Scotts Valley Police Department seeking new officer candidates

Scotts Valley Chief of Police John Weiss is looking for a few good people to join the department. He admits he is having a difficult time finding applicants for four positions:  two entry-level police officers and two police dispatchers.
The vacancies are being created because staff are retiring or moving.
Weiss is considering dedicating an officer to recruitment tasks because of all of the positions to be filled. One of the positions to be filled will be his own: Weiss said he will be retiring at the end of the year. 
Although he said the city has advertised in the usual places – from professional personnel listings to Facebook to Santa Cruz Jobs – Weiss says the response has been under-whelming.
He believes the cost of housing in the area may be a factor in the low response. So he has sweetened the offer: “We are offering a $2,000 hiring bonus, which is a big plus.” Scotts Valley officers are required to live within a one-hour commute of police headquarters. Some officers live in San Benito County, Santa Clara County and Monterey County.
Weiss adds that at first glance the police officer’s salary may seem low in comparison to other jurisdictions. But he adds that when applicants add in the fact that the city pays full health insurance premiums for medical/dental/vision insurance for the officer and dependents, that generally levels out the playing field.
The entry-level police officer’s salary in Scott Valley is $5,856 per month with uniforms provided and dry cleaning paid for, as well as the standard vacation pay, pay for bilingual ability, education incentive pay and retirement benefits. The officers are part of the Operating Engineers Union and retirement is paid through CalPERS.
There is a long lead time in the development of a full-fledge officer. It takes a total of 11-12 months of training to become an officer. Field training takes five to six months and then the new recruit is paired with another officer for about six months. He or she also needs to learn how to write daily reports, learn department policy and procedures, and pass weekly tests.
According to Weiss, Scotts Valley officers must be jacks of all trades and know the full spectrum of policing. Because this is such a relatively low-crime area, police are able to do vacation checks on homes left empty for long time periods. They have a school resource officer and do the DARE program for youngsters.
“The most important personal characteristic we look for in this job is integrity,” he says. “Everything else can be learned on the job. We are looking for guardians, not warriors.”
They are also looking for an entry-level Emergency Dispatcher/Clerk I as well as a  per diem Emergency Dispatcher. The per diem Emergency Dispatcher position requires three years’ prior emergency dispatch experience with a California law enforcement agency.
For more information, go to www.scottsvalleypd.com or call 831-440-5670.