By Lookout Staff
July 10, 2025 -- The Santa Monica Police Department on Wednesday announced it has launched a "modern, userfocused" website to recruit new officers as vacancies reach a historic high.
"Explore The Possibilities. Unlock Your Potential. Discover Your Purpose," says site www.JoinSMPD.com "designed to connect with the next generation of high-quality" officers and civilian professionals.
"Some careers are just jobs," reads the words over footage of officers in action. "Being a Police Officer is a Journey. If you ever wondered if your work could matter, it can. Right here at SMPD."
Officially launched on June 23, the site includes a streamlined application process that includes information on "the National Testing Network written exam, physical fitness qualifier, oral review, background investigation, and post-offer testing."
It also includes "day-in-the-life" videos and officer profiles, "timelines and tips for each recruitment phase" and dedicated sections for sworn and civilian roles that emphasize "SMPD’s goal to build a diversified workforce."
Tuesday's announcement comes one month after Police Chief Ramon Batista told the City Council that the department has experienced historically high vacancy rates and increasing competition.
On June 24, the Council added one police sergeant and an unsworn community services officer to the force when it adopted a $793.3 million budget for FY 2025-26 and a $829.7 million for FY 2026-27 ("Tight Budget Zeros in on Public Safety," June 30, 2025).
The previous year, the Council had voted to add four police officers to the $763.5 million budget, bringing the budgeted force to 232 officers.
Chief Batista told the Council at the time that it would likely be difficult to fill all the positions in one year.
He noted that ten officers had retired in the previous month, leaving 16 positions vacant, and that there was stiff competition from the Los Angeles Police Department for new hires.
The Department has been trying to fill vacancies since 33 officers retired from the force in 2020 and 2021, while only 12 new officers were hired after the coronavirus shutdown brought recruitment efforts to a virtual standstill.
The recruitment effort emphasizes Santa Monica's "highly competitive compensation package along with a strong support system for wellness, training, professional development, and a deep sense of civic pride," police officials said.
“We must meet today’s talent where they are—online, informed, and engagement-driven,” Batista told the Council.
