Police Services Assistant I/II (09-26)
- Whittier Police Department
- Whittier, CA, USA
- Oct 01, 2026
Job Description
Description
THIS RECRUITMENT WILL CLOSE AFTER RECEIPT OF 150 COMPLETED APPLICATIONS THAT INCLUDE A CURRENT (ISSUED IN THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DATE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED) 5-MINUTE TYPING CERTIFICATE AT 40 WPM CORRECTED SPEED.
***WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATE, YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.***Please be sure to read the listing of Common Disqualifiers at the City of Whittier Police Department's website located There is also a link to this website in the supplemental application. Under general supervision, learns to perform and performs a wide variety of technical and clerical law enforcement support duties related to collecting, recording, transcribing, maintaining, processing, editing, retrieving and distributing technical, complex and confidential law enforcement data and information; enters reports and data into a variety of automated law enforcement records systems; ensures that records and information are accurate, clear, and comprehensive for law enforcement personnel and the general public; demonstrates a full understanding of all applicable policies, procedures and work methods associated with assigned duties; performs other related duties as required.
Successful candidates appointed to this position will serve a minimum one-year probationary period. Employees who are bilingual in Spanish are eligible to receive an additional $90 per month. Employees in this job classification will be required to work rotating shifts, weekends and holidays.
Examples of Duties
(Listed below are a few examples of job duties. For a complete listing of Essential Functions, review the class specification.)
Takes, transcribes, types, and otherwise processes a wide variety of police records, reports, and materials, including declarations, arrest records, warrants, citations, crime and traffic reports, and vehicle storage and impound forms; provides customer service at public counter; operates a variety of automated systems to create or revise computer files; enters, retrieves, and maintains accurate data and information from a variety of automated systems, such as the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS); validates selected records from the Department of Justice files, including vehicles, boats, and missing persons.
Physical, Mental and Environmental Working Conditions: Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily office activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in retrieving and entering data using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading work related documents and using the computer, and acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal service. The need to lift, drag, and push files, paper, and documents weighing up to 25 pounds is also required.
The City of Whittier encourages applications from qualified Individuals with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Individuals who require accommodation in the application or testing process should contact the Human Resources staff at least 5 days prior to submitting your application or 5 days prior to the testing process so that a reasonable accommodation may be made. Persons requesting a reasonable accommodation will be required to provide documentation of such need. Seeking or receiving an accommodation by the City will have no negative impact on an individual's application or employment.
Supplemental Information
Prior to hiring, candidates will be required to submit proof of U.S. Citizenship or employment authorization if not a U.S. Citizen.
Medical: Applicants will be required as a prerequisite to employment to successfully pass a physical examination, including a drug screen, the cost of which will be paid by the City.
Selection/Exam Process: Based on a review of the applications received, the candidates appearing to be the most qualified and meeting the City's particular needs will be invited to the exam process. A candidate must achieve a passing score on each exam to proceed to the next exam.
Due to the anticipated large volume of applicants for this position and our limited resources, we will only be able to invite the top candidates to participate in the panel interview.
Exam Information: TBD
Written Exam: Pass/Fail
Panel Interview:
100% The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice. The City of Whittier is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualifications
Typical Qualifications:
- (The following are minimal qualifications necessary for entry into the classification.) Education and/or Experience: Any combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a Police Services Assistant I/II. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess the equivalent of one year of general clerical experience which includes a variety of typing and record keeping tasks and public contact work and a high school diploma
- Prior public service experience is highly desirable
- In addition to the above, Police Services Assistant II requires one year of experience comparable to that of a Police Services Assistant I with the City of Whittier
- License/Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver's license
- Knowledge of: Modern office administrative practices and procedures
- public and agency desk procedures and methods of providing services and information
- automated law enforcement information systems and procedures
- applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations, including the Public Records Act
- standard office procedures, practices, and equipment
- modern office equipment, including a computer and applicable software
- methods and techniques for record keeping and report preparation and writing
- proper English, spelling, and grammar
- and occupational hazards and standard safety practices
- Ability to: Understand and follow instructions
- perform a variety of work with speed and accuracy
- work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, and rotating shifts
- interpret, explain, and apply applicable laws, codes, and regulations
- read, interpret, and record data accurately
- organize, prioritize, and follow up on work assignments
- create, organize, and maintain records
- work independently and as part of a team
- make sound decisions within established guidelines
- follow written and oral directions
- observe safety principles and work in a safe manner
- communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
- receive the public in person or over the phone
- and establish and maintain effective working relationships
- Skill to: Operate an office computer and a variety of word processing and software applications
- operate specialized automated law enforcement information systems
- type accurately from clear copy at a rate of 40 net words per minute
Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for Whittier Police Department is Martin Rivera.
Qualifications
State
Immediate Fill
Job Reference
The Whittier Police Department began in April, 1917 with the appointment of Edgar L. Essley as the community's first City Marshal and Tax Collector. A night watchman was hired the following year, and the 2-man team worked out of a building on Greenleaf and Hadley which also housed a drugstore, the County Marshal's office, a justice of the peace, and served as a courthouse. A 2-cell jail was located at the rear of the fire station on South Comstock.
LeRoy Ballou served as Chief of Police, License Fee' Clerk, and Supervisor of Garbage Collection from 1921-23, when he was succeeded by I.B. English. An Assistant Chief, a night sergeant, and seven motor officers were soon added, and the department moved to its new quarters, a room at the rear of the City Hall.
On May 12, 1925 Edgar Essley was sworn in for a second time, on the same day the department moved into its own building at the corner of Greenleaf and Bailey. It included a 7-cell jail and is still remembered as "the old Bailey Street station.
By 1931, the department boasted three administrative officers, a traffic sergeant, Superintendent of Identification, three motorcycle Officers, six patrolmen, and one Detective. Within two years after Guy Welch was sworn in as chief in 1935, patrol cars were equipped with two-way radios, and the lifting of fingerprints from crime scenes was standard procedure.
O.C. Smith became Whittier's sixth police chief in 1938. Although his predecessors had arrested mostly drunks and transients, by 1940, the department's traffic problems, burglaries, and juvenile delinquency were all in a day's work for WPD officers. Following World War II the department grew larger and more sophisticated. Officer standards were raised, and the importance of continuing education was recognized. In 1954, Arthur Mallory was sworn in as Chief, and in 1955, the department moved into its present Painter Avenue site.
Ebert McKinney was sworn in as Chief in 1960, and within a year, the annexation of East Whittier doubled both the city's size and population. In 1962, young men between the ages of 18-21 considering a career in law enforcement were recruited as cadets to serve as non-sworn personnel, primarily in Dispatch. Many went on to become sworn officers. By 1965, the force numbered 78 sworn officers and 20 civilians.
In 1967, James Bale became the first chief hired from outside the department. In the 1970's the department hired its first woman police officer, and special programs were implemented targeting such activities as massage parlors, porno, and nude dancing. In 1977, John Pierce became the first Whittier officer killed in the line of duty. Two years later, Detective Mike Lane became the second and on February 20th, 201,7, Officer Keith Boyer became the third.
In the 80's came Community Policing with Neighborhood Watch programs, educational puppet shows for school children and senior citizens, A D.U.I. program reduced the number of drunk driver arrests, the first department K-9 dogs went into action, and the department worked with other local law enforcement agencies to curb drug trafficking. In 1989, after 40 years, Uptown Whittier again had a foot patrol officer.
When Charles B. Hoover was sworn in as Chief in 1990, the war on drugs and gangs remained a top priority. In 1993, an Uptown Bike Patrol began covering the Uptown business Section, and a Mobile Command Center began operating at Broadway Park. In July of 1995, 29 new officers were sworn in as the department added the City of Santa Fe Springs to its jurisdiction. Three Community Response Centers; one on Greenleaf Avenue, one on Lambert Road and another in the Whittwood Shopping Center, provided a closer link with residents.
In 2001, Chief David M. Singer was sworn in to lead the Department. Chief Singer came to Whittier with many years of law enforcement experience including holding the position of Chief of Police at Signal Hill. Since his arrival, many significant accomplishments have been reached by the Department and the community. The implementation of Public Service Area policing created a system that held the Department accountable to the community for the resolution of ongoing neighborhood problems. It also provided a more efficient and effective way to deliver police services to the community. Under Chief Singer, the City enacted the first-ever gang injunction against the criminal street gang "Whittier Varrio Locos". Chief Singer also implemented numerous technological advancements, such as the graffiti tracker system, the automatic license plate hunter, and the installation of remote cameras to monitor high-risk locations.
On April 12, 2011, Chief Jeff A. Piper was officially sworn in as Chief of Police.
The WPD welcomes community involvement through its volunteer group and reserve officer programs for adults and seniors, explorer programs for young men and women between the ages of 15-21, and junior explorers for boys and girls between the ages of 12-16.
The WPD employees and volunteers take pride in living up to the department motto: Quality People - Quality Service.
Martin Rivera