Entry Police Officer

Step 1: Application

Link to application Click Here

Application Filing Instructions:

• A City employment application MUST BE submitted for each position.
• Resumes may be attached as supplemental information but cannot be submitted in lieu of the City Employment Application
• Applications are ONLY accepted for posted positions for which the City is actively recruiting
• Completed applications myst be received by the Human Resources department by 5:00 pm on the closing date.

City of El Centro
1275 W. Main St.
El Centro, CA. 92243
Attn: Human Resources 

Step 2: Screening

The screening is performed by Human Resources to determine that you are not automatically disqualified based upon some of your application answers.

Step 3: Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Written Police Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB) Test

The PELLETB is a multiple choice, fill in the blank written examination designed to measure reading and writing ability. Applicants are given 2 1/2 hours to complete the PELLETB, which contains five sections:

• Spelling (applicants select the correct spelling of a word from a list of options)
• Vocabulary (applicants select the correct meaning of a word from a list of options)
• Clarity (applicants select the sentence that is most clearly written from a pair of options)
• Reading Comprehension (applicants read a passage and answer questions about the passage’s content)
• CLOZE (applicants use contextual clues to complete a passage that contains blanks/missing words)

Step 4: Physical Agility Test

All applicants who pass the P.O.S.T. PELLETB written examination will be eligible to participate in the Physical Agility Test (PAT). All applicants must take and pass the El Centro Police Department PAT in order to move forward in the recruitment process. A sample test includes the following six events:

• Obstacle Course – Run a 99-yard obstacle course consisting of several sharp turns, a number of curb-height obstacles, and a 34-inch high obstacle that must be vaulted.
• Body Drag – Lift and drag a 165-pound life-like mannequin 32-feet.
• Chain Link Fence – Run 5 yards to a 6-foot chain link fence, climb over fence, and continue running another 25 yards.
• Solid Fence Climb – Run 5 yards to a 6 foot solid fence, climb over fence, continue running another 25 yards.
• 500-Yard Run – Run 500 yards.
• 1/2 Mile Run – Run 1/2 mile.

Step 5: Oral Interview

Those applicants who pass the written P.O.S.T. PELLETB test and PAT will be allowed to participate in the Oral Interview process. Every Police Officer candidate must be interviewed prior to employment to determine the person’s suitability for law enforcement service. Interview factors may include the following: experience, problem solving ability, communication skills, interest/motivation, interpersonal skills, and community involvement/awareness.

Step 6: Background Investigation

The El Centro Police Department will conduct a through investigation of your background. You will be required to authorize organizations and individuals who know you, to release and verify relevent information about you. The Background Investigator will contact prior employers, relatives, and references. Information provided during these contacts may result in other individuals being contacted. The Investigator will check into your employment history, credit status, driving record, and other pertinent information. A criminal history check will also be made. You will be scheduled for an in-depth background interview with the Background Investigator. During this appointment, you will be photographed and sent to complete a Livescan of your fingerprints. The entire investigation can be lengthy (expect anywhere from two to eight months to complete).

Start collecting your personal, employee and residence reference information now to include names, home and work addresses, home and work telephone numbers, and personal email addresses. The more you do now the less stress it will cause you later. Also, locate or request official documents you will need in the background process to include your high school and/or college diploma, birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, DD-214 (if prior military), selective service information, marriage license and dissolution of marriage (if required) and any high school and/or college transcripts.

Complete the California P.O.S.T. Personal History Statement (PHS) Click Here

Step 7: Polygraph Examination

As a part of the background process, the Background Investigator will schedule you for a polygraph examination. You will be tested in different background areas. In addition, you will be asked to determine if you were honest with the Background Investigator, truthful on your application, undetected criminal involvement, traffic history, illicit drug use, illegal gambling habits, and any other pertinent information discovered or revealed during the background investigation, including employment and military history.

Step 8: Chief’s Interview and Conditional Offer of Employment

You will sit down with the El Centro Police Chief and have a one on one interview. You will receive a job offer from the Chief of Police contingent upon passing the Medical and Psychological examinations.

Step 9: Psychological Examination

Candidates will meet with a professional psychologist for an evaluation of your fitness and suitability for police work with the El Centro Police Department. All candidates must be found to be free from any emotional or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of powers of a peace officer and be free from job-relevant psychopathology, including personality disorders and/or abnormal behavior. This evaluation will include written tests and a clinical interview.

Step 10: Medical Examination

Candidate will meet with a medical doctor for an evaluation of your medical ability.

Step 11: Job Offer

You will receive a formal job offer after passing the Medical and Psychological examinations.

Step 12: Swearing In

You will be sworn in by the Chief of Police and the City Clerk at the City of El Centro.

For Additional Information Please Contact Us:

El Centro Police Department
Training and Recruitment
Sergeant Victor Nunez
760-352-2111 ext: 1319
vnunez@ecpd.org