How to Apply Online
Police Officer Qualifications
Hiring Process
Salary & Benefits
Group photo of VCCCD police officers.

The Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) Police Department employs full- and part-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 holds duty assignments for patrol and field training. Applicants must be a graduate of a P.O.S.T.-certified police academy or possess a P.O.S.T. Basic waiver.

 

Distinguishing Positions

The Community College Police Officer I position is a P.O.S.T.-certified peace officer position for individuals who are ALREADY academy-complete and/or ALREADY employed as a peace officer in the State of California.

How to Apply

The VCCCD is currently accepting applications for full-time Community College Police Officer I. Interested applicants may apply online by submitting an online application. Application Deadline: November 18, 2024.

The VCCCD Police Department also hires part-time POST-certified and sworn peace officers as provisional employees. For more information on how to apply as a provisional police officer, contact the VCCCD Police Department's Recruitment Officer either by phone at (805) 652-7759 or by email to amitchell1@vcccd.edu.

Minimum Qualifications for Employment

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Police officer applicants must meet all of the minimum qualifications:

  • Possess a valid California P.O.S.T. Basic Academy certificate or Basic P.O.S.T. waiver.
  • Possess a valid California Class C Driver License.
  • Possess valid First Aid and CPR certificates.
  • 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.

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:

  • Chief's Interview
  • Subjective Background Investigation
  • Polygraph Examination
  • Psychological Examination
  • Medical Examination

 

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

If selected and appointed as a Community College Police Officer, newly hired officers must complete Department field training, followed by a probationary period of one (1) year.

Salary and Benefits

WORK SHIFTS

VCCCD police officers work three 12-hour shifts per week and one 8-hour shift every other week.

There are currently no overnight shifts.

 

SALARY

Annual salary for Community College Police Officer I is $70,608 - $97,416.

 

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

Applicants who possess a higher education degree above the minimum qualification may be placed on a higher beginning salary step for each advanced degree.

Applicants 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 applicant 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.