Lateral Police Officer

City of Jerome; Jerome (ID); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% coverage of medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums

Employee wellness program

GI Bill benefits

Job summary

The City of Jerome seeks a Police Officer I to perform law enforcement activities including patrol, investigation, and emergency response. The role requires applicants to be at least 21, possess a high school diploma, and meet Idaho Peace Officer Standards. The position encompasses a variety of shifts and entails physical demands. Benefits include comprehensive insurance coverage and wellness programs. Join a dedicated team impacting our community positively.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.
• Working knowledge of criminal justice processes and laws.
• Ability to operate law enforcement tools and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform patrol duties and maintain public order.
• Respond to emergencies and crimes in progress.
• Conduct investigations and prepare reports.

Skills

Judgment in emergency situations

Communication skills

Knowledge of law enforcement tactics

Ability to work rotating shifts

Physical fitness

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Two-year community college degree

Idaho POST Basic Certification

Job description

General Statement of Duties

The City of Jerome is a dynamic organization which positively affects our citizens every day. Every position within the City is expected to be a leader within our organization, as well as in our community. Police Officer I performs basic level police duties including patrol, investigation, traffic regulation, crime prevention, and other related law enforcement activities. Police Officers may also be assigned to specialized law enforcement duties as needed. Work may be performed under minimal direct supervision and requires a high degree of discretion in decision making and independent judgment within established guidelines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Works an assigned shift exercising judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance.
• Maintains constant communication with dispatch by radio or telephone.
• Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances; patrols city streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies and other law violations and to otherwise serve and protect.
• Responds to general calls for service, crimes in progress, and emergency calls such as alarms, robberies, assaults, disturbances, domestic disputes, civil disputes fights, drunkenness, vehicle crashes, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc.
• Takes appropriate law enforcement action, arrests violators, files criminal charges, and serves arrest warrants.
• Conducts criminal investigations including interviewing or interrogating suspects, witnesses and other persons. Investigates crime scenes and preserves and collects evidence.
• Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles. Documents scene and prepares appropriate reports.
• Conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift or as assigned.
• Conducts traffic stops and issues warnings, citations or takes other appropriate enforcement action.
• Prepares cases for court, coordinates with prosecuting attorneys, and testifies in court proceedings.
• Prepares a variety of reports and forms including crime reports, incident reports, collision reports, and other forms or reports as required or directed.
• Provides information and assistance such as assistance to motorists, crime prevention, community resources, traffic safety, problem solving etc.
• Uses reasonable and necessary physical force when appropriate.
• Coordinates activities and communicates with other city departments and other law enforcement agencies as needed.
• Operates office computers, mobile data computers, electronic ticketing systems, and other electronic devices.
• Maintains departmental equipment, supplies and facilities.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Professionalism & Communication

• Attends department meetings and communicates regularly with supervisors and co‑workers.
• Maintains a professional and courteous demeanor at all times.
• Provides timely, courteous, and thorough customer service.
• Communicates daily with cross‑functional teams regarding issues, events, and updates.
• Maintains a proper professional image and generates positive public image.
• Expected to be a leader within the organization as well as in our community.

Requirements

• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.
• High school diploma or equivalent supplemented by a two‑year community college degree or vocational school training in police science, law enforcement, criminal justice administration, public administration, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, military, or work experience.
• Must meet the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training requirements to be a certified police officer.
• Idaho POST Basic Certification or the equivalent from another state.
• At least one year experience as a full‑time law enforcement officer.
• Working knowledge of the criminal justice process; federal, state, and city rules, regulations, procedures, and judicial rulings related to evidence, searches, seizures, arrests and police‑citizen encounters; investigative processes and interrogation techniques; crime scene processing and surveillance techniques; social service agencies and community resources and their use and applicability to investigative processes; courtroom testimony procedures; departmental rules, regulations and procedures; crime prevention techniques, principles, and practices; underlying causes of criminal behavior; safe and effective arrest techniques; basic first aid and CPR; dispute resolution techniques; computer applications and software used in spreadsheets and word processing.
• Must have the ability to work rotating shifts that include days, nights, weekends, holidays, on‑call, overtime, and call‑back, as needed.
• Ability to maintain a calm demeanor and effectively communicate with officers and the public in potentially controversial situations.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in the English language.
• Ability to operate various law enforcement tools and equipment including firearms, non‑lethal weapons, radios and computers.
• Must be capable of operating vehicles safely and have an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and the public.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to learn city geography.
• Must be of high ethical character and free of any recent violations of the law including drug usage or other activities or associations that would affect credibility as a police officer.
• Must successfully pass all phases of the hiring process.

Desired Knowledge, Experience, and Training

• An associate’s degree or 64 college credits from an accredited college or university.

Licensing and Other Requirements

• Idaho POST Basic Certification.
• Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid State Driver’s License without record of suspension or revocation in any state.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs, and occasionally lifting/carrying up to 100+ lbs. The noise level is occasionally loud. Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear, smell, touch and feel. It requires close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Employees will sit, stand, walk, run, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, grasp, climb, and balance. Position requires hand/finger dexterity. Additional physical efforts include extreme physical exertion, stress, and possible danger. The work environment includes indoor, outdoor, wet, humid, dust, odors, mist, gases or other airborne matter. Employees work in heights and confined spaces, and will drive a vehicle. Officers at all levels are expected to maintain physical condition to pursue suspects and serve warrants under any conditions such as uneven surfaces, construction sites, ice, traffic, open and enclosed areas with dogs, and public and private spaces. Work entails exposure to infectious bacteria, bodily fluids, and chemicals. Scenes may be hazardous or unsanitary, located in houses, buildings, outdoors in adverse weather, etc. The position works rotating shifts that include days, nights, weekends, holidays, on‑call, overtime, and call‑back, as needed.

Selection Guidelines

• Formal application.
• Review of education and experience.
• Interview.
• Polygraph.
• Physiological exam.
• Drug screen.
• All other selection requirements as determined.

Benefits

The city pays 100% of employee’s medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums. It offers an employee wellness program and is approved for use of GI Bill benefits.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The City of Jerome is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer and is a Drug Free Workplace. The City of Jerome is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other applicable legally protected status. Qualified veterans who provide required documentation will be given preference in accordance with Idaho state law.