The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Police Department employs full-time sworn Community College Police Officers who are vested with full arrest authority in the State of California, pursuant to California Penal Code § 830.32 and California Education Code § 72330. The Police Department is recognized by, and adheres strictly to, the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) guidelines. Community College Police Officers enforce applicable federal, state, county, and city laws. Our police officers also enforce college rules and regulations governing the use of college buildings and grounds.
Currently, the VCCCD Police Department is hiring Police Officer Trainees who will be required to attend a six-month P.O.S.T.-certified basic law enforcement academy.
Distinguishing Positions
The Community College Police Officer Trainee position is an entry-level position for individuals who are NOT academy-complete and are looking to begin a career as a peace officer in the State of California.
- For the sworn academy-complete/lateral police officer position, see our Police Officers webpage.
- For the non-sworn support position, see our Campus Safety Officers webpage.
- For the part-time student worker position, see our Police Cadets webpage.
How to Apply
The VCCCD is not currently accepting applications for Community College Police Officer Trainee. Interested applicants may apply online by submitting an online application.
Minimum Qualifications for Employment
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Police officer trainee applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications:
- Meet requirements of California Government Code Sections 1029, 1030, 1031 et seq.
- Be legally authorized to work in the United States under Federal law.
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Be able to successfully complete a written exam, physical agility test, subjective background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological examination, and a medical examination.
- Be able to successfully attend and graduate from a P.O.S.T.-certified basic law enforcement academy.
Examination and Selection Process
Applicants must possess all of the above minimum qualifications at the time their application is submitted in order to be invited to the written examination. Applicants must pass the following preliminary examinations in order to be placed on the eligibility list:
- Written Examination (pass/fail)
- Technical/Oral Interview (pass/fail)
Once placed on the eligibility list, applicants must successfully complete the following before appointment to the position:
- Physical Agility Test:
- Agility Run - Short distance foot pursuit with obstacles. To pass, time must be 33.5 seconds or less.
- Body Drag - Simulate dragging a 165-pound incapacitated person over 32 feet to safety. To pass, time must be 30 seconds or less.
- Chain Link Fence Climb: Measures ability to run and scale a six-foot chain link fence over 30 yards. To pass, time must be 15.1 seconds or less.
- 1 Mile Run - Long distance foot pursuit. To pass, time must be 10 minutes or less.
- Chief's Interview
- Subjective Background Investigation
- Polygraph Examination
- Psychological Examination
- Medical Examination
PROBATIONARY PERIOD
If selected and appointed as a Community College Police Officer Trainee, newly hired trainees must attend and complete a six-month P.O.S.T.-certified basic law enforcement academy, followed by Department field training and a probationary period of one (1) year as a Community College Police Officer I.
Salary and Benefits
WORK SHIFTS
VCCCD police officer trainees attend a full-time POST-certified basic law enforcement academy. Academy schedules vary but are typically 40-hours per week, with courses of instruction both during the day, at night, and on some weekends.
HOURLY RATE
The hourly pay for Community College Police Officer Trainee is $29.71/hr.
POLICE OFFICER TRAINEE BENEFITS
Currently, Community College Police Officer Trainees are provisional employees and are not entitled to benefits until completion of the POST-certified basic law enforcement academy. Below is an explanation of benefits provided to the full-time Community College Police Officer I position.
Community College Police Officer I Benefits Upon Academy Completion
ADDITIONAL PAY
- Uniform Allowance: $875 paid every October for uniform expenses.
- Swing-Shift Differential Pay: $0.81/hr. additional pay.
- Graveyard Differential Pay: $1.63/hr. additional pay.
- Field Training Officer Pay: 5.8% additional pay.
- Longevity Pay: Additional pay beginning at 10 years of service, increasing every five years thereafter.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE INCENTIVE
Police officers who possess a higher education degree above the minimum qualification may be placed on a higher beginning salary step for each advanced degree.
Police officers who possess previous experience in a peace officer capacity may be placed on a higher beginning salary step for each year of full-time work experience.
For example, a lateral police officer with a Bachelor's Degree and two years of experience as a sworn peace officer may start at Step 5 instead of Step 1.
HOLIDAYS
The VCCCD recognizes 14 paid holidays with two floating holidays (17 days total with two days provided for Thanksgiving), of which police officers are not required to work.
- Closure Days: Dates between Christmas and New Years are closure days with paid time off.
Holiday pay rate given for any holiday worked.
VACATION
Newly hired classified employees accrue eight hours per month of paid time off during their first three years. After three years, the rate increases to 10 hours per month, and then 13.3 hours per month after 10 years.
LEAVES
- Wellness & Education Leave: 3.5 hours per week paid with approval for fitness or educational advancement.
- Sick Leave: 96 hours per fiscal year.
- Compensatory Time Earned (Comp Time): A maximum of 480 hours of comp time can be earned per fiscal year. Unused comp time is automatically paid out after one year.
- Parental Leave: 120 hours paid (separate from FMLA Leave).
- Military Leave: Up to 30 days of leave with full pay.
MEDICAL AND OTHER BENEFITS
Full-time Community College Police Officers are eligible for the District's Administrative / Supervisors / Confidential / Classified (ASCC) benefits. For complete information related to all of the VCCCD's employee benefits, visit the District's ASCC benefits page.
Benefits Highlights:
- Free HMO or PPO medical insurance for employees and dependents.
- Some plans provide a monthly refund directly to the employee.
- Free vision insurance for employees and dependents.
- Free dental insurance for employees and dependents.
- Life insurance offered at no cost (or low cost).
Part-time provisional employees do not qualify for ASCC benefits.
RETIREMENT
Community College Police Officers are under the California Public Employees' Safety Retirement System (CalPERS Safety) with a formula of 2.7% @ 57.
The VCCCD also offers optional 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans.