Police Officer (Lateral)

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

Please make an application promptly if you are a good match for this role due to high levels of interest.

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 lateral police officers who are equally committed to providing the highest quality of service to our community and thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

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.

Specialized Assignments (receive additional 5% incentive pay)

• 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
• 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.

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

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).

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Lateral Eligibility : To be eligible for consideration, applicants must possess a California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate and have successfully completed probation with a California law enforcement agency.
• 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);
• 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;
• Three (3) years experience as a Police Officer.

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

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 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 Employer 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. Under federal law, all employees must provide documents that authorize the right to work in the United States.

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