Peace Officer Certification Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $31.36 - $44.19 Hourly
Location : City of Yuma, AZ
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2026-00001
Department: Police
Division: Patrol-12
Opening Date: 02/01/2026
Closing Date: 12/31/2026 11:59 PM Arizona
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Summary
The City of Yuma Police Department is seeking motivated individuals to join Team Yuma as Certified Police Officers. A certified officer is an individual who has successfully completed a state-approved law enforcement academy and holds current peace officer certification. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong communication skills, compassion and empathy for others, a high level of integrity, mental agility, and the ability to actively listen and navigate difficult situations.
An Arizona State Certified Officer will be required to successfully complete the department's Field Training Program to ensure familiarity with agency policies, procedures, and operational standards. Certified officers may operate independently upon completion of field training while adhering to Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST), departmental policies, and ethical guidelines.
An Out-of-State Certified Officer is eligible for appointment through the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) waiver process. Officers appointed under the AZPOST waiver shall successfully complete all AZPOST-mandated waiver requirements, any required equivalency or supplemental training, and the department's Field Training Program prior to solo assignment. Certified officers may operate independently upon completion of field training while adhering to Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST), departmental policies, and ethical guidelines.
PAY INFORMATION
The City of Yuma follows a 10-step pay plan ranging from $31.3601 - $44.1899 per hour. Salary and compensation are subject to agency discretion and may vary based on factors such as candidate qualifications, internal equity, and applicable policies and pay scales. The offered amount will be determined by those factors.
SELECTION PROCESS
All applications will be screened by Human Resources for the minimum requirements. All applicants will be notified of their status by email. Those that meet the minimum requirements will be required to complete a ).
HIRING PROCESS
Below are steps that must be completed prior to hire, these steps may not be conducted in the order listed. An email notification will be sent to the applicant prior to the beginning of each step in the process:

• Peace Officer Physical Aptitude Test (POPAT)
  • Information regarding the POPAT and the minimum standards for certification can be found on the website.
• Oral Interview
• Background Interview - PHQ required for this step (See link in the Selection Process section).
• Background Investigation
• Polygraph Exam
• Psychological Exam
• Medical/Drug Screening
• Police Academy

JOB INFORMATION
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
for the essential functions of a Certified Police Officer.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have been an AZ POST certified officer; OR must have been a certified officer in another state.Out of State certified officers will be required to apply for reciprocity. For more information on reciprocity and the waiver process, visit
• Be a United States citizen.
• Be in sound physical and mental health.
• Have at least 20/20 vision uncorrected; or 20/20 vision corrected by glasses or hard contact lenses if uncorrected acuity is 20/80 or better; 20/20 vision corrected by soft contact lenses if uncorrected acuity is 20/20 or better. Vision capable of distinguishing basic color groups against a favorable background.
• Must meet AZ POST and Yuma Police Department drug standards.
• Must have good moral character and personal integrity.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalency.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
A valid Arizona State Driver's License is required. Must obtain (if applicable) and maintain Peace Officer Certification with AZ POST. Additional technical training and certifications may be required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a standard office environment, and in the field on tactical assignments; may be exposed to physical attacks, hazardous chemicals, infectious and communicable diseases; required to capture and physically restrain persons; must maintain a level of physical fitness to meet YPD standards. This job is classified as Safety Sensitive, and subject to Federal and state regulations.
AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS
The City of Yuma Police Department and/or AZ POST will automatically disqualify any individual who has at any time; be aware that AZ POST follows federal guidelines for drug usage:

• Been convicted of a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Arizona
• Been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces
• Been previously denied certified status, have certified status revoked or have current certified status suspended
• Illegally sold, produced, cultivated, or transported for sale marijuana or dangerous drugs/narcotics
• Used marijuana, dangerous drugs/narcotics while employed or appointed as a peace officer
• Illegally used a dangerous drug or narcotic, other than marijuana, for any purpose within the past seven years
• Convicted of or adjudged to have violated traffic regulations governing the movement of vehicles with such a frequency so as to indicate disrespect for the traffic laws and disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway within the past three years
• Been previously employed with a law enforcement agency and since has committed or violated federal, state, or city laws pertaining to criminal activity
• Lied during any stage of the hiring process, falsified any information on the application or background questionnaire
• Conviction of domestic violence crime, misdemeanor, or felony or conviction of a lesser charge, which at the time of occurrence was a domestic violence crime

For additional information regarding the Yuma Police Department, please visit
The City of Yuma offers the following benefits:
*PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION - Special retirement system for full- time certified peace officers and full-time fire fighters in the State of Arizona. It is designed to meet the special needs of personnel engaged in hazardous duty situations. Employee contributions will be determined by their membership date and/or the plan selected. Please go to for additional information.
*SHORT TERM DISABILITY
The City provides short-term disability coverage at no cost to the employee. Short-term disability replaces part of your income if you can't work for a short time due to a covered disability.
*SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE - Employees pay a contribution of 7.65% into the Social Security & Medicare System.
*WORKER'S COMP. - Insurance coverage for medical expenses and loss of income due to an on-the-job injury is provided by the City of Yuma for all employees.
*UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - Employees are covered by Unemployment Insurance.
*MEDICAL, DENTAL, and VISION INSURANCE - The City of Yuma is proud to provide medical, dental and vision insurance for its employees which is administered by the Yuma Area Benefit Consortium. Employees may choose from two traditional PPO plans or a High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account. Dependent premiums are paid one month in advance and are pre-taxed (unless waived). Additional information regarding medical, dental and vision benefits may be requested from the City's Human Resources Department.
*LIFE INSURANCE - The City provides a life insurance policy for employees in an amount that is equal to your annual salary. An Accidental Death and Dismemberment rider is also included for an equal amount. Employees may elect, at their cost, additional life insurance for up to 5X their annual salary. Various voluntary insurance policies are available at your cost and may be set up as an automatic payroll deduction. Information is available from the City's Human Resources Department.
*FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT - The plan establishes a reimbursement account, which is designed to provide you with a means of paying for certain medical, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. The amount you designate is subtracted from your earnings before taxes and is deposited in your flexible spending account. As a new employee you have 30 days from your hire date to enroll.
*EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - Provides free counseling sessions for employees and family members, as well as a 24-hour crisis line for emergencies.
*COMPENSATORY LEAVE (COMP. TIME) - Paid leave that an employee has elected to accrue in lieu of overtime payment.
*GENERAL LEAVE - This leave is available for all regular full-time and regular part-time employees. General Leave is paid leave for an employee's personal time off. General Leave can normally be used 90 days after your hire date. General Leave accrual varies by the employee's years of service and employment status.

• 0 to 5 years = 6.14 hours per pay day or 153.5 hours annually
• 5 to 10 years = 7.74 hours per pay day or 193.5 hours annually
• 10 to 15 years = 8.06 hours per pay day or 201.5 hours annually
• 15 to 20 years = 8.7 hours per pay day or 217.5 hours annually
• 20+ years = 9.34 hours per pay day or 233.5 hours annually

*SICK LEAVE - Employees are eligible to utilize paid sick leave immediately following 90 calendar days from their date of hire. July 1 of each year, employees will have 40 hours of sick leave added to their sick leave bank. New employees will have 40 hours of sick leave added to their sick leave bank on their date of hire.
*PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
The City provides up to 4 weeks of paid parental leave to employees following the birth of an employee's child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.
*HOLIDAYS - The City recognizes 12 holidays per year. Holiday pay is at eight hours per holiday.

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
• President's Day (third Monday in February)
• Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day (First Monday in September)
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day After Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day
• Additional Day in conjunction with Christmas

*DEFERRED COMPENSATION - Employees may participate in a tax-sheltered Annuity Plan (457 Plan) through payroll deduction to provide additional retirement income.
*TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
The City provides eligible employees tuition reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate level courses. Eligible full-time employees may receive up to a maximum of $3,500 per calendar year.
*SMOKE-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT - The City prohibits smoking in, and within a reasonable distance of, all buildings used by the City for the conduct of City business or buildings or facilities used or occupied as workspace by City employees. This includes City owned and operated vehicles. This policy applies to all City employees, volunteers, citizens, and other persons entering or using City owned or operated facilities and/or vehicles.
01
Do you meet or exceed the minimum education requirement of a High School Diploma or GED? (Must be verifiable in the 'Education' section of the application)

• Yes
• No

02
A valid Driver's License IS REQUIRED at the time of hire. Do you possess a valid Driver's License? (Must be verifiable in the 'Personal Information' section of the application)

• Yes, I possess a valid Arizona State Driver's License.
• Yes, I possess a valid Driver's License AND I agree to obtain a valid Arizona Driver's License within the first two weeks after hire.
• No, I do not have a valid Driver's License and/or I'm unable to obtain one as required.

03
Per the requirements of AZ POST R13-4-105, an individual must "Be at least 21 years of age." and further, "An individual may attend an academy if the

• Yes
• No

04
Per the requirements of AZ POST R13-4-105, an individual must "be a United States Citizen"Are you a U.S. Citizen?

• Yes
• No

05
Please select the statement below that best describes your current status.

• I am currently an AZ POST Certified Peace Officer and have 3 or more years of experience as a full-time solo beat officer.
• I am currently a Certified Peace Officer out of state (Not AZ) and have 3 or more consecutive years of experience during the last 5 years as a full-time solo beat officer.
• I am certified but do not meet the time requirements listed above.
• I am a recent LETA graduate (POST Certified) with no experience.
• I am currently enrolled in an AZ POST academy.
• I would like to attend an AZ POST academy and become a police officer.

06
If you obtained a Peace Officer certification, list the following for the police academy where you obtained that certification. (1.) DATE of Graduation from the academy (2.) LOCATION where certification was received.If you have not obtained a Peace Officer Certification, please type "N/A".
07
Have you ever used marijuana while employed or appointed as a peace officer?

• Yes
• No
• N/A; I have never been employed or appointed as Peace Officer

08
Have you ever illegally used dangerous drugs or narcotics while employed or appointed as a Peace Officer?

• Yes
• No
• N/A; I have never been employed or appointed as Peace Officer

09
Have you been previously denied certified status, have certified status revoked, or have current certifi