All Police Department employees play a vital role in reducing crime and ensuring a sense of safety in our community, but police officers distinguish themselves from other professional, technical, or reserve staff in that they are entrusted full-time with the powers of arrest to enforce local and state laws.

There are 97 sworn police officers in Mountain View, serving from the rank of Police Chief to the newest patrol officer.  Officers fill key positions in patrol, specialty positions in Investigations, Youth Services, and Traffic; and in a variety collateral assignments for training, field evidence technician, gang suppression, bicycle patrol, SWAT, CNT, and more.

Mountain View police officers obtain and maintain certification from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).  Police officers must meet several statewide minimum standards for employment. These standards include:

• No felony convictions
• A fingerprint and criminal history check
• Meeting the citizenship requirement
• A reading and writing ability test
• An employment interview
• A background investigation indicating the individual is of good moral character
• A medical and psychological suitability examination

In addition, the Mountain View Police Department requires police officers to meet the following qualifications for its entry level positions:

• Minimum age of 21 years
• Minimum education of 40 semester or 60 quarter units of college education.

Police officers complete a Basic Academy (about 6-months) and comprehensive field training (about 4-months).  They serve an 18-month probationary period before being eligible to obtain a Basic POST Certificate and permanent status.