Lateral Police Officer

City of Show Low; Show Low (AZ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Show Low is seeking an experienced Lateral Police Officer to join our team, with a supportive transition for lateral officers and strong departmental backing.

The role involves patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and potential specialized functions while maintaining professional standards and community partnerships. You’ll work assigned shifts, handle emergencies, and contribute to public safety and trust within Show Low.

Responsibilities

• Patrol City streets, parks, and neighborhoods to preserve the peace and enforce the law.
• Conduct investigations, follow up on incidents, and prepare cases for prosecution.
• Respond to routine and emergency calls for service and investigate collisions and other incidents.
• Interrogate suspects, witnesses and drivers; preserve evidence; make arrests as needed.
• Coordinate with supervisors, other officers, and city departments; document events clearly in reports.
• Provide community-oriented policing, crime prevention, and public safety information to residents.

Job description

The City is seeking an experienced Lateral Police Officer to join our team and help keep our community safe. We offer a supportive transition for lateral officers, including training, hands‑on guidance, and strong departmental support. If you’re committed to service and community partnership, we encourage you to apply.

This position performs patrol, investigations, traffic regulation, and related law enforcement duties. Assignments may include specialized functions such as the Special Response Team, Investigations, Motors, Traffic Enforcement, Police Canine, MCAT, or School Resource Officer.

Generally, works in uniform, or other appropriate attire as approved by department staff, and works an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance.

Communicates effectively with supervisors, both in writing and through oral communications. Correctly identifies issues to deal with at the police level and those that require approval by superior officers. Consistently advises immediate supervisors of critical or sensitive issues and developing trends affecting the department and City.

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 routine and emergency calls for service and investigates collisions, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc. Takes appropriate law enforcement actions.

Interrogates suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scenes of collisions. Summons ambulances, emergency services vehicles, tow trucks and other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scenes.

Conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift. Seeks out and questions victims, witnesses and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches scene of crimes for clues. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Prepares cases for prosecution and testifies in court proceedings. Treats all victims, suspects and witnesses with dignity and respect, showing empathy and understanding as needed to maintain exceptional police/public relationships.

Prepares a variety of reports and records including standard police reports, reports of investigation, field interrogation report, alcohol influence reports, breathalyzer checklist, bad check form, vehicle impoundment form, traffic hazard report, etc.

Undertakes community-oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as public assist, traffic safety, crime prevention, and addressing quality of life issues.

Maintains security of prisoners, conducts intake and release procedures and transports prisoners as needed,

Proactively identifies issues within the community, meets with citizens and business owners as needed, formulates creative strategies to solve problems and interacts regularly with all elements of the community. Proactively patrols problem locations and uses enforcement and education in an effort to modify violator behaviors and ensure the safety of the public.

Coordinates activities with other officers, supervisors or other City departments, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney, County Attorney and staff, Court Administrator, and Municipal Prosecutor's Office regarding cases, policies and procedures.

Maintains contact with the general public, court officials, city attorney, county attorney and other City officials in the performance of police activities. Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances

Maintains a high level of personal and professional conduct that enhances the public trust in law enforcement. Adheres to the tenants of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.

Provides leadership and training to other employees to increase their skills in assigned functional area, actively works towards understanding all functional areas in the department. Ensures all employees are treated respectfully and in accordance with adopted personnel rules and regulations.

Performs all duties in strict compliance with appropriate safety and security standards. Ensures all applicable safety and health rules and regulations are followed.

Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service. Leads and participates in the accomplishment of organizational, departmental and workgroup goals and objectives.

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as assigned