Entry Level Police Officer

Village of Oak Park; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Village of Oak Park Police Department is seeking a Police Officer to perform a broad range of law enforcement duties in our community. You will patrol and respond to calls, investigate incidents, collect evidence, and enforce traffic laws while maintaining public safety and professional conduct.

Qualified candidates have a solid understanding of criminal law, procedures, firearms handling, and first aid. You will work under supervision to support community policing, training, and collaboration

Qualifications

• Knowledge of police methods: patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation.
• Criminal law and procedure including evidence handling.
• Ability to operate firearms and police equipment.
• First aid basics and self-defense tactics.
• Interviews and interrogation techniques.
• Department policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Patrol designated village areas to preserve law and order and deter crime.
• Respond to public service calls including domestic disturbances and crimes.
• Collect and process evidence; photograph, fingerprint, and preserve items.
• Enforce traffic laws and direct traffic at events or emergencies.
• Investigate crimes, interview victims and suspects, and prepare cases for prosecution.
• Prepare reports on arrests and activities; maintain records and documentation.

Skills

Patrol procedures

Criminal law

Investigations

Interviews & interrogation

First aid

Public safety communication

Education

Associate’s degree or 60 credits

Tools

Firearms training

Job description

Union: Fraternal Order of Police

FLSA: Non-exempt

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION

To perform a variety a variety of duties in the prevention of crimes; to control traffic flow and enforce State and local traffic regulations; and to perform a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of the Department.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from higher level supervisory and management staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES - Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential duties and responsibilities

1. Patrol a designated area of the Village to preserve law and order, discover and prevent the commission of crimes, and arrest offenders; check buildings for physical security.

2. Respond to general public service calls and complaints including domestic disturbances, civil complaints, property and violent crimes, automobile accidents, and related misdemeanor and felony incidents.

3. Collect, process, photograph and present evidence including fingerprints, fibers, blood and related physical evidence.

4. Enforce traffic laws and ordinances; check speed with radar; issue warnings and citations.

5. Direct traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations.

6. Investigate traffic accidents; conduct investigations of serious injury and fatality traffic accidents.

7. Contact and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.

8. Maintain contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserve good relationships with the general public; take an active role in areas of public education relative to crime and crime prevention.

9. Prepare reports on arrests made, activities performed and unusual incidents observed.

10. Investigate crimes; gather and preserve evidence; interview victims, complainants and witnesses; identify and interrogate suspects; apprehend and arrest offenders; testify and present evidence in court.

11. Promote the Department’s community-based policing strategy through delivery of quality services to members of the community and through positive interactions between police officers and citizens; to open up channels for the exchange of information and ideas.

12. Seek and find ways to solve community problems and affirmatively promote, preserve and foster feelings of security and safety.

Other important responsibilities and duties:

1. Maintain custody of prisoners; transfer prisoners to jail.

2. May conduct a variety of criminal investigations involving crimes against persons and property, auto theft, white collar crime, and narcotics; conduct covert and undercover investigations as assigned; gather evidence and prepare cases for prosecution.

3. May serve as Training Coordinator’ maintain training files; develop training programs; coordinate outside trainings programs with agencies and jurisdictions; review and evaluate current and future training programs.

4. May serve as Crime Prevention Officer; oversee and coordinate crime prevention activities; make presentations to local citizens and community groups.

5. May serve as Evidence Technician; process crime scenes for evidence, etc.

6. May serve as Youth Officer; process juvenile offenders, etc.

7. May serve as field training officer – Teach, guide, observe and evaluate recruit officers, etc.

8. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS - Required at the time of hire or learned within a short period of time in order to perform the essential duties

Knowledge of:

· Police methods and procedures including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation and identification techniques.

· Criminal law and criminal procedure with particular reference to the apprehension, arrest and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the seizure and preservation of evidence.

· Offensive and defensive weapons nomenclature and theory.

· Use of firearms and other modern police equipment.

· First aid principles, practices and techniques.

· Self-defense tactics.

· Interviewing and interrogation techniques.

· Departmental rules and regulations, policies, procedures and directives.

Ability to:

· Observe accurately and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places.

· Use and properly care for firearms.

· Understand, interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

· Prepare clear, accurate and grammatically correct written reports.

· Analyze situations quickly and objectively and take necessary emergency action.

· Identify potential crime situations or traffic hazards and take preventive actions

· Meet the first aid requirement as prescribed by the State of Illinois.

· Learn the operation of standard equipment and facilities required in the performance of assigned tasks.

· Meet the physical requirements established by the Department.

· Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

· Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

· Maintain physical condition to perform essential duties as specified by police officer certification.

Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following:

— Effecting arrests.

— Subduing resisting individuals

— Chasing fleeing subjects

— Running, walking, crouching or crawling during emergency operations

— Moving equipment and injured/deceased persons

— Climbing stairs/ladders

— Performing life-saving and rescue procedures

— Walking, standing or sitting for extended period of time

— Operating assigned police equipment and vehicles.

Effectively deal with personal danger which may include exposure to:

— Armed/dangerous persons

— Dangerous animals

— Communicable disease

— Hazards of emergency driving

— Hazards associated with traffic control and working in and near traffic

— Natural and man-made disasters

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

— Making observations

— Communicating with others

— Reading and writing

— Operating assigned equipment and vehicles

Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of:

— Exercising sound judgement and rational thinking under dangerous circumstances

— Evaluating various options and alternatives and choose an appropriate and reasonable course of action.

— Demonstrating intellectual; capabilities during training and testing processes.

Experience and Training Guidelines

Experience: One year of law enforcement experience is desirable.

Training: Possession of an Associate’s degree or successful completion of sixty (60) semester hours at an accredited college of university.

License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver’s license. Possession of a police officer certificate

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work in an emergency peace control environment; work in intense life-threatening conditions; exposure to dangerous persons, firearms, bodily fluids, and noise; running, walking, crawling, climbing, stopping and lifting; work in inclement weather conditions.

Diversity Equity & Inclusion Statement

The Village of Oak Park commits itself to diversity, equity and inclusion by recognizing that creating a mutually respectful, multicultural and equitable environment does not happen on its own, it must be intentional. This includes providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, military or veteran status or any other characteristics.