Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Are you looking to join an agency that is making an impact in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)? Leverage your training and experience in helping our residents lead more independent, productive, and dignified lives.

Join the Office of Protective Services (OPS) at the Department of Developmental Services (Department) as a Police Officer and provide specialized law enforcement services at Porterville Developmental Center in Porterville, CA.

OPS is a POST-participating agency within the Department, and we are hiring multiple, highly motivated, and empathetic Police Officers to perform law enforcement activities necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of our residents, co-workers, visitors, and state property at the community facility.

Daily tasks include ensuring safe facility operations, patrolling grounds, crime prevention, first responder to incidents, custody duties, conducting investigations, and assisting with the control and transport of clients under security when required.

We are hiring for Full and Part-Time positions! Reach out the Human Resources contact below for more information, or prior to applying:

• For Full-Time positions, ensure the position details list “Permanent, Full Time” as job type.
• For Part-Time positions, ensure the position details list “Permanent, Intermittent” as job type. Apply here:  

The Department now offers an entrance salary rate of $6,462.00 for the Peace Officer I classification.

Effective July 1, 2025, State employees are subject to a salary reduction of two percent in exchange for 3.5 hours per month of the Personal Leave.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Pursuant to California Government Code requirements, candidates must be residents of the State of California at the time of appointment. All commute expenses to the reporting location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States. The Department does not sponsor employment visas for this position.

Special Requirements

This position requires the following prior to being hired:

• Valid California Driver’s License (CDL).  You must answer the questions addressing your CDL on your application.  Ensure you provide your CDL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.
• Certificate of completion of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) basic academy from a POST-certified police academy.  
• Must have successfully passed a drug screening, medical exam, thorough background investigation, and psychological exam prior to being hired.
• POST qualified candidates who have had a 3-year or longer break from a POST participating agency must complete a requalification course. Information for the requalification requirement can be found on the  POST website .

The Office of Protective Services (OPS) is a Law Enforcement Agency.  After the background check clears, the applicant will be appointed to the position. This is a sworn Peace Officer position pursuant to California Penal Code section 830.3(v). Successful candidates will undergo a complete background investigation, in accordance with the Commission on POST requirements.  This background check includes interviews of employment and personal references, and FBI, DMV, and California DOJ fingerprint. The selected applicant must complete a notarized waiver for access to their personal records.

Required:

• POST Basic Academy certificate must be attached to the application.
• Copy of current California Driver’s License.
• All appointments are subject to pre-employment physical and fingerprint clearance.

If you have not taken an examination you must take and pass the Peace Officer I examination located at:

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Candidates with the following desirable qualifications may be given priority in the selection process:

• Knowledge of the law enforcement Code of Ethics and the Code of Professional Conduct and Responsibility as it is applied to uniformed peace officers.
• Ability to interview a variety of victims and witnesses with varied physical, emotional, and mental disabilities and limited ability to communicate.
• Ability to remain calm and respond to situations or emergencies using sound judgment to adopt an effective course of action that ensures the protection of persons and property.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and rules as they apply to the criminal and administrative procedures that are within the scope of treatment and care of individuals with disabilities.
• Experience working in an environment with individuals who have intellectual or developmental disabilities with severe chronic behavioral or medical problems.

Benefits

As a state employee working for the Department of Developmental Services, you and your family will have access to excellent medical, dental and vision insurance benefits in addition to retirement benefits.

Benefit eligibility may be based on job classification, bargaining unit, time base and length of appointment. Additional benefits may also be outlined for specific bargaining units in employee collective bargaining contracts. For more information, please visit the links below:

Benefit information can be found on the website and the website.

Additional Information

The cut-off dates for this recruitment will be as follows: March 9th, May 11th, and July 13th, 2026.

Electronic application submission is highly encouraged.

Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment.  This recruitment may be utilized to fill future vacancies that may occur during the life of the certification list.

Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined an applicant does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate may be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the California Department of Human Resources.

All appointments are subject to State Restriction of Appointment (SROA), Departmental Restriction of Appointment (DROA), Re-employment List procedures, pre-employment physical and fingerprint clearances. Further information on the definition of the above may be found on the California Department of Human Resources' website at: 

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other - POST Certification

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Part time, Work at office, Local area, Visa sponsorship, Work visa,

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