Your Career,
your future
The Richmond Police Department is currently accepting application for Lateral Police Officer, Police Officer Trainee, Academy Graduate, and Police Cadet.
Richmond POlice Department
The City of Richmond Police Department, located in the East Bay Area in Contra Costa County (California), proudly protects and serves our Richmond community 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
Police Officer Trainee
earn $7,257 / month
If you are currently attending or not yet attended the police academy.
ACADEMY GRADUATE
earn $9,902-$11,422+ / month*
*Highest salary applies to an academy grad assigned to a swing shift with a a bachelor’s degree.
If you have graduated from a California Post Accredited Police Academy and are not currently working as a sworn peace officer.
LATERAL POLICE OFFICER
earn $10,398-$13,289 / month*
*Highest salary applies to a lateral officer at the Top Step with 5 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree. Includes the following incentives: Graveyard Differential (+7.5% base), Longevity (+2% base), Bilingual (+2% base).
If you are currently employed as a sworn peace officer in the State of California and have completed your probationary period.
POLICE CADET
earn $17.65-$21.42 / hour
*On the job training program - no experience required
The goals of the Police Cadet program are to expose men and women to the various aspects of police work in order to prepare them for a career in law enforcement. Police Cadets will promote the community's opportunity to enjoy a safe and positive environment.
We are actively hiring for Police Officer (entry level, direct, and lateral) positions, as well as Communications Dispatcher (entry-level and per-diem) positions! Recruitments for police support staff positions (Records Specialists, Property Technicians, and Crime Scene Technicians - just to name a few!) are posted as the positions become available.
No - a college degree is NOT required to apply for many of the positions here at RPD!
Several positions, however, do require completion of some college credits (or proof of honorable discharge from the Armed Forces) to meet minimum qualifications:
Police Officer Trainee (Entry-Level): 10 semester or 15 quarter units
Police Officer Direct and/or Lateral: 30 semester of 45 quarter units, plus completion of a POST-certified Basic Academy (or equivalent, verified and approved by California POST).
We're glad you asked!
First, make sure you meet the minimum qualifications of the position you are applying for!
(Trainees - you need a T-score before you apply! Click on the Pellet-B Exam question in the FAQs)
Next, submit your application on the Academy Grad (Direct) applicants, who are selected to proceed may anticipate the following process:
Once your application is received and a testing date is scheduled, you'll be invited to attend our testing process. Questions about your application status? Visit our Contact a Recruiter page to submit an inquiry.
Police Officer Trainee and Academy Grad (Direct) applicants, who are selected to proceed may anticipate the following process:
Successfully complete an Oral Board Interview, Physical Agility Test, and Writing Sample
Provide a Personal History Statement (PHS) for reviewSatisfactorily complete a Polygraph Examination
Undergo a thorough Background Investigation
Participate in an interview with the Chief of Police, or designated hiring authority
Satisfactorily complete a Psychological and Medical Examination
Police Officer Lateral candidates may anticipate a similar hiring process, with the exception of a modified Physical Agility Test.
Upon successful completion...Congratulations! Welcome home, to Richmond PD!
The California POST Pellet-B Exam is a multiple-choice written examination designed to measure reading and writing ability. A "T-Score" is a standardized score result, that is calculated based upon your test answers (midpoint average of 50, standard deviation of 10).
If you are applying for a Police Officer Trainee (entry-level) or Communications Dispatcher I (entry-level) position, you must submit a "T-Score" result of 48 or higher, dated within one year from the date of your application.
To learn more about the CA POST Pellet-B Exam for Police Officers, please click here.
To learn more about the CA POST Pellet-B Exam for Dispatchers, please click here.