Recruiting Slides (New & Lateral) (2) - Copy - Copy

Join the Fort Bragg Police Department

The City of Fort Bragg Police Department is actively seeking dedicated and motivated individuals to join our team. We are currently hiring New Police Officer Recruits, Lateral Police Officers, and School Resource Officers (SROs) who are committed to serving their community and making a positive impact.

Whether you are beginning your law enforcement career, bringing experience from another agency, or looking for an opportunity to work directly with youth in our schools, Fort Bragg offers a supportive team environment, competitive benefits, career development opportunities, and substantial hiring incentives. If you are looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference every day, we encourage you to apply and become part of our department.

Job Opportunities

Police Officer Hiring Bonus – Up to $15,000

The City of Fort Bragg Police Department is now offering a $15,000 hiring bonus for both lateral police officers and new police officer recruits.

The bonus is paid in installments as career milestones are achieved:

  • $3,000 upon hire and signing of a final offer of employment
  • $2,000 upon successful completion of the Field Training Officer (FTO) Program
  • $3,000 upon successful completion of the 18-month probationary period
  • $3,500 one year following completion of probation (approximately 3.5 years of service)
  • $3,500 after an additional year of service (approximately 4.5 years of service)

Total Hiring Bonus: $15,000

Police Officer Referral Bonus – Up to $4,000

Know someone who would make a great Fort Bragg Police Officer? The City of Fort Bragg offers a $4,000 referral bonus to individuals who successfully refer a candidate who is hired as a Police Officer.

The referral bonus is paid in two installments:

  • $2,000 after the referred candidate accepts employment and signs a final offer letter
  • $2,000 after the referred officer successfully completes the Field Training Officer (FTO) Program

Total Referral Bonus: $4,000

Help us recruit the next generation of law enforcement professionals and be rewarded for connecting qualified candidates with a career at the Fort Bragg Police Department.

Becoming a Police Officer 

The job of a police officer is complicated and requires swift decision making, compassion, shiftwork, personal sacrifices, and the ability to handle complex life-threatening situations. 

The men and women of the Fort Bragg Police Department take great pride in providing quality law enforcement services to the residents and businesses in the community of Fort Bragg. We have a long-standing tradition of providing police services in partnership with the members of our community. 

The Fort Bragg Police Department has a variety of professional positions available to qualified men and women who seek a challenging career and stable future in law enforcement. We are looking for applicants who desire a career in public service, believe in community-oriented policing, enjoy cultural diversity, and are willing to be part of a top-notch team. 

A career with the Fort Bragg Police Department will mean many things to you: opportunity to make a real difference to the people in your community; variety of work and assignments; satisfaction with your career; and pride in being part of an outstanding progressive law enforcement organization. 

Law enforcement, however, is a unique and challenging career choice. This job is not for everyone. We highly recommend you take a detailed look into what we really do, how we do things, and what it takes to become a Police Officer. 

Requirements 

  • Be at least 21 years old  
  • Be U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work 
  • Have a high school diploma/GED or higher 
  • Pass background, medical, psychological, and fitness tests 

Automatic Disqualifiers 

  • Felony conviction, or found not guilty by reason of insanity  
  • On probation or parole 
  • Discharged from the military for committing an offense, as adjudicated by a military tribunal, which would have been a felony if committed in this state 
  • Any prior arrest and conviction for domestic violence, sex crimes, or crime against a child 
  • Unable to obtain a valid California driver license 
  • Unable to obtain motor vehicle insurance 
  • Falsification and/or omission of any data on personal history statement 
  • Untruthfulness during the background stage 
  • Substance Abuse 
    • Use of PCP, LSD, or Heroin at anytime 
    • Use of methamphetamine or cocaine within the last 10 years 
    • Use of hallucinogens (GHB, MDMA, Ecstasy) within the last 5 years 
    • Sale of marijuana, drugs or narcotics at any time 
    • Commitment to a state institution for narcotics or danger of addiction 

May Disqualify 

Below is a list of the most common areas that may disqualify an applicant for employment with the Fort Bragg Police Department.  This list is not all inclusive and other information or facts revealed in the detailed background investigation may also be sufficient to disqualify an applicant. 

  • Pattern of irresponsibility (e.g., unpaid debts, civil judgments, repeated late payments) 
  • Driver’s license suspensions or multiple at‑fault collisions. 
  • Bankruptcy within recent years 

Disqualification Guidelines 

As a rule, performance indicators and candidate information and records shall be evaluated by considering the candidate as a whole, and taking into consideration the following: 

  • Age at the time the behavior occurred 
  • Passage of time 
  • Patterns of past behavior 
  • Severity of behavior 
  • Probable consequences if past behavior is repeated or made public 
  • Likelihood of recurrence 
  • Relevance of past behavior to public safety employment 
  • Aggravating and mitigating factors 
  • Other relevant considerations 

A candidate’s qualifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis using a totality-of-the circumstances framework. 

Why Work for the City of Fort Bragg?

The City of Fort Bragg is located on the scenic Mendocino Coast, surrounded by beautiful redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean. Living in Fort Bragg offers a high quality of life with quiet, friendly residential neighborhoods, good public schools, excellent restaurants, picturesque downtown shopping areas and abundant recreational opportunities. The community has a thriving visual and performing arts scene. Thousands of acres of State parks and State forest lands and miles of beaches offer limitless access to the splendor of the Mendocino Coast. See for yourself by visiting the Visit Fort Bragg website.

The City of Fort Bragg employs just over 60 staff members and offers a wide range of opportunities for career development and growth. With excellent salary and benefits, including a retirement program partially funded by the City, the City is an excellent place to start your career, develop new skills or continue your career development.

City of Fort Bragg employees are considered disaster service workers pursuant to Government Code Sections 3100 and 3102 and are required to take an oath upon appointment.