Join Our Team

Are you interested in a career in Law Enforcement? Call (916) 627-3340 or email EGPD for more information.

It is never too early or too late to start preparing for a career in law enforcement. The only automatic disqualifiers for a position as a police officer are felony convictions as an adult or any misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. If you are under the age of 18, and you are interested in a career in law enforcement, here are some things you should prevent/control:

Education

The Elk Grove Police Department requires potential recruit police officer candidates to possess 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited university or college. These units do not have to be focused on a Criminal Justice or Administration of Justice major. Some of the various degrees currently held by Elk Grove Officers are: Communications, Business, and History. Writing and comprehension of the English language are crucial skills for today's law enforcement officer.

Know the Job

What you see in the movies is not the real story. An episode of "Real-Life Stories" or "Cops" only touches one small portion of the job. Educate yourself by going on a "ride-along" with your local law enforcement agency. The Elk Grove Police Department's ride-along program allows authorized participants to accompany a patrol officer in his/her patrol vehicle for half of their shift. You will respond to a variety of service calls with that officer. You will see and hear everything that the officer does during your ride-along. It could be a busy night and you might get exposed to a lot of different situations, or it could be a slow night, and you may get the chance to ask the officer job-related questions. It would be the most realistic exposure to law enforcement. You may find yourself more excited about the prospect of becoming a police officer, or you may realize that becoming a police officer is not for you. Either way, it is a learning experience you won't soon forget.

Request More Information or a Ride-Along

The Elk Grove Police Department has an 18-month probationary period after the academy. Once you pass the probationary period, you will become a full-fledged civil servant. After two years on patrol, you will be eligible to test for any of the specialized units in the department (as openings in those units occur.) The Elk Grove Police Department has a wide range of specialized units to transfer to such as: POP (Problem Oriented Policing), Investigations: which includes Financial Crimes, Auto Theft, Narcotics, Robbery, Burglary, High Tech Crimes, Sexual Assaults-Child Abuse, K-9, Traffic (Motors), etc. The Mission of the Elk Grove Police Department is to work in partnership with the community to protect life and property, solve neighborhood problems and enhance the quality of life in our City.