There are many great reasons for becoming a Santa Monica Police Officer. (And I am going to list a few.) But first, you should ask yourself if doing these things regularly for a living would be something that would enjoy, and in which you would find personal fulfillment:
Do you enjoy community service? Can you see yourself saving lives? Are you able to stay calm when everyone else is panicking? Are you able to obey orders and follow protocol and procedures? Are you a person that treats everyone fairly and with the same respect? Would you like helping others to change and to improve their lives? Can you devote yourself to serving others? If necessary would you give your life to save the lives of your fellow police officers and innocent civilians?
If you answer, “Yes!” to all the above, then you have the “right stuff.” — Now, here are some reasons for you to apply for a position with the Santa Monica Police Department:
First of all, you get to work in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Pacific Coast Hwy. runs right along the edge of the Palm tree lined Santa Monica Beach. And you meet people from every walk of life, from famous celebrities to senior citizens, college students, regular people, and the most afflicted and needy of society.
Now, here is the nitty gritty:
The Santa Monica Police Department is composed of 216 sworn police officers and 250 civilian staff members. With a variety of civilian and sworn employment opportunities, you are sure to find the area that best suits your interests and career goals.
Our department boasts an innovative approach to community oriented policing and strives to meet the needs of the City and community. We continue to implement solutions, provide a challenging work environment, and encourage continued learning and development throughout our employees’ careers.
Sworn Police Officers
If you are motivated, possess integrity, good communication skills and a strong work ethic, we encourage you to pursue a career as a Santa Monica Police Officer. Our department offers opportunities for career development, promotions, and a wide range of challenging and rewarding special assignments including:
- Neighborhood Resource Officer
- Traffic/Motor Officer
- K-9 Handler
- Homeless Liaison Detail
- Downtown Bicycle Detail
- Gang Enforcement
- Accident Investigations
- Crisis Negotiator
- School Resource Officer
- Personnel and Training Investigator
- Detective Bureau
- Field Training Officer
- Vice/Narcotics Unit
- SWAT Team
- Mounted Horse Patrol
- Crime Impact Team
Benefits & Compensation
The benefits for Sworn Officers include:
- Annual Salary Ranges of $80,988 – $99,984
- Compressed work schedules
- Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave
- City paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 2.7% at age 57 Public Employees Retirement Plan
- Educational incentives- 6% of base salary for A.A. or A.S. Degree or possession of Intermediate POST Certificate, 12.8% of base salary for B.A. or B.S. Degree or possession of Advanced POST Certificate
- Uniform allowance
- Additional bilingual pay
- Court standby pay
- Longevity pay
Benefits for civilian employees vary with each position and bargaining unit /union. For more information, please contact the Human Resources Department.
Civilian Employment
The Santa Monica Police Department offers over 200 positions of civilian employment. In the civilian sections of our department, responsibilities may include analyzing crime trends, taking fingerprints or crime scene photographs, answering a call for emergency service, or provide administrative support. Our civilian employees work together with sworn officers to enhance our tradition of excellent service to all. These areas of employment include:
- Forensics
- Crime Analysis
- Records
- Traffic Services
- Community Affairs
- Animal Control
- Public Services
- Harbor Services
To see the upcoming testing dates, click HERE.
If you have questions about the hiring process, contact our Personnel and Training Unit:
Officer Marcus Mitchell at (310) 458-8416
Officer Jennifer Sekara at (310) 458-2203
Send correspondence to:
Santa Monica Police Department
Attn: Personnel & Training
333 Olympic Drive
Santa Monica, CA 90401
