Lateral Police Officer

The City of Garden Grove is currently accepting online applications for the position of

LATERAL POLICE OFFICER

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Deadline to apply for this recruitment is November 3, 2025Â at 5:00 p.m. PST

Click here to apply online: Join Our Team

THE GARDEN GROVE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Police Department consists of 182 sworn staff including a chief, three (3) captains, seven (7) lieutenants, 23 sergeants and 148 police officers, in addition to civilian personnel. After sufficient experience in the department, specialization is available in Patrol, Investigations, Juvenile Services, Motorcycle Traffic Enforcement, Accident Investigation, Vice-Narcotic Enforcement, Gang Suppression Unit, Community Impact Unit, or Canine Handler. An outstanding in-service training program provides officers with extensive, continuous instruction in basic and specialized police techniques. Patrol officers work a modified 3/12.5 work schedule.

Under general supervision, police officers perform law enforcement and crime prevention work within a community policing philosophy; control traffic flow; enforce state and local laws and ordinances; and perform investigative work.

EDUCATION: Graduation from high school or successful completion of the GED (General Educational Development) exam.

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EXPERIENCE: Must be currently employed as a sworn peace officer in a California city, county, state or other public agency.Â

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CERTIFICATIONS: Must possess a valid California POST Basic certificate (or higher) pursuant to PC PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF A VALID POST CERTIFICATE TO YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION).

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Lateral Police Officer candidates from outside the State of California may be considered if they have a California POST Basic Course Waiver at the time of application. For more information on the Basic Course Waiver process, please call the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training's Basic Training Bureau at

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PHYSICAL CONDITION: Must be in excellent condition and physically capable of performing all tasks required of a police officer; fitness standards must be maintained throughout employment as a police officer.

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VISION: Bilateral vision must be at least 20/100, correctable to 20/30, with no evidence of color blindness.

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HEARING: Hearing aids are not acceptable; applicants with an average hearing loss of 26 dB or more in the better ear in the 500 to 2000 c.p.s. range, and 46 dB in the 3000 c.p.s. range in the other ear are disqualified (ANSI standard).

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WORK AUTHORIZATION: Applicants must be eligible for employment in the United States under federal law.

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DRIVER'S LICENSE & DRIVING RECORD: Applicants must possess a valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driving record prior to and throughout employment. An acceptable driving record is one that has three (3) or fewer DMV points issued within the past five (5) years, and no more than one (1) DUI within the past ten (10) years.

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ADDITIONAL ABILITIES & SKILLS: Observe and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places, and to judge situations and persons accurately; operate an automobile and learn to operate a motorcycle; learn standard broadcasting procedure of a police radio system; follow oral and written instructions; complete accurate reports; communicate effectively and work cooperatively with others, especially the public.

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BILINGUAL SKILLS: Applicants possessing the ability to speak Spanish, Vietnamese, or Korean are highly desirable.

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OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be legally authorized to carry a firearm and have no felony convictions.

How To Apply
Applications may be completed online by visiting  Questions regarding this recruitment should be sent to Operating hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and every other Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Â

The deadline to apply is Monday, November 3, 2025Â at 5:00 p.m. PST

Online application packets must include

• A complete and updated online employment application
• A copy of a valid California POST Basic certificate or higher attached to the online application
• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire

The job application must be completely filled out. Please do not refer to a resume. Only applicants who appear to have the best qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation.

APPLICANTS WILL RECEIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGH EMAIL ONLY. Applicants should check their email and spam mail for all notices.

SELECTION PROCESS

• APPLICATION SCREENING
• PHYSICAL AGILITY TEST - tentatively scheduled for November 15, 2025Â
• PANEL INTERVIEW - tentatively scheduled for November 15, 2025
• THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
• COMPUTER VOICE STRESS ANALYSIS (CVSA) EXAMINATION
• PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION
• PRE-EMPLOYMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION (which includes a back x-ray, drug and alcohol screening test)

The City of Garden Grove will administer the Physical Agility Test. The Physical Agility Test and Panel Interview may take place on the same day. More information will be available as the recruitment progresses. Â

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The selection process takes approximately 180 days from initial application to final selection depending on the duration of each step during the selection process. Some of the steps may take longer than anticipated due to availability and scheduling.

Applicants who fail any part of the selection process will not be considered for the position.

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Candidates who may need accommodations during the selection process must contact the Human Resources Department at at least one week prior to any test dates.

RE-APPLICATION

Candidates Who Applied For The Lateral Police Officer Position With The City Of Garden Grove In The Past And Did Not Pass The Following Tests In The Selection Process May Re-apply As Indicated

• Physical Agility Test: May apply as often as given.
• Panel Interview: Applicant must wait twelve months to reapply.
• Background Investigation (including CVSA exam): Applicant must wait twelve months to reapply.
• Psychological Evaluation: Applicant must wait twelve months to reapply.

Who To Contact
For further questions, please contact Corporal Benjamin Elizondo at or Human Resources Analyst Ashleigh Anderson Camba at

NEPOTISM POLICY

The City has adopted a Nepotism Policy. Â Please refer to the Garden Grove Municipal Code Nepotism Policy for more information.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Garden Grove is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, marital status, religion, ancestry, national origin, medical condition, non-disqualifying disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, military/veteran status, or other protected class covered by appropriate law.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

Per Government Code 3100, in the event of a disaster, employees of the City of Garden Grove are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.

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