ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
- Inspects the assigned patrol vehicle prior to beginning shift to include: checking under all seats, front and back, and all compartments where the public or incarcerated suspects may have had access.
- Operates the assigned patrol vehicle in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Patrols assigned area to include all public and private businesses and residences, parking lots, surface streets and highways enforcing all federal, state and local laws.
- Directs vehicular traffic; enforces traffic laws; directs pedestrian traffic; investigates road damage; removes hazards from the roadway; issues citations, explains legal procedures, checks vehicle license plates, registration and other required documents.
- Investigates traffic accidents, by determining cause; protects, processes and stores all physical evidence related to a specific incident; requests the necessary emergency equipment required at the scene; takes precautions at an accident scene by creating detours or working traffic control to reduce the possibility of other accidents.
- Positions vehicles at road blocks to effectively isolate the scene of hazardous situations.
- Reviews and investigates all hit & run vehicular accidents.
- Enforces all applicable City, local, state and federal laws.
- Uses verbal communication skills to testify in a courtroom setting or other legal proceeding to ensure complete and correct information is related to all participants.
- Secures and protects the scene of a crime and the immediate area surrounding the crime scene so that no evidence is disturbed.
- Reviews all documents, papers and notes related to an investigation to allow for knowledgeable courtroom testimony.
- Provides depositions or courtroom testimony to the court on incidents where officer may have direct knowledge or information.
- Makes arrests of persons observed or suspected of committing crimes.
- Advises persons under arrest and explains their rights according to the Miranda decision to ensure complete understanding of these rights.
- Conducts stop and frisk searches on suspicious persons for the safety of all involved parties.
- Searches movable vehicles both interior and exterior under independent probable cause in accordance with established search and seizure rules and procedures.
- Searches persons, premises, or property incident to a lawful arrest with a warrant or consent in accordance with established departmental policy and search and seizure laws.
- Plans methods and procedures for conducting a search of a person or premise using all available information on the size and location of the person or premise.
- Removes weapons from armed persons.
- Advises victims or other involved persons of their rights according to current law and the proper procedures to follow to prosecute a case.
- Confiscates property for evidence resulting from an arrest.
- Works in conjunction with school teachers, school counselors, and principals by coordinating, instructing and participating in the DARE program in the public schools.
- Maintains and inspects all issued equipment to include: uniforms, hand guns, ammunition, magazines, hand cuffs, flashlight, badges, and other equipment.
- Demonstrates a proficiency in the use of all issued equipment to include issued fire arms.
- Identifies, confiscates, preserves, and maintains the chain of custody of all evidence in accordance with current search and seizure laws and departmental policy.
- Communicates over and listens to police radio, issues lookout and other required information while on patrol.
- Verbally communicates with the public, fellow officers, and supervisors to a degree that complete understanding is accomplished.
- Assists in the evacuation or rescue of persons and property in emergency situations such as aircraft crashes, fires, floods and other natural or manmade disasters.
- Advises, through verbal communications skills, all parties involved in domestic disputes of the proper legal procedures to obtain warrants, other sources of assistance and the consequences of actions.
- Speaks with, and refers citizens in need to appropriate public and social services.
- Speaks with and interacts with citizens to establish rapport and trust.
- Maintains and organizes field notes and other information to complete final departmental reports.
- Obtains information on persons or property involved in a crime from witnesses, victims or others with knowledge of the incident.
- Attends in-service and specialized training to insure the required number of training hours has been acquired.
- Performs highly specialized duties and tasks associated with specialized assignments such as police public information officer, community policing coordinator, FTO, and DARE Officer.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED
- Non-Lethal Weapons, Weapon(s), Two-Way Radio, Computer
- Restraint Devices, Vehicle
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Education and Experience: High School diploma or GED; and, no prior experience or training is required; or, any combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
- Licenses and Certifications: State Certified Police Officer.
- Valid State Driver's License.
- Must be 21-45 years of age according to state statute.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Local, state and federal laws and current city ordinances.
- Judicial system, operation and procedures for criminal prosecution.
- Laws pertaining to citizen disputes and domestic violence.
- Laws pertaining to the issuance of valid arrest or search warrants.
- Legal limitations of police officer's authority and the limits and requirements in use of force.
- Recordkeeping, report preparation, filing methods and records management techniques.
- Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary.
- Standard business arithmetic, including percentages and decimals.
- First Aid procedures and equipment at the first respondent level.
- Suspect/victim/witness interview and interrogation concepts, principles and practices.
- Departmental policies and standard operating procedures.
- Public relations techniques for handling calls for service or complaints.
- Crime scene processing procedures and the security and protection of a crime scene.
- Basic crime prevention techniques.
- Defensive tactics to protect self and others.
- Proper arrest and suspect apprehension techniques.
- Crime patterns, potential problem areas, and prior offenders within patrol area.
- All computer applications and hardware related to performance of the essential functions of the job.
- Modern procedures, practices, and methods of police administration.