Job Information

FOUNTAIN VALLEY CITY OF
10200 SLATER AVENUE
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 92708
714-593-4567

Bookmark: http://nationaltestingnetwork.com/publicsafetyjobs/fullJobDetails.cfm?agencyjobid=2482&jobid=1&agentid=1220

Updated: February 12, 2026

Position Title: Police Recruit

The City of Fountain Valley is accepting applications for the position of Police Recruit. To be considered for this position, all candidates are required to carefully review the detailed Job Description and submit a City application, which can be accessed by visiting our jobs page at www.Fountainvalley.org/jobs.

Application Submittal: Police Recruit applications must be complete and compliant with all submission requirements as indicated in the detailed Job Posting.

Fountain Valley Police Department

The City of Fountain Valley is nestled in the heart of Orange County, California. With approximately 60,000 residents, we are a mid-sized, full-service Police Department that proudly serves our wonderful community, dedicated to protecting life, property, and public safety. With City events like our Summerfest and Concerts in the Park, we actively participate alongside community members to build a safe and vibrant City. The City of Fountain Valley is only 7 miles from the beach with countless restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping centers, and Disneyland within 15 miles radius of the City, providing many options for a rich work-life balance.

The Fountain Valley Police Department's mission is to demonstrate the courage to protect life and property in our community; the duty to provide the highest quality of service in a fair, impartial and ethical manner; and the commitment to take a leadership role in providing public safety and quality of life in a manner that will preserve the public trust. The department is headed by Chief of Police Craig Heredia and is structured into two primary divisions: the Patrol Division and the Support Services Division.

Job Overview:

We are seeking motivated, service-oriented individuals to join our Police Department as Police Recruits. This is a unique opportunity to begin a meaningful law enforcement career rooted in community trust, professionalism, and teamwork. Police Recruits will attend a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) approved Basic Police Recruit Academy at the City's expense. Upon successful completion of the academy and field training program, recruits will be sworn in as Police Officers with the Fountain Valley Police Department. If you are looking to serve a close-knit community where your work is valued and your voice matters, we encourage you to apply.

Why Join Fountain Valley Police Department?

Community-Focused Policing: We believe effective policing starts with relationships, respect, and accountability.
Small Department, Big Impact: You won't be just a number - your contributions matter here.
Supportive Culture: Strong mentorship, teamwork, and leadership committed to your success.
Career Development: Ongoing training, specialty assignments, and opportunities for advancement.
Work-Life Balance: A department that values wellness, family, and sustainability in policing.
We offer a Hiring Incentive Bonus for Police Recruits! $5,000 paid in two (2) installments: $2,500 upon graduation from the Police Academy and Sworn in as a Police Officer; and $2,500 after successfully completing the probationary period.

What You'll Do

As a Police Recruit, you will:

Attend and successfully complete a California P.O.S.T. approved Basic Police Recruit Academy
Learn California laws, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency response, and ethical policing
Develop communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Prepare for transition into sworn Police Officer duties, including patrol, investigations, and community engagement
To access the full class specification for Police Recruit, including the salary and a comprehensive list of all benefits, duties, responsibilities, and skills required, please click on the following link: Police Recruit

Upon appointment as a Police Officer, you will:

Protect life and property
Enforce laws with fairness, integrity, and professionalism
Build positive relationships with residents, businesses, and community partners
Respond to calls for service and emergencies
Participate in proactive policing and crime prevention efforts
To access the full class specification for Police Officer, including the salary and a comprehensive list of all benefits, duties, responsibilities, and skills required, please click on the following link: Police Officer

If you’re looking for more than just a job – if you want a career build on service, trust, and community – we invite you to apply!

Qualification Guidelines:

Education: High School graduation or equivalent or possession of a General Education Development Test (GED) certificate is required.

Required License: Possession of a valid California Class "C" driver's license.

Required Written Examination: Candidates must take one (1) of the following two written examinations and attach the results to this application:

FrontLine National exam through the National Testing Network with a score of 70% or above in each of the three (3) components (video-based human relations test, reading ability test and report writing test). The FrontLine exam must be submitted to the City through the National Testing Network's portal. OR
P.O.S.T. Entry-Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) T-Score of 45 or above. P.O.S.T. T-Scores must have been issued within the last twelve (12) months of application submission.

Special Requirements (Pursuant to California POST):

Free from any disqualifications for employment, including felony convictions
Legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law
At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment
Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record
Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation
Found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual orientation, which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
Candidates must have normal hearing acuity. Refer to POST Hearing Guidelines
Candidates must have a vision of 20/70 uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, and normal color vision. Refer to POST Vision Guidelines.
Candidates must have height and weight in accordance with age, sex, and frame.
Police Officers must be able to work rotating shifts, evenings, holidays, and weekends as assigned.

Recruitment Information:

To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Please ensure that all required documents are attached to the application. After documents are scanned and saved as a file on your computer, click on the "Add Attachments" link in the Job Application step of the employment application in order to upload the files. Documents must be entirely legible. Faxes, postmarks and hand delivery will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.

To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete your application and consider having your profile created and/or updated before applying for the position. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. If you require technical assistance, please review the Government Jobs Online Employment Application Guide or contact their toll-free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer, or browser used to submit the application.

Selection Process: The selection process will consist of the following:

Application Review (including successful submission of written examination results)
Physical agility test
Oral interview
Extensive background investigation including credit check, California Department of Justice (DOJ), and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting)
Polygraph examination
Medical examination after a conditional job offer is given (including a psychological evaluation and drug screen)

Re-application: Candidates who failed any component of the City of Fountain Valley's selection process for Police Recruit will not be eligible to re-apply for another Police Recruit selection process until six months have passed since the date they were disqualified from the selection process.

EEO / ADA Statement: The City of Fountain Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Candidates with a disability who may need accommodation during the selection process must notify the Human Resources Department at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date.

Important Selection Information: All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully completing all components of the pre-employment process which may include but is not limited to: Background Investigation, reference checks, California Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting), post-offer drug test, and pre-employment medical examination.

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RECRUITMENT SHOULD BE SENT TO hr@fountainvalley.gov

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