Police Officer (Lateral)

city of ontario
Ontario, California 91764 United States  View Map
Posted: Jun 06, 2026
  • Full Time
  • Federal Government
  • Public Safety
  • Summary

    Police Officer (Lateral)

    Lateral Entry: Possession of a valid POST Basic certificate and previous or current sworn peace officer employment with a California law enforcement agency. Please refer to the qualification guidelines below for additional details. This recruitment will result inan eligibility list for the Police Officer classification to meet the current and future staffing needs of the Police Department. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. This recruitment may close at any time without notice.

    Are you interested in making a positive impact to a community? By choosing to work for the City of Ontario, you are committing to an honorable profession in public service in which you can make a positive contribution to the City's residents, business owners, workers, and visitors. When you come to work each day, you are doing something important and meaningful for the community. Ontario is an economic leader in the Inland Empire, making it an excellent choice for a law enforcement career. We offer the opportunities and resources of a large department with the teamwork of a small one. Police Officers protect life and property through the enforcement of laws/ordinances and the provision of non-criminal services. Police Officers patrol an assigned beat to identify circumstances that indicate a threat to life or property and to take action to mitigate such threats. The City of Ontario Police Department provides numerous special pay opportunities as an added benefit to officers. Listed below are pay incentives that eligible officers receive in addition to their base pay:

    • BILINGUAL PAY: EQUAL TO 6% OF BASE PAY
    • EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PAY: UP TO 7.5% OF BASE PAY
    • SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY: UP TO 3% OF BASE PAY
    • SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS:
      • MOTORCYCLE PAY: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
      • AIR SUPPORT/HELICOPTER: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
      • AIRPORT OPERATIONS: EQUAL TO 5.12% OF BASE PAY
      • CANINE PAY: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
      • PILOT PAY: EQUAL TO 8% OF BASE PAY
      • FTO PAY: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY

    All appointments to this position are subject to a satisfactory background investigation conducted by the Ontario Police Department. The background investigation will include the following: passing of a polygraph test and the successful completion of a post-offer medical exam (including drug screen). Candidates may be disqualified from further consideration during the background investigation for a variety of reasons including if they have: an excessive number of traffic citations and/or collisions; arrests and/or convictions; a history of illegal substance abuse; poor credit history (factors include bankruptcy, foreclosures, liens, repossessions, and recency); or thefts from a previous employer. For clarification of any of the above disqualifying reasons, please call the Police Department Background Unit at (909) 408-1820. The following list describes some areas that are covered in the background investigation:

    • Your relatives, references, and acquaintances are asked to comment on your suitability for a career in law enforcement.
    • The information supplied regarding your educational history is examined and verified.
    • You must list a history of your residences.
    • Your work history and experience are examined with regard to your dependability, relationships with fellow workers, trustworthiness, and general job performance.
    • Military service records are subject to verification.
    • The background investigation considers your management of personal finances (however, being in debt does not automatically disqualify you).
    • Your criminal, driving, and insurance records are evaluated. Felony convictions will be grounds for disqualification from the selection process.

    The mission of the Ontario Police Department is to protect life and property, build and maintain authentic relationships, and enhance the quality of life in our community. Teamwork: Fulfilling community partnerships that instill pride, passion and commitment through communication and performance. Learn from the past and embrace the future through empowerment, respect, and cooperation. Professionalism: It is not the job we do; it is how we do our job. We are engaging and considerate with our actions, image, and conduct. Integrity: We hold honesty as our guiding principle. When faced with difficult decisions, we do the right thing, even in the face of adversity. Accountability: We openly identify and address problems and willingly accept responsibility for our own actions. Dedication: We are committed to our craft and to the residents, businesses, and visitors of the City of Ontario.

    The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community. The City's vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario's 2025 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:

    State of the City - The Ontario Plan

    Smart Ontario - Downtown Ontario

  • Job Description

    Police Officer (Lateral)

    Lateral Entry: Possession of a valid POST Basic certificate and previous or current sworn peace officer employment with a California law enforcement agency. Please refer to the qualification guidelines below for additional details. This recruitment will result inan eligibility list for the Police Officer classification to meet the current and future staffing needs of the Police Department. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. This recruitment may close at any time without notice.

    Are you interested in making a positive impact to a community? By choosing to work for the City of Ontario, you are committing to an honorable profession in public service in which you can make a positive contribution to the City's residents, business owners, workers, and visitors. When you come to work each day, you are doing something important and meaningful for the community. Ontario is an economic leader in the Inland Empire, making it an excellent choice for a law enforcement career. We offer the opportunities and resources of a large department with the teamwork of a small one. Police Officers protect life and property through the enforcement of laws/ordinances and the provision of non-criminal services. Police Officers patrol an assigned beat to identify circumstances that indicate a threat to life or property and to take action to mitigate such threats. The City of Ontario Police Department provides numerous special pay opportunities as an added benefit to officers. Listed below are pay incentives that eligible officers receive in addition to their base pay:

    • BILINGUAL PAY: EQUAL TO 6% OF BASE PAY
    • EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PAY: UP TO 7.5% OF BASE PAY
    • SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY: UP TO 3% OF BASE PAY
    • SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS:
      • MOTORCYCLE PAY: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
      • AIR SUPPORT/HELICOPTER: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
      • AIRPORT OPERATIONS: EQUAL TO 5.12% OF BASE PAY
      • CANINE PAY: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
      • PILOT PAY: EQUAL TO 8% OF BASE PAY
      • FTO PAY: EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY

    All appointments to this position are subject to a satisfactory background investigation conducted by the Ontario Police Department. The background investigation will include the following: passing of a polygraph test and the successful completion of a post-offer medical exam (including drug screen). Candidates may be disqualified from further consideration during the background investigation for a variety of reasons including if they have: an excessive number of traffic citations and/or collisions; arrests and/or convictions; a history of illegal substance abuse; poor credit history (factors include bankruptcy, foreclosures, liens, repossessions, and recency); or thefts from a previous employer. For clarification of any of the above disqualifying reasons, please call the Police Department Background Unit at (909) 408-1820. The following list describes some areas that are covered in the background investigation:

    • Your relatives, references, and acquaintances are asked to comment on your suitability for a career in law enforcement.
    • The information supplied regarding your educational history is examined and verified.
    • You must list a history of your residences.
    • Your work history and experience are examined with regard to your dependability, relationships with fellow workers, trustworthiness, and general job performance.
    • Military service records are subject to verification.
    • The background investigation considers your management of personal finances (however, being in debt does not automatically disqualify you).
    • Your criminal, driving, and insurance records are evaluated. Felony convictions will be grounds for disqualification from the selection process.

    The mission of the Ontario Police Department is to protect life and property, build and maintain authentic relationships, and enhance the quality of life in our community. Teamwork: Fulfilling community partnerships that instill pride, passion and commitment through communication and performance. Learn from the past and embrace the future through empowerment, respect, and cooperation. Professionalism: It is not the job we do; it is how we do our job. We are engaging and considerate with our actions, image, and conduct. Integrity: We hold honesty as our guiding principle. When faced with difficult decisions, we do the right thing, even in the face of adversity. Accountability: We openly identify and address problems and willingly accept responsibility for our own actions. Dedication: We are committed to our craft and to the residents, businesses, and visitors of the City of Ontario.

    The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community. The City's vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario's 2025 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:

    State of the City - The Ontario Plan

    Smart Ontario - Downtown Ontario

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