The City of Costa Mesa— just one mile from the Pacific Coast in the heart of Orange County—is one of California’s most eclectic and vibrant cities. The city is home to South Coast Plaza, one of the nation’s largest shopping centers, and the world-class Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory theater. Costa Mesa is also the capital of the action sports industry and the headquarters for companies such as Hurley International, Volcom, RVCA, Rip Curl, and Vans.

Costa Mesa’s official slogan is the City of the Arts and that creative bent has given rise to The Lab and The Camp, two counter-culture retail developments, and the SoCo Collection, a cutting edge, environmentally friendly shopping center.

The city’s diverse dining scene has earned Costa Mesa the award from Rand/McNally and USA Today as being the best small town for restaurants west of the Mississippi River, and in a recent Orange County Register review of the Top 75 Restaurants in the county, Costa Mesa restaurants occupied the top five.

Costa Mesa encompasses 16 square miles and has a population of about 113,000. Since its incorporation in 1953, Costa Mesa has evolved from a semi-rural farming community of 15,000 to a city with robust local economy that generates tax revenues of about $100 million annually. A general law city, Costa Mesa has a council-manager form of government and staff of approximately 450 full-time employees. 

The 9.5-acre Costa Mesa Civic Center at 77 Fair Drive. City Hall is a five-story, mid-century modern building. The complex also includes the Council Chambers, Police Department headquarters, a 911 telecommunications center and Fire Station No. 5. 

For more information, visit www.costamesaca.gov and follow us on social media: 

Facebook - @CostaMesaCityHall 
Instagram - @cityofcostamesa 
Twitter - @CityofCostaMesa 
Costa Mesa Connected news blog – Cityofcostamesanews.com

City of Costa Mesa

This recruitment is specifically for part-time Reserve Police Officer (Level I)  candidates.   This is not for entry-level Police Recruit, Academy Graduate Officers, or Lateral Police Officer. To apply for any of those positions,  click here to visit the Employment Opportunities page. For more information about the Costa Mesa Police Department ,  click here .

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: Applications and written exam scores must be received by August 3rd to be considered for the Physical Agility Test scheduled tentatively for August 29,  2026. Applications are being accepted on a continuous basis in order to meet the needs of the City. STEP #1: SUBMIT APPLICATION Applications...

Police Reserve Officer (LEVEL I)

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