Custody Transport Trainee/Custody Transport Officer - Police

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The San José Police Department is dedicated to providing public safety through community partnerships and 21 st Century Policing practices, ensuring equity for all. The Department is committed to treating all of San Jose’s diverse community members with dignity, fairness, and respect, while protecting their rights and providing equal protection under the law.

Position Duties

The San Jose Police Department is accepting applications for full-time Custody Transport Trainees and Custody Transport Officers.

Custody Transport Trainee:

This is a non-sworn entry-level training classification for arrestee transport with the San Jose Police Department. Under immediate supervision, incumbents will be enrolled in a local county Correctional Academy to obtain required certifications needed to perform functions related to the transport of arrestees to correctional facilities, medical facilities, and monitor arrestees to maintain order and security. Custody Transport Trainees must complete the required certifications and be appointed to the class of Custody Transport Officer to retain employment.

The essential job duties for the Custody Transport Trainee position include but are not limited to the following:

• Follows all instruction relative to the academy curriculum. Attends classes, studies, and completes assignments/exams.
• Becomes proficient in the following areas of training: criminal law, arrest and control techniques, use of firearms, use and handling of chemical agents, Crisis Intervention, report writing, First Aid, CPR, defensive tactics, narcotics, cultural diversity/discrimination awareness, physical conditioning and training, and any other subjects included in the academy.
• Performs other related work as required.

Custody Transport Officer:

This is a sworn classification responsible for transporting, booking, and monitoring arrestees. Incumbents work under general supervision of a Police Lieutenant and are expected to follow the operating procedures and policies of the unit, exercising judgment as new or unusual situations arise. The Custody Transport Officer differs from the Police Officer classification in that the latter has a broader range of duties to ensure the protection of life and property of the City’s residents and visitors.

The essential job duties for the Custody Transport Officer position include but are not limited to the following:

• Assumes custody of arrestees from patrol officers, ensuring proper transfer of responsibility, verifying documentation, and properly restraining the arrestee using handcuffs. Operates a motor vehicle to safely transport arrestees from arrest locations to the County jail.
• Monitors all movements of arrestees.
• Submits the necessary paperwork, provided by the Patrol Officer, during the booking process, and communicates with jail intake staff to ensure proper processing of the arrestee.
• Operates a two-way radio to communicate with Police Officers.
• Exercises de-escalation techniques or approved use-of force methods when responding to violent and uncooperative individuals.
• Testifies in court when necessary.
• Performs other related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Custody Transport Trainee and Custody Transport Officer

Education and Experience

Completion of high school or equivalent (General Education Development [GED] Test or California Proficiency Certificate) AND two (2) years of experience involving a substantial amount of contact with the general public.

Acceptable Substitution

• Up to two (2) years of college (60 semester units or 90 quarter units) from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Veterans and active military personnel may substitute the required experience if they:
• Have served in the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, or Coast Guard AND
• Have completed four (4) years of active military duty AND
• Have received an honorable discharge from the United States Military

Required Licensing (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.)

• Possession of a valid driver’s license authorizing operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must meet all background, psychological and polygraph minimum standards as required by law

Additional Required Licensing for Custody Transport Officer

• POST PC 832 - Arrest and Firearms
• POST certification in Chemical Agents
• Possess and maintain a valid First AID and CPR certification
• Obtain POST Crisis Intervention Training within one year of employment

Other Qualifications

Competencies

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.

Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.

Conflict Management - Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people, by presenting the facts, analysis, and conclusions or solutions that show command of content and perspectives and interests of the audience.

Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.

Meeting Ethical Standards - When confronted with ethical dilemmas, acts in a way that reflects relevant law, policy and procedures, agency values, and personal values.

Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Selection Process

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.

Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews , as well as a background investigation that includes a polygraph and a psychological examination.

You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process:
Describe a situation in your previous role where you were confronted with a complex issue involving departmental policy or legal requirements. How did you interpret the rules, what steps did you take to reach a decision, and how did you ensure your final action aligned with ethical standards and agency values?Tell us about a time you had to resolve a conflict between team members or partner units. How did you gather information, communicate with the parties involved, and what strategies did you use to reduce tension and guide the team toward a productive resolution?Describe a time when you used technology or data systems to track, analyze, or communicate critical information. What tools did you use, how did you ensure the information was accurate and delivered on time, and what was the impact on the assignment or team?
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, please contact Lt. Juan Vallejo at Juan.Vallejo@sanjoseca.gov.
If you have questions about the selection and hiring process, please contact Alexandria Rodriguez at Alexandria.Rodriguez@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 1/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of San Jose

• 408-535-1285

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