Police Officer - Lateral

Job Title: Lateral Police Officer

The San Luis Obispo Police Department is holding a continuous recruitment for current openings and anticipated retirements of long-standing employees. The department is seeking candidates who are progressive, engaged, and willing to dedicate themselves to the City of San Luis Obispo. At this time we are looking for Lateral Police Officers. A lateral candidate is someone who has a minimum of one year of recent law enforcement experience and possesses a California POST Basic Peace Officer certificate. Applications will be received by Human Resources on a continuous basis. When a vacancy is anticipated, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an oral interview and physical agility test. These applicants will be selected based on the information contained on the application form, and resume.

In addition to a 100% service credit towards vacation accrual for completed public sector years of service, lateral candidates will be eligible for an additional 40 hours of vacation upon completion of the first 6-months of employment. Salaries are negotiated to increase by 4% in July 2026.

Job Summary: Under general supervision, performs law enforcement and crime prevention activities, controls traffic flow, enforces State and local traffic regulations, participates in career development, special assignments and performs related work as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Works under the general supervision of a police sergeant or other assigned ranking officer. As directed, to meet special assignment needs.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responds to situations involving in-progress or recent criminal activity to restore or maintain order and conducts in-depth investigations of criminal incidents.
• Reacts quickly and calmly in emergencies, make accurate assessments and take appropriate actions.
• Resolves conflicts of a potentially violent nature involving a wide variety of participants.
• Observes, reports, and follows up on conditions which pose potential threats to the public safety and health.
• Completes in a proper and thorough manner all assignments made by competent authority.
• Provides counseling, referral, and follow-up services to resolve domestic and civil crises.
• Takes an active role in promoting police community relations and crime prevention programs.
• Investigates and acts on State and City traffic enforcement.
• Provides rescue and first aid services as needed, in keeping with appropriate training
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

Knowledge and Abilities: Knowledge of: Geography and population distribution of the City. The principles, practices, and techniques of police work. Human motivation, behavior patterns and criminal psychology. Basic criminal laws, criminal procedures, patrol techniques, case law, search warrants, investigative and evidentiary techniques. Ability to: Testify under oath. Successfully complete all assigned training and to relate that training to field use. Safely and skillfully use firearms and other non-lethal weapons. Skillfully gather and preserve evidence, conduct effective interviews, express oneself concisely, and perform Police Officer duties.

Typical Qualifications: Academy Graduate: Education and Experience: High School diploma from a recognized American accreditor or G.E.D.; and Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Academy; and Must be at least twenty one years of age at time of appointment to Police Officer; and Must have uncorrected vision of 20/100. Corrected to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. For individuals wearing soft contact lenses, the "uncorrected" acuity standard does not apply, but vision must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. The wearer of soft lenses must have at least one year of successful use. Normal color vision is required; and Must be in excellent physical condition with weight proportionate to height as determined by an agility test and an examining physician.

Lateral Police Officer: Education and Experience: High School diploma or G.E.D.; and Must possess a California Basic POST Certificate and be currently (or within the last two years) employed full time as a sworn Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff with a California law enforcement agency. or A California POST Re-qualification Course Certificate or a Basic Course Waiver issued within the last two years is also qualifying.

If you are currently employed full-time as a sworn Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff in another state, but have not obtained as California POST Basic Course Waiver or a Re-qualification Course Certificate, you must have begun that process prior to submitting an application (you must attach proof of enrollment to the application to be considered).

and Must be at least twenty one years of age at time of appointment to Police Officer; and Must have uncorrected vision of 20/100. Corrected to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. For individuals wearing soft contact lenses, the "uncorrected" acuity standard does not apply, but vision must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. The wearer of soft lenses must have at least one year of successful use. Normal color vision is required; and Must be in excellent physical condition with weight proportionate to height as determined by an agility test and an examining physician. Possession and Maintenance of: A valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. This position will be required to successfully pass: Pre-employment Physical, Polygraph, Police Background Investigation, Credit Check.

Job Title: Lateral Police Officer

The San Luis Obispo Police Department is holding a continuous recruitment for current openings and anticipated retirements of long-standing employees. The department is seeking candidates who are progressive, engaged, and willing to dedicate themselves to the City of San Luis Obispo. At this time we are looking for Lateral Police Officers. A lateral candidate is someone who has a minimum of one year of recent law enforcement experience and possesses a California POST Basic Peace Officer certificate. Applications will be received by Human Resources on a continuous basis. When a vacancy is anticipated, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an oral interview and physical agility test. These applicants will be selected based on the information contained on the application form, and resume.

In addition to a 100% service credit towards vacation accrual for completed public sector years of service, lateral candidates will be eligible for an additional 40 hours of vacation upon completion of the first 6-months of employment. Salaries are negotiated to increase by 4% in July 2026.

Job Summary: Under general supervision, performs law enforcement and crime prevention activities, controls traffic flow, enforces State and local traffic regulations, participates in career development, special assignments and performs related work as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Works under the general supervision of a police sergeant or other assigned ranking officer. As directed, to meet special assignment needs.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responds to situations involving in-progress or recent criminal activity to restore or maintain order and conducts in-depth investigations of criminal incidents.
• Reacts quickly and calmly in emergencies, make accurate assessments and take appropriate actions.
• Resolves conflicts of a potentially violent nature involving a wide variety of participants.
• Observes, reports, and follows up on conditions which pose potential threats to the public safety and health.
• Completes in a proper and thorough manner all assignments made by competent authority.
• Provides counseling, referral, and follow-up services to resolve domestic and civil crises.
• Takes an active role in promoting police community relations and crime prevention programs.
• Investigates and acts on State and City traffic enforcement.
• Provides rescue and first aid services as needed, in keeping with appropriate training
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

Knowledge and Abilities: Knowledge of: Geography and population distribution of the City. The principles, practices, and techniques of police work. Human motivation, behavior patterns and criminal psychology. Basic criminal laws, criminal procedures, patrol techniques, case law, search warrants, investigative and evidentiary techniques. Ability to: Testify under oath. Successfully complete all assigned training and to relate that training to field use. Safely and skillfully use firearms and other non-lethal weapons. Skillfully gather and preserve evidence, conduct effective interviews, express oneself concisely, and perform Police Officer duties.

Typical Qualifications: Academy Graduate: Education and Experience: High School diploma from a recognized American accreditor or G.E.D.; and Graduation from a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Academy; and Must be at least twenty one years of age at time of appointment to Police Officer; and Must have uncorrected vision of 20/100. Corrected to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. For individuals wearing soft contact lenses, the "uncorrected" acuity standard does not apply, but vision must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. The wearer of soft lenses must have at least one year of successful use. Normal color vision is required; and Must be in excellent physical condition with weight proportionate to height as determined by an agility test and an examining physician.

Lateral Police Officer: Education and Experience: High School diploma or G.E.D.; and Must possess a California Basic POST Certificate and be currently (or within the last two years) employed full time as a sworn Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff with a California law enforcement agency. or A California POST Re-qualification Course Certificate or a Basic Course Waiver issued within the last two years is also qualifying.

If you are currently employed full-time as a sworn Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff in another state, but have not obtained as California POST Basic Course Waiver or a Re-qualification Course Certificate, you must have begun that process prior to submitting an application (you must attach proof of enrollment to the application to be considered).

and Must be at least twenty one years of age at time of appointment to Police Officer; and Must have uncorrected vision of 20/100. Corrected to 20/20 in one eye and 20/30 in the other. For individuals wearing soft contact lenses, the "uncorrected" acuity standard does not apply, but vision must be corrected to 20/30 when both eyes are tested together. The wearer of soft lenses must have at least one year of successful use. Normal color vision is required; and Must be in excellent physical condition with weight proportionate to height as determined by an agility test and an examining physician. Possession and Maintenance of: A valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. This position will be required to successfully pass: Pre-employment Physical, Polygraph, Police Background Investigation, Credit Check.

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