Preparation for High School and College Students

There are a number of things young people can do to prepare for a career with the Santa Clara Police Department. The minimum age requirement to become a police officer in California is 21. However, most applicants wait several more year to apply because they want to develop themselves first. There is no minimum age for you to start improving yourself and there are plenty of things you can do right now to prepare. For example, take a look at this abbreviated list of the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities required to become an Entry Level Police Officer. After reading each, consider what steps you can take to gain experience and develop competency in each.

 

The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities of an Entry-Level Police Officer

Interest in Police Work

  • willingness to handle routine, repetitive tasks;

  • work with people of all races and nationalities minorities;

  • participate in situations which require courage;

  • work under hostile and hazardous conditions over long periods of time

  • work weekends, holidays, and at all hours of the day.

Ability To Take Orders

  • the ability to relate to supervisors;

  • to maintain objectivity;

  • take criticism;

  • willingness to enforce laws that may conflict with personal values.

Ability to Take Responsibility

  • ability to work without supervision;

  • reliability;

  • refrain from abusing authority vested in official role;

  • maintain confidentiality of information;

  • assume a command presence in conflict situations;

  • refrain from using excessive sick or unauthorized leave.

 

Ability to Communicate Effectively

  • the ability to testify accurately;

  • obtain information from witnesses under normal and stressful conditions;

  • communicate clearly and concisely in person, in writing, and via radio.

Self Control

  • the ability to control one's temper;

  • function under verbal or physical stress;

  • use authority effectively;

  • work at accident and crime scenes which involve severe personal injuries or in situations which involve loss of life.

Ability to Learn

  • the immediate potential to learn to write readable, comprehensible reports;

  • to read and interpret relevant laws and procedural material;

  • read maps;

  • apply regulations.

 

Ability to Make Reasonable Decisions Rapidly

  • the ability to reason logically;

  • apply discretion in maintaining confidentiality of information;

  • observe and interpret what is observed;

  •  evaluate situations and people effectively;

  • apply good judgment.

Willingness to Arrest People

  • willingness to take actions which will result in imposing penalties on others, including: depriving them of their freedom; taking a life if necessary; and fighting to win and injuring another if required and to enforce laws which may conflict with personal values.

Ability to Problem Solve

  • the ability to identify problems or issues that are of concern to residents of the City, and the ability to respond successfully to these problems through the resources of the Police Department, other City Departments, and/or other governmental or private agencies.

Emotional Stability

  • the possession of honesty, integrity, maturity, tolerance, self-confidence, truthfulness, and psychological stability.

Are you a Santa Clara school official? Would you like a SCPD Officer to speak to your students? Contact us here.