Police Sergeant na City of Arcata, CA

About the Department

Apply by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, 2025 for the opportunity to become a Police Sergeant with the City of Arcata! 

We are accepting applications from Lateral Sergeant applicants as well as Peace Officers with at least 2 years of experience who are looking to promote into a Sergeant role. 

Applicants, please note the following dates:

• Written Pre-Test screening process tentatively scheduled for the week of December 1-5. 
• Oral Board Interview process tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 11. 

ADDITIONAL PAY - 6% of base salary for possession of a POST Intermediate Certificate, an additional 6% for possession of a POST Advanced Certificate and an additional $150/month for possession of a POST Supervisory Certificate. 

EXCELLENT BENEFITS
City-paid dental and vision coverage for employee and dependents, the majority of medical premium cost is paid by the City, up to $120/month match to Deferred Compensation, plus more! See end of posting for more details.


An out of state Lateral Peace Officer Candidate must (1) possess a California POST Basic Course Waiver, or (2) successfully complete a California POST Requalification Course.

Position Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Receives, evaluates and investigates complaints from the public as they relate to questioned procedures and/or allegations of police misconduct.
• Evaluates police officers' job performance on a quarterly and/or annual basis resulting in a document which accurately reflects the officer's performance during the year.
• Provides or schedules special training for those officers who experience performance deficiencies in order to upgrade their performance until they meet and maintain a level equal to the department's minimum standards.
• Participates in developing policies and procedures which streamline specific police functions and reduces liability.
• Participates in recruitment and selection of new police personnel by sitting on oral boards and evaluating applicant suitability.
• Participates in the selection of qualified police personnel through intensive background investigations, resulting in a factual recommendation to the Chief of Police.
• Participates in departmental budgeting by assessing the needs of individual areas of responsibility and making recommendations as to services, supplies, and equipment required.
• Remains aware of departmental objectives and long-range goals, relates these to subordinates in a manner which results in positive participation and achievement.
• Schedules and conducts in-service training as assigned.
• Requires all personnel to arrive on time for daily duty so that they are prepared to respond to calls for service at shift change.
• Conducts daily briefing in a manner which informs all personnel of updated information necessary to perform their duties in the safest manner.
• Supervises officers' use of time to reduce unnecessary time spent out of service.
• Provides technical assistance as needed to all assigned personnel to ensure proper response to and investigation of all requests for service.
• Assists in and monitors progress of all special enforcement assignments to ensure their completion.
• Directly provides or assigns back-up unit(s) on all high-risk calls for service in order to reduce risk to the officer(s) and public.
• Remains aware of the current status of all field units in order to provide assistance and ensure their safety.
• Reviews all arrests to ensure adequate probable cause, proper charging, booking, and transportation.
• Checks on and assigns applicants who apply to ride on patrol with an officer.
• Monitors radio communications and ensures that radio traffic is made utilizing proper codes, channels, and discipline.
• Schedules work shifts as required to ensure that the minimum staffing level is always maintained; schedules personnel for special events and/or peak activity periods to ensure adequate staffing.
• Monitors vehicle pursuits to avoid unnecessary danger to the officer(s) and public, discontinuing the pursuit at a point where the risk appears too great.
• Ensures that all personnel on assigned watch adhere to established safety regulations, including defensive driving, personal safety, care of in-custody persons, and care of city equipment.
• Maintains confidentiality of personnel matters.
• Assigns and monitors progress of special projects and enforcement activities to ensure their timely completion.
• Maintains a well-disciplined shift by giving clear, concise orders and taking appropriate corrective action against those who fail to comply.
• Reviews all completed police reports on assigned shift on a daily basis to ensure proper preparation and distribution.
• Monitors progress of pending investigations on assigned shift to assure timely completion, resulting in an appropriate conclusion.
• Establishes a reasonable time for police reports to be corrected and takes appropriate measures to ensure their timely correction.
• Interviews victims of crimes by properly considering the sensitivity and special circumstances of each individual case.
• Interviews suspected violators of the law by giving careful and timely consideration to the individual's constitutional rights resulting in lawfully obtained incriminating statements.
• Attempts to locate witnesses of reported crimes and interviews them for pertinent information.
• Carefully evaluates each crime scene, establishes the elements of the particular crime and recognizes physical evidence.
• Follows up on cases resulting in offender apprehension and property recovery.
• Prepares reports and other required documents utilizing the proper format(s) as outlined in the department's report writing manuals, including correct spelling, grammar and punctuation in a logical, factual sequence.
• Provides basic first aid and CPR at the scene of an accident or illness until the arrival of greater qualified medical personnel.
• Regularly conducts patrol of assigned beat to prevent criminal activity and promote public relations.
• Recognizes persons who act suspiciously, contacts them and determines if unlawful activity is present.
• Recognizes vehicles which appear suspicious or out of place and checks to determine if unlawful activity is present.
• Attempts to locate and collect physical evidence at crime scenes and maintains the chain of evidence by properly marking, tagging, and storing in accordance with established rules of evidence and departmental procedures.
• Appears in court as required and is prepared for court appearance by securing required evidence and by reviewing case prior to appearance.
• Overcomes physical resistance and uses only the force necessary to make arrests.
• Secures arrested person(s) by handcuffing, using seatbelt and leg restraints and transports arrested person(s) to location of detention in a safe manner.
• Pursues violators of law in assigned vehicle and properly considers the risks involved as related to the nature of the offense.
• Pursues violators of law on foot as required. Makes arrest based on legal probable cause.
• Files charges that are consistent with the violation for which the person was arrested.
• Evaluates the possibility of escalation when making arrest(s) to avoid undue injury to self or others.
• Issues either citations or warnings to offenders based upon the nature of the violation.
• Obtains identifiable/classifiable finger and palm prints and a properly exposed booking photo; completes necessary booking form(s). 
• Observes, stops, and contacts traffic violators; observes and enforces parking violations.
• Controls traffic at the scene of accidents and emergencies in a manner which provide added safety.
• Relieves the dispatcher as requested by answering radio and telephone calls and by dispatching officers.
• Exercises reasonable caution to prevent unnecessary damage or loss of city equipment.
• Maintains city vehicle by reporting damage or malfunction; by refueling and checking engine oil level.
• Maintains personal equipment in a clean serviceable condition. 
• Maintains uniform in a clean and repaired condition. 
• Serves as a field training officer and supervises and trains Reserve Police Officers when assigned.
• Assists animal control by advising them of animal violations and standing by, when possible, until they arrive.
• Arrives on time for daily briefing sessions.
• Attends in-service training as required. 
• Participates in outside training to maintain and advance skill level.
• Responds to non-emergency calls and patrols assigned area in a safe and lawful manner.
• Responds to emergency calls and pursues violators of law in a manner which does not cause undue danger to the officer or public in accordance with law and departmental policies.

View full job description here.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience & Training:

• Have a high school diploma or a GED certificate
• Have a valid California drivers' license 
• Have a Basic Academy Certificate from a P.O.S.T. approved police academy.
• Minimum of two years’ experience as a journey level sworn peace officer.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years’ of current experience as a journey level sworn peace officer and/or sergeant. 

Ability to: supervise police officers/dispatchers, community service officers, and police service officers; prepare and enforce work shifts, training, and vehicle maintenance schedules; develop policies and procedures for patrol operation by analyzing crime patterns and trends and developing operational procedures; process citizen complaints by conferring with citizens and taking appropriate action in the police department; coordinate and direct emergency responses for crimes in progress, natural disasters, sick and injured persons; make decisions and solve operational and personnel problems; follow directions contained in policies, procedures, laws and regulations and those given by supervisor; learn during briefing sessions, in in-service training and in formal training at other locations; conduct on-the-job training, in-service training and shift training/briefing; follow directions contained in policies, procedures, laws and regulations and those given by supervisor; serve on oral boards and conduct pre-employment background investigation; collect and disarm pistols, rifles and shotguns during arrests; be truthful; analyze using logic, comparing evidence and fitting pieces of information into a whole picture; remove hazards and obstructions.

Knowledge of:  public sector budgeting and procurement; public sector personnel selection procedures; report routing and distribution, rules regarding release of information, record security, classification, filing and indexing; police related laws, procedures, codes, regulations and policies, specifically the Penal Code, Welfare & Institutions Code (re: juveniles and 5150's), Vehicle Code, Business and Professions Code (re: narcotics and alcohol offenses), Health & Safety Code (re: narcotics), Arcata Municipal Code (re: parking, animal control, public health and safety), Education Code (re: truancy and campus enforcement actions), Civil Law (re: landlord tenant disputes and general resources), and Government Code (re: release of information); safety and crime prevention measures for individuals, businesses, homes, apartment complexes, industrial areas and cars; investigative processes including techniques of evidence collection and processing, interrogation, crime scene security, diagramming crime scenes, photography of crime scenes, specialized evidence collection; police field procedures such as checking alleys, buildings, alerting drivers to stop, approaching drivers and making pedestrian checks; map-reading and ability to identify direction in city and surrounding areas and determine jurisdictional boundaries; criminal investigation procedures including search and seizures, arrest, booking and release procedures, rules of evidence, judicial process, detentions, interrogations and lineups; court/DMV hearing procedures, including how to testify, court decorum, and ability to be truthful and to recall events; department, city and outside resources and appropriate communication patterns, including mutual aid procedures, mutual aid available, inter-departmental assistance, other agencies' capabilities and available equipment. 

Skills to: organize and administer police operations in the department and in the field and with other departments; receive emergency calls, dispatch officers, call on two-way radio and use computer terminal; write reports and complete legal and other forms, so that the product is complete, legible, using correct grammar, punctuation, format and spelling; compare mathematical figures, applying additions, subtractions, multiplications and divisions; to read laws, codes, policies, investigative reports and bank records, being able to accurately retain information and interpret verbally what was read; observe individual behavior, group interaction, placement of objects, people in relation to environment, recognizing important evidence and hazards, and retaining information gained from observation; drive an emergency vehicle while observing the scene, in pursuit, on various surfaces and in various weather conditions, using special police equipment and transporting prisoners; communicate in one-to-one contacts, large and small groups, public meetings, court rooms, speaking clearly at appropriate level, using good grammar, tact, persuasion, diplomacy, using good listening skills, communicating in hostile situations, giving commands effectively; conduct interpersonal relations with citizens, other employees and supervisors, including skills to mediate, persuade, defuse hostility, intervene in crisis situations, maintain rapport with community, project positive image in all situations and being sensitive to people's behavior; conduct defensive tactics to protect self and citizens from attack and to properly restrain detained persons and animals; use of radar gun, handgun, shotgun, baton, chemical mace and electronic control devices.

Other Qualifications

Other Requirements:

• Willing to work overtime, being on-call, working quarterly rotating shifts which involve relief shifts, days, nights, weekends and holidays. 
• Occasionally traveling out-of-town and out-of-state as required.
• Attend meetings and training during and after work hours. 
• Work occasionally with or around dangerous substances.
• Comply with clean and neat grooming and dress standards.
• Wear a uniform and police equipment including a firearm. 
• Maintain a valid California Drivers' license.
• A commitment to understand and support inclusion in the workplace and community.
• Must be 21 years of age.

Physical Requirements:
Must: maintain P.O.S.T. physical standards, including mobility and physical strength and stamina to respond to emergency situations and apprehend suspects; see well enough to read moving license plates at night, to be able to identify people under poor lighting conditions, and must qualify under the department's firearms qualifications course with unaided eyesight; hear and understand radio messages in noisy conditions, hear and detect calls for assistance, hear and identify suspicious noises; speak clearly and at a voice level which can be understood in one-to-one conversations and at public meetings; have mobility to stoop and reach, move over rough, uneven ground, working in or under cramped spaces, drive a car, distinguish colors; be able to climb stairs, ladders and over high fences; use hands and fingers to shoot, apply handcuffs, baton, direct traffic; possess finger dexterity needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate police equipment; be able to use pencil and pen to write; lift or carry unconscious, injured or combative people; restrain or subdue people or animals; stand for long periods of time up to four hours; perform physical labor for up to twelve hours; work outside when it is hot, when it is cold and rainy and among dust and pollen.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Initial testing will include a written pre-test and an oral board interview. Additional testing will include a background investigation, polygraph test, psychological evaluation, and complete physical examination/drug screening. Please note: Qualified lateral applicants will undergo an expedited background process.

EXTENDED TESTING PROCESS 

• COMPLETE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants will undergo a thorough investigation of their personal history, including drug and alcohol use, criminal history, finances, bias, work history, etc. All applicants must meet background investigation standards. Examples of possibly disqualifying items include use or sale of illegal drugs/narcotics within the past 1 to 3 years, depending on substance type, demonstrated bias, felony convictions, etc. If you would like to discuss a particular personal issue prior to testing, please contact the Arcata Police Department at (707) 822-2428, and they will provide you with general department parameters.

• FIREARM ELLIGIBILITY: Applicants must be deemed eligible by the California Department of Justice to own and possess firearms. 

• POLYGRAPH TEST: This is the "lie detector" test. By monitoring your physiological response to questions given, the polygraph test determines the truthfulness of your responses. 

• CHIEF’S INTERVIEW: In this phase of the testing process, you will be interviewed by the Chief of Police.
    

AFTER A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IS MADE 

• PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION: This evaluation is performed by a psychologist. You are required to complete a variety of test components wherein your responses are compared to established parameters. You are then given a numerical score which determines your suitability for the Police Officer position.

• PHYSICAL EXAMINATION/DRUG SCREENING: You will undergo a pre-employment physical examination.

Actual employment is contingent upon the results of these examinations.

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