Exam Bulletin - Peace Officer I, Developmental Center

Department of Developmental Services - Headquarters

Exam Code: EX-1960

Examination Plans Included:

  • PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER - Open

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

Classification Details

PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER: $5,915.00 - $7,420.00 per Month

View the PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

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):

  • PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER - Open

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

Exam Code(s):

    1960

For PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01960

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.

00101954 - PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER

Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the time of appointment. And

Education: High school diploma or equivalent. And

1. Successful completion of the POST certified basic academy course within the last three years. or

2. Successful completion of the POST basic academy course equivalency process within the last three years. or

3. Eligible to complete the POST recertification process if more than three years has lapsed since employment as a California Peace Officer. or

4. Certification as a Peace Officer by POST.

(Current enrollment in a POST certified basic course academy will admit a candidate into the examination. However, the academy must be successfully completed prior to appointment.)
Special Physical Requirements

Must pass a physical examination. Possession and maintenance of sufficient strength, endurance and agility necessary to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Age Limitation

Must be at least 21 years of age. Must meet minimum age requirement to be appointed as a California peace officer per the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and in accordance with existing law.

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, 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 who have previously undergone a background investigation may be required to undergo an additional background investigation.

Psychological Evaluation: Persons appointed to a peace officer class shall undergo a psychological evaluation.

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

00101954 - PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER

This is the entry and journey level for this series. Incumbents under supervision perform standard law enforcement duties and undergo both on-the-job and academic training in law enforcement methods and practices.

Special Personal Characteristics

A sympathetic understanding of the problems of persons with developmental disabilities; tolerance; tact; emotional stability; ability to remain calm in emergency situations; willingness to perform law enforcement functions without the use of firearms; 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.

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.

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. Principles and practices of law enforcement including procedures and laws relating to investigation, search and seizure, gathering and preserving evidence, laws of arrest, and court testimony;
  2. Patrol procedures and protection of property
  3. Procedures used in handling or controlling groups or individuals
  4. Principles of first aid
  5. Emergency procedures in cases of fire, bomb threat, riot, and civil disaster
  6. Effective public relations as applied to the operation and law enforcement functions
  7. The law enforcement code of ethics and the code of professional conduct and responsibility
Ability to:
  1. Learn and apply sound judgment in the enforcement of rules and regulations and applicable State laws necessary for the protection of persons and property
  2. Physically apprehend and control persons when necessary
  3. Remain calm
  4. Think and act quickly in an emergency
  5. Adopt an effective course of action in dealing with unusual situations
  6. Use patience, tact, and impartiality in handling disturbances and confrontations
  7. Communicate convincingly and effectively
  8. Work closely with medical and nursing staff to resolve client-related problems
  9. Deal effectively with clients, the public, and other law enforcement agencies
  10. Prepare clear and concise reports

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the PEACE OFFICER I, DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Developmental Services - Headquarters

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 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.

Peace Officer I, Developmental Center Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your EXPERIENCE, whether paid, volunteer, or acquired through Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) certified training, your post high school or college/university EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Enforcing applicable laws and regulations (e.g., state and federal laws, organizational regulations, California Vehicle Code, Penal Code, Health and Safety Code, Welfare and Institutions Code) to ensure compliance and promote safety.
  2. Patrolling buildings, facilities, and surrounding areas to detect criminal activities and ensure compliance with organizational and safety regulations.
  3. Taking appropriate actions (e.g., interventions, issue warnings/citations) when responding to disturbances to protect individuals and property, and restore order.
  4. Investigating allegations of criminal activities (e.g., abuse, neglect, theft) to collect factual information and determine appropriate courses of action.
  5. Directing and controlling traffic (e.g., pedestrians, crowds, vehicles) to ensure compliance and order.
  6. Writing reports and/or logs (e.g., police reports, daily patrol logs, citations) to document activities on and around areas patrolled.
  7. Utilizing appropriate procedures when making contact with individuals, who may be a harm to themselves or others, to prevent injuries.
  8. Utilizing emergency procedures in cases of emergency (e.g., fire, bomb threat, riot, disturbances, disasters) to ensure safety and order.
  9. Utilizing appropriate procedures (e.g., securing perimeters and evidence; identifying victims, witnesses, and suspects) when preserving crime scenes to prevent loss and disruption of evidence.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Developmental Services - Headquarters

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 Developmental Services – Headquarters
Exam Unit
1215 O Street, MS 10-40
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 322-9335

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 Developmental Services - Headquarters 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)