Lateral Police Officer

Chattanooga Police Department; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

The Chattanooga Police Department is seeking dedicated Police Officers to uphold public safety and serve the Scenic City. You will patrol, respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, and cooperate with community partners, with opportunities for career growth and comprehensive benefits.

This non-exempt, full-time role emphasizes teamwork, integrity, and service to residents and visitors in a diverse urban environment. Join a respected force in a vibrant Southern city.

Responsibilities

• Enforces all city and state codes, ordinances, laws, and regulations to protect life and property and to prevent crime and promote security.
• Maintains visibility by patrolling assigned area, city streets, parks, neighborhoods, and businesses to ensure security; watches for prowlers, vagrants, suspicious persons, and other violators.
• Performs surveillance of various locations and of criminal suspects; collects and reviews data; develops trends and patterns; files intelligence reports.
• Responds to calls for service; investigates reported crimes; interviews witnesses and suspects; processes crime scenes; gathers and submits evidence to crime lab.
• Obtains warrants; performs search operations; locates missing persons.
• Determines probable cause to search and/or reasonable suspicion to detain suspects; makes arrests; processes and transports prisoners.
• Responds to emergency calls; mediates disputes and advises suspects of rights.
• Assists fellow officers on domestic and theft calls, executing warrants, serving subpoenas, and making traffic stops.
• Responds to accident calls; gathers information; investigates serious injuries or fatal accidents; interviews victims and witnesses; investigates hit and run.

Job description

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the “Scenic City” for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech‑forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community‑wide “Gig” fiber‑optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a “National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award‑winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading‑edge smart‑city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the “Scenic City” offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world‑class adventure is always less than an hour away.

Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.

Water & Rapids: From the high‑octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world‑class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.

Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, “work-life balance” means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

***This is a NON-EXEMPT Position***

SUMMARY

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for enforcing city codes, ordinances and local, state and federal laws and regulations by patrolling, performing surveillance, investigating crimes, responding to emergency calls and performing other public safety activities.

SERIES LEVEL: The Police Officer is the second level of a six level sworn police series.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

• Enforces all city and state codes, ordinances, laws, and regulations in order to protect life and property and to prevent crime and promote security.
• Maintains visibility by patrolling assigned area, city streets, parks, neighborhoods, and businesses to ensure security; makes observations for prowlers, vagrants, suspicious persons, and other violators.
• Performs surveillance of various locations and of criminal suspects; collects and reviews data; develops trends and/or patterns pertaining to locations/suspects; files intelligence reports.
• Responds to calls for service; investigates reported crimes; interviews and obtains statements from victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants; processes crime scenes; gathers, prepares, and submits evidence to crime lab.
• Obtains warrants; performs various search operations; locates missing persons.
• Determines probable cause to search and/or reasonable suspicion to detain suspects; pursues fleeing and subdues resisting suspects; effects arrests; processes and transports prisoners.
• Responds to emergency calls and calls for assistance; mediates disputes and advises suspects of rights.
• Assists fellow officers as requested/necessary on domestic and theft calls, executing warrants, serving subpoenas, and making traffic stops.
• Responds to accident calls; gathers information at the accident scene; investigates and reconstructs serious injury or fatal accidents; interviews victims and witnesses; investigates hit and run accidents; notifies relatives of victims as necessary.
• Performs functions