates will also be required to successfully complete, to the satisfaction of this department, a polygraph test administered by a licensed polygrapher, a psychological exam given by a City selected psychologist and a medical
Reserve Police Officer
Any candidate selected must pass a pre-employment medical, psychological, and polygraph exam administered by City-selected personnel before hire. Candidates must be fingerprinted and take a loyalty oath as required by the State of California at the time of hire.
Minimum qualifications:
- High school graduation or G.E.D. certificate/equivalent.
- Proof at time of application that candidate will be 21 years old by date of hire.
- Must be U.S. citizen or must have applied for citizenship and will obtain citizenship within 3 years.
- Record free of any felony convictions.
- Must reside or be willing to relocate within a 60 minute drive to the police department.
Physical condition:
- Physical health, strength, and agility necessary to meet the physical demands of police work, as determined by a physical agility test and a medical exam based on current California's Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) guidelines.
- Applicants that have not had corrective surgery, and do not wear contact lenses or glasses must have 20/40 or better vision. Applicants wearing glasses must have 20/20 vision in each eye and 20/40 or better in worst eye without glasses. Applicants wearing hard contact lenses are not allowed unless vision is 20/40 or better in worst eye. Applicants wearing soft contact lenses must be 20/20 in each eye, 20/200 or better in each eye without lenses, and applicant must have successfully worn soft lenses for one year. Applicants that have had corrective surgery must have 20/40 vision or better without contact lenses and surgery must have been performed at least one-year prior to date of application. Depth perception, peripheral vision and color discrimination must be free of significant deficiencies and within guidelines established by POST (refer to vision standards sheet for details).
License/Certificate:
- Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License (Class C /Class 3).
Reserve officers are citizen volunteers who are dedicated to providing police services to the citizens of Scotts Valley. Reserve officers are uniformed and equipped identically to our department's full-time officers. They are required to complete all the in-service training that our full-time officers must complete such as firearms training, defensive tactics, first aid/CPR certification, defensive driving, and legal updates. Reserve officers are required to work a minimum of 16 hours each month, but on average they usually work more.
Classifications of a Reserve Officer:
- Level III reserve officers may perform specified limited support duties, and other duties that are not likely to result in physical arrests, while supervised in the accessible vicinity by a Level I reserve officer or a full-time regular officer. Additionally, Level III reserve officers may transport prisoners without immediate supervision.
- Level II reserve officers may perform general law enforcement assignments while under the immediate supervision of a peace officer who has completed the Regular Basic Course. These officers may also work assignments authorized for Level III reserve officers without immediate supervision.
- Level I reserve officers may work alone and perform the same duties as full-time regular officers.
Required training needed to become a reserve police officer:
- The local reserve officer training provider and recruitment resource continues to be the South Bay Regional Training Consortium in San Jose.
- Level III classified reserves must complete 144 hours of instruction.
- Level II classified reserves must complete the 144 hours of Level III instruction plus an additional 189 hours of instruction.
- Level I classified reserves must complete the Level III and Level II instruction plus an additional 394 hours of instruction. A Level I reserve must also successfully complete a 400 hour (minimum) Field Training Program. In addition, Level II and Level I reserves must complete 24 hours of continuing professional training every 2 years. For more information about reserve requirements and training, visit www.post.ca.gov
Functions of a Reserve Officer:
- Assist with traffic control due to power outages, automobile accidents, special events and storm related incidents
- Assist with criminal investigations, stakeouts and crime scene security
- Prisoner Transports
- Patrol supplement during holidays such as New Years Eve, July 4th and Halloween as well as during staffing shortages
- Crime Prevention and public service events
Reserve officers make a very important contribution to the department. These dedicated men and women save this department several thousands of dollars each year through their selfless dedication.
The Scotts Valley Police Department serves a community of over 11,000 citizens. During work hours, the population may swell to over 30,000. There are 19 sworn police officers assigned to such areas as patrol, traffic enforcement, investigations, juvenile, training, and Special Response Team (SRT). The Police Department is a service oriented agency.
Application and testing process:
- Applicants are required to fill out and complete a City application form.
- Reserve Officer applicants will be required to complete the POST Entrance Assessment Process (written and physical tests) and submit certificates of completion with their application.
- The written and physical test Entrance Assessment Minimum Requirements:
- Successful completion of the POST Reading and Writing entrance exam with a minimum T-Score of 48.
- Successful completion of the POST WSTB Physical Agility Test with a minimum score of 320 total points and run 1.5 miles in 14 minutes or less.
- The City of Scotts Valley accepts written and physical agility test results from the POST Entrance Assessment Process available at any accredited criminal justice training facility as long as the exams were taken within 1 year of the date of application.
- Local training centers where testing is available :
- South Bay Coyote Valley 560 Bailey Ave San Jose, CA 95041
- College of San Mateo 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. San Mateo, CA 94402
- Monterey Peninsula College 2642 Colonel Durham St. Seaside, CA 93955
- For test information, fees, calendar of test dates and locations, and to make online reservations, go to www.theacademy.ca.gov. From the Home Page, click on Pre-Employment Testing and Training, then click on Pre-Employment Testing and Training, then click on the links for both the POST Written Entry-level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) and the Physical Agility – WSTB Exam:
- Click here to view PELLETB test information, to view upcoming PELLETB test dates, and to make a reservation.
- Click here to view WSTB test information and upcoming WSTB test dates, and to make a reservation.
- Reserve Officer applicants are also required to complete a Personal History Statement (PHS) – Peace Officer at the following link and email it to the police department's Administrative Secretary at clocke@scottsvalley.gov:
- (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader)
- Hearing-impaired individuals can access the Department's TDD machine by calling (831) 440-5670. Applicants needing special accommodations for testing should submit a request to Personnel at the time of application. After reading this announcement, if you have further questions, call (831) 440-5602.
- Qualified applicants will be invited to a pre-screening interview to be held at the City of Scotts Valley Police Department, 1 Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley.
- Qualified candidates will be invited to a selection interview to assess an applicant's experience, education, judgment, oral communication skills and interpersonal skills.
- All candidates who receive a score of 80% or more on the selection interview will be placed on a hiring list. Top candidates will be selected for a background investigation in accordance with the POST Commission and Peace Officer Background Investigations Guidelines.
- Candidates will also be required to successfully complete, to the satisfaction of this department, a polygraph test administered by a licensed polygrapher, a psychological exam given by a City selected psychologist and a medical
