The Police IndexStop data: 2024 · Pay and hiring checked Nov 2026

How to get hired at El Cajon Police

126 swornStarts at $105,102Not hiring new officers nowApplicant Score 54
Hiring new officers, checked Nov 13, 2026
Closed right now

Laterals: open now. Official jobs page.

Time to hire
Not published
Written test cutoff
T-score of 42.0 or higher
Taken within 6 months of the city's PELLETB test date
Physical test
Not published
Lie detection
Polygraph
Academy
Not published
Regional Police Academy (named this way in the city posting)
Pay in the academy
$80,183 to $97,463
Police Recruit

The 10 steps, in order

  1. 1
    Apply onlineSubmit the city application and supplemental questionnaire, with any outside PELLETB score or college degree attached.
  2. 2
    Physical Abilities TestThe city schedules the PAT on a set date for each recruitment, the same day as its written test.Prep for this step
  3. 3
    Written testTake the POST PELLETB and score a T-score of 42.0 or higher, unless exempt.Prep for this step
  4. 4
    Panel interviewPassing candidates go on the eligibility list and sit a qualifications appraisal interview.
  5. 5
    Personal History Statement and questionnaire interviewComplete the Personal History Statement and a Pre-Investigative Questionnaire interview.
  6. 6
    Polygraph exam
  7. 7
    Captain's interview and background investigationIncludes DOJ and FBI fingerprinting.
  8. 8
    Chief's interview and conditional job offer
  9. 9
    Psychological and medical examsBoth are required before a final job offer.
  10. 10
    Academy and field trainingRecruits attend the Regional Police Academy, then advance to Police Officer. Field training length is not published.

How long hiring takes

La Mesa Police2 to 8 months
San Diego Police3 to 4 months
Chula Vista Police3 to 5 months
Coronado Police3 to 6 months
Harbor Police6 to 12 months
SheriffNot published
Escondido PoliceNot published
Carlsbad PoliceNot published
Oceanside PoliceNot published
El Cajon PoliceNot published
National City PoliceNot published
0 mo3 mo6 mo9 mo12 mo

Each agency's own stated figure. They do not all measure the same span, so check the note on each bar.

Academy length

Oceanside Police25 wk
Harbor Police25 wk
National City Police25 wk
San Diego Police26 wk
Sheriff26 wk
Carlsbad Police26 wk

Minimum requirements

  • High school diploma, GED or California High School Proficiency Certificate
  • Valid California Class C driver's license with a safe driving record
  • Age 20 and a half or older within 6 months of applying
  • Age 21 at the time of appointment
  • Pass a polygraph, DOJ and FBI fingerprinting and a background investigation
  • Pass psychological and medical exams
  • Advanced first aid and CPR card by the end of the academy

Not published by this agency

  • Physical Abilities Test events and passing standards
  • How long the hiring process takes
  • Academy length and field training length
  • Current hiring bonus on an official page
  • PELLETB retake rules
  • Tattoo and grooming policy
  • Citizenship or work authorization requirement
  • Retirement formula on a page we could read
  • First assignment after training
  • Vision and prior drug use standards

Field training

Not published

The last Police Recruit posting (26-42) closed Nov 8, 2026, with testing set for Nov 21, 2026. The lateral and academy graduate posting is open continuously.
A $25,000 lateral signing bonus was on the department's recruiting site in January 2024. It is not on the current recruiting page, so confirm it with the department.

Sources, checked Nov 13, 2026: El Cajon Police Department home page (mission, chief, address) · Join the ECPD Team recruiting page · Police Department employment page (hiring steps) · Police Recruit class specification (annual pay, age, requirements) · Police Officer class specification (hourly pay) · Police Recruit job posting 26-23 (process, PELLETB rules, shifts) · Police Recruit posting 26-42, third-party copy (dates only) · Police Officer (Lateral/Academy Graduate) job posting 25-17 · City of El Cajon demographics (population, area, sworn count) · Communications Division page (calls for service) · Old recruiting site, archived Jan 11, 2024 (lateral bonus) · PORAC job board listing, not official (bonus amounts) · California DOJ stop data, 2024

Agency colors not applied yet. They are only used once pulled from the agency's own site.

Photo: El Cajon valley. North American Monsoon from El Cajon, Ca - panoramio.jpg by Robert DuHamel, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and tinted.

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