Check for available positions on the main City Website: www.ci.el-cajon.ca.us/jobs  The Human Resources Department will only screen complete applications and schedule qualified applicants for a written exam and physical agilities test. Please contact the Human Resources Department for current testing schedules. Those applicants successful on both the written and physical test will be invited to participate in the interview process.  Successful candidates will then be required to complete a background investigation and interview with the Chief of Police.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary - $51,521 - $69,284 annually.  (This range covers new employees and lateral employees)
- Retirement – 3% @ 50. The City is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and pays the employer and employee contributions. The City also has an excellent voluntary deferred compensation program available. El Cajon is not a member of the Social Security System, but 1.45% of salary must be contributed to Medicare. Additional PERS benefits include single highest year compensation and the third level of the 1959 Survivor’s Benefit.
- Vacation – 80 hours accrued annually, after the first twelve months of continuous employment. Upon completion of twelve months, 80 hours are placed in the employee’s vacation account.
- Holidays – Twelve eight-hour holidays are observed by the City each year, plus two floating eight-hour holidays are added to the vacation balance. Employees required to work shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays, receive vacation-in-lieu of holidays.
- Sick Leave – Sick leave is credited at a rate of twelve eight-hour days per year with unlimited accumulation. If eligible, the City offers an annual sick leave conversion program.
- Group Insurance – The City allocates $475 per month, per full-time employee, as part of a cafeteria benefit plan.  This amount may be spent on insurance for self and dependents including dental and PERS health, with any remainder paid in cash.  This will increase to $550 effective 01-01-07.
- Salary Adjustments – Starting salaries are normally at Step “A”. After satisfactory completion of six months of service, a step increase occurs with a 5% pay increase.

The Ideal Candidate

The next El Cajon Police Officer will become a member of a highly respected and progressive law enforcement agency that considers itself a family. The personnel of the El Cajon Police Department are committed to working together in a spirit of cooperation to meet community and departmental needs. In addition to the experience and educational requirements, the successful candidate must be willing to do what is right in every situation and

- Promote and support the work of the City of El Cajon and the El Cajon Police Department.
- Encourage and assist fellow workers to create a successful work environment.
- Possess a strong work ethic.
- Take an active interest in the community.
- Provide consistent leadership within his/her sphere of influence.
- Be fiscally responsible, budget conscious and revenue oriented.
- Create a healthy balance between work and personal endeavors.
- Create an environment which is conducive to sharing knowledge with co-workers and assisting them in building a strong future.
- Value each member’s contribution to the organization.
- Account for one’s own actions.
- Communicate openly and practice active listening skills.
- Use effective interpersonal skills, tact and diplomacy.

The Position

The City of El Cajon is currently recruiting for vacancies created by promotions, and will maintain a list of qualified candidates for future openings. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals seeking a career with an outstanding organization.

El Cajon Police Officers regularly:
- Work with the community to identify alternative solutions to crime problems.
- Enforce laws and regulations and apprehend criminals.
- Provide information, advice and assistance to the public.
- Conduct criminal investigations and perform special assignments in a variety of police settings.
- May patrol an assigned area in a police unit, on a bicycle or on foot.
- Answer radio calls and respond to routine and emergency calls and complaints.
- Work a variety of shifts and assignments.

Qualifications/Guidelines:
- Possess a valid Class C California driver’s license with a safe driving record.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment.
- Successful completion of a thorough background investigation.
- Ability to successfully complete the Basic Police Academy.
- College level courses in police science, criminal justice or a related field are desirable.

The Department

The El Cajon Police Department is committed to a safe and secure community through service, mutual cooperation and respect.

The Police Department has 146 sworn employees, 76 civilian employees and 85 volunteers. The Department operates two bureaus, Operations and Support. There are various divisions within each bureau, which include Patrol,  Traffic, Detectives, Training, Community Policing and Forensic Laboratory. Specialty Units include Police K-9, S.W.A.T., Crisis Negotiations Team, Bicycle Team, Motorcycle Unit, D.A.R.E. and School Resource Officers, FTOs, Rangemasters and Peer Support.

After graduation from the Police Academy, new officers begin their careers in the Patrol Division, which currently works a 3/12 schedule(three days a week, twelve hours a day). New officers are assigned to a Field Training Officer, during which time they will learn the necessary skills to become an effective law enforcement officer.

As officers advance in their careers with our department, they will become eligible for positions in the many divisions and specialty units. Officers in the Patrol Division benefit from modern technology such as Computer Aided Dispatching and Mobile Data Computers in all patrol cars. Patrol Vehicles are also equipped with Mobile Video Recorders and the most current communications equipment.

El Cajon Police Officers are expected to develop strong collaborative relationships with community members, groups and other government and private organizations in problem solving and crime prevention. They are encouraged and expected to look for innovative and effective methods in resolving community issues and concerns.

The City Of El Cajon

Lifestyle is the key to attracting virtually 100,000 residents and 5,000 businesses to the City of El Cajon. Just 15 minutes east of San Diego (the country’s seventh largest city) lies El Cajon. El Cajon means "the box" in Spanish, so named because the City is completely surrounded by hills. El Cajon is just 17 miles from the ocean, 35 miles from the mountains, 75 miles from the desert, 27 miles from the gateway to Mexico and 16 miles from downtown San Diego. Incorporated in 1912, El Cajon is 14.1 square miles.

Located within the City are beautiful homes with incredible vistas at a cost well below comparable residences in the City of San Diego. While the income of residents in the hills is among the highest in the county, the City has a population with a wide range of income levels. The needs of today's families are met in quiet neighborhoods, tasteful single-family homes and affordable apartments, providing residents housing opportunities fitting any budget.

The ideal year-round climate creates the perfect recreation spot with horseback riding, golfing, camping, and easy access to the many attractions in San Diego.

The education system is one of the best in San Diego County. El Cajon schools rank in the top 10% of the state. Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District offers two unique campuses with state of the art theater and fitness facilities.

Gillespie Air Field, the San Diego trolley and bus systems, and highway access from all directions, make transportation convenient.