Exam Bulletin - Hospital Police Officer

Department of State Hospitals

Exam Code: EX-1759

Examination Plans Included:

  • HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Bulletin Updates

  • Updated salary.

Classification Details

HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER: $6,033.00 - $7,568.00 per Month

View the HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER classification specification.

Application Instructions

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1759

For HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01759

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

00101937 - HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER

Education: Equivalent to completion of the 12th grade. And

Training Requirement: Satisfactory completion of the training requirements of Penal Code Section 832. Candidates may be admitted to the examination before completion of Penal Code Section 832, but must successfully complete this training before being eligible for appointment.

Special Physical Requirements

Possession and maintenance of sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job; and sufficient hearing and vision to effectively perform the essential functions of the job.

Age Limitation

The minimum age of appointment is 21 years of age.

Driver License Requirement

Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants who do not possess the license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment.

Peace Officer Standards

Citizenship Requirement: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(a), in order to be a peace officer, a person must be either a U.S. Citizen or be a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for U.S. Citizenship. Any permanent resident alien who is employed as a peace officer shall be disqualified from holding that position if his/her application for citizenship is denied.

Felony Disqualification: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1029(a), persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers except as provided under Welfare and Institutions Code, Division 2, Chapter 3, Article 8, Section 1179(b), or Division 2.5, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 1772(b). Except as provided for by these statutes, persons convicted of a felony are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in these classes.

Background Investigation: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031, persons successful in peace officer examinations shall be required to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment. Persons unsuccessful in the background investigation cannot be appointed as peace officers.

Medical/Psychological Screening Requirement: Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(f), persons successful in peace officer examinations are required to successfully pass a thorough medical and psychological screening prior to appointment date. Persons unsuccessful in the medical and psychological screening cannot be appointed as peace officers.

Drug Testing Requirement: Applicants for positions in these classes are required to pass a drug-screening test. (The drug-screening test will be waived for employees who are currently in a designated "sensitive" class for which drug testing is required under State Personnel Board Rule 213.)

Position Description

00101937 - HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER

This is the entry and journeyperson level for this series. Incumbents, under supervision, perform custody, security, and general law enforcement duties and do other related work.


Special Personal Characteristics

A sympathetic understanding of the problems of the mentally ill; tolerance, tact, and emotional stability; ability to remain calm in emergency situations; and willingness to work at night and to report for duty at any time when emergencies arise.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

Note: This is a 120-minute timed examination. There is no way to pause, stop, or reset the timer once you start. A stable internet connection is recommended as no additional time will be provided for internet loss, power loss, or computer/browser issues. If you are unable to complete the timed examination, it is recommended you do not continue until you are able to do so.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

The online multiple choice examination is comprised of three sections:
  1. Situational Judgment
  2. Reading Comprehension
  3. Written Communication

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Basic principles and practices of law enforcement and basic arithmetic as applied in performing peace officer duties
Ability to:
  1. Apply sound judgment in the enforcement of hospital rules and regulations and applicable State laws necessary for the protection of persons and property
  2. Physically apprehend and control patients or law violators
  3. Remain calm, and think and act quickly in an emergency
  4. Adopt an effective course of action in dealing with unusual situations
  5. Use patience, tact, and impartiality in handling disturbances and confrontations
  6. Communicate convincingly and effectively
  7. Work closely with medical and nursing staff to resolve patient-related problems
  8. Deal effectively with patients, the public, and other law enforcement agencies
  9. Prepare clear and concise reports

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER Classification will be established for:

  • Department of State Hospitals

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • Department of State Hospitals

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of State Hospitals - Sacramento
Human Resources Office
1215 O Street, MS 17
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 654-2351

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of State Hospitals reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)