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Police Officer/Lateral Entry

City of Ontario
Full-time
On-site
California, United States
$96,844.80 - $117,748.80 USD yearly

The Position

Police Officer - Lateral Entry 
 
This is a lateral entry opportunity; applicant must be a previous or current sworn peace officer with a California law enforcement agency. Please refer to the qualification guidelines below for additional details. This recruitment may close without prior notice.

Special Pays
The City of Ontario Police Department provides numerous special pay opportunities as an added benefit to officers. Listed below are pay incentives that eligible officers receive in addition to their base pay:

  • BILINGUAL PAY, EQUAL TO 6% OF BASE PAY
  • EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PAY,  UP TO 7.5% OF BASE PAY
  • SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY, UP TO 3% OF BASE PAY
  • SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS:
    • MOTORCYCLE PAY, EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
    • AIR SUPPORT/HELICOPTER, EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
    • AIRPORT OPERATIONS, EQUAL TO 5.12% OF BASE PAY
    • CANINE PAY, EQUAL TO 5% OF BASE PAY
    • PILOT PAY, EQUAL TO 8% OF BASE PAY
Are you interested in making a positive impact to a community? By choosing to work for the City of Ontario, you are committing to an honorable profession in public service in which you can make a positive contribution to the City's residents, business owners, workers, and visitors. When you come to work each day, you are doing something important and meaningful for the community. Ontario is an economic leader in the Inland Empire, making it an excellent choice for a law enforcement career. We offer the opportunities and resources of a large department with the teamwork of a small one. Police Officers protect life and property through the enforcement of laws/ordinances and the provision of non-criminal services. Police Officers patrol an assigned beat to identify circumstances that indicate a threat to life or property and to take action to mitigate such threats.

The Ontario Police Department

The mission of the Ontario Police Department is to protect life and property, solve neighborhood problems, and enhance the quality of life in our community. We do this by providing superior police services while fostering successful community partnerships.
 

TEAMWORK: Fulfilling community partnerships that instill pride, passion and commitment through communication and performance. Learn from the past and embrace the future through empowerment, respect, and cooperation. 

PROFESSIONALISM: It is not the job we do; it is how we do our job. We are engaging and considerate with our actions, image, and conduct.

INTEGRITY: We hold honesty as our guiding principle. When faced with difficult decisions, we do the right thing, even in the face of adversity.

ACCOUNTABILITY: We openly identify and address problems and willingly accept responsibility for our own actions.

DEDICATION: We are committed to our craft and to the residents, businesses, and visitors of the City of Ontario.


Ontario is an economic leader in the Inland Empire, making it an excellent choice for a law enforcement career. We offer the opportunities and resources of a large department with the teamwork of a small one. Police Officers protect life and property through the enforcement of laws/ordinances and the provision of non-criminal services. Police Officers patrol an assigned beat to identify circumstances that indicate a threat to life or property and to take action to mitigate such threats.
 
The City of Ontario 
 
The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including; Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Development, Public Works, and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City's team is staffed with approximately 1,200 full-time and 200 part-time diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community. 
 
We invite you to learn more about the City of Ontario by reviewing the City's website. A few useful links are also listed below:
 
Approach to Public Service (Core values for City of Ontario employees)
 
OntarioCityEmployees.org (Information about City of Ontario employee benefit plans)

The Ontario Plan (The City's Comprehensive Business Plan for Development)

Examples of Essential Functions

Help make a difference to the community by becoming a contributing member of Ontario's progressive Police Department. By choosing to continue your law enforcement career with the Ontario Police Department, you will be rewarded with a dynamic and supportive environment in which to pursue your professional and personal achievements.
 
Why Ontario? Ontario's Police Department is at the forefront of law enforcement, including: a dynamic, proactive approach to law enforcement; community-based policing; SWAT unit; helicopter support; canine program; traffic/motorcycle program; forensics unit; and gang suppression unit.

Qualification Guidelines

Education
 

Equivalent to a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and the completion of a California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified Basic Training Academy.

Peace Officer Background Investigation
 
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a Peace Officer Background Investigation conducted by the Ontario Police Department.

Experience
 
Employment as a sworn peace officer as defined by California Penal Code sections 830.1(a) and 830.2(a) by a California law enforcement agency within the previous twelve months at time of application; OR
 
Previous employment as a sworn peace officer as defined by California Penal Code sections 830.1(a) and 830.2(a) by a California law enforcement agency and possession of a currently valid California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Basic Certificate.

Other Requirements
 
Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driving record at the time of appointment. Weight in proportion to height as determined by examining physician. Uncorrected vision of at least 20/80 each eye, corrected to 20/20 with glasses or contact lenses and normal color vision.
 
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. 

Desirable
 
Some college level coursework in criminal justice administration or a related field. Knowledge of modern police practices and methods; current laws and ordinances, particularly those of arrest, search, and seizure, and the geography of the City of Ontario.

Supplemental Information

Background Check Process
 

All appointments are subject to a satisfactory background investigation, which will include the passing of a polygraph test, and the successful completion of a post-offer psychological and medical exam (including drug screen), and a 12-month probationary period. Candidates may be disqualified from further consideration during the background investigation for a variety of reasons including if they have: an excessive number of traffic citations and/or collisions; arrests and/or convictions; a history of illegal substance abuse; poor credit history (factors include bankruptcy, foreclosures, liens, repossessions, and recency); or thefts from a previous employer. For clarification of any of the above disqualifying reasons, please call Police Department Background Unit at (909) 408-1820.
 
How to Apply
 
Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise log in with your user name and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:
  • List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
  • List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
  • Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer. 
 
A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Supplemental Questions
 
To complete your application for this position you will be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.
 
Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.
 
Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.

Email Notices
 
Email is the primary way that the Human Resources or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the city of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application, please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
 
If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.

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