Job Summary:
Under direction of the Patrol Sergeant, employee performs law enforcement and crime prevention work, including but not limited to; patrolling assigned areas, responding to emergency calls, enforcing state and local traffic regulations, detecting and investigating crime, maintaining law and order, and a variety of other special assignments in support of Police operations.
Essential Job Functions:
- Patrols designated areas of the City to preserve law and order; discover and prevent the commission of crimes; and enforce traffic and other laws and ordinances.
- Responds to calls and complaints involving automobile accidents as well as misdemeanor and felony offenses.
- Responds to general calls for service including domestic disturbances, civil complaints, and a variety of other incidents.
- Assists in collecting, processing, photographing, and presenting evidence using scientific techniques including fingerprints, fibers, blood, and related physical evidence.
- Checks buildings for physical security.
- Enforces traffic laws and ordinances; issues warnings and citations, directs traffic at fire, special events, and other emergency or congested situations.
- Conducts traffic accident investigations in accordance with State law and departmental guidelines.
- Assists with conducting a variety of criminal investigations involving crimes against persons and property, gathers evidence and prepares cases for prosecution.
- Identifies suspects, conducts interviews and interrogations, apprehends and arrests offenders.
- Contacts and interviews victims and witnesses; preserve and investigate crime scenes.
- Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
- Maintains contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserves good relationships with the general public; takes an active role in areas of public education relative to crime and crime prevention.
- May be assigned to assist with a variety of crime prevention and community activities, including acting as a representative of the Department in the making of presentations to public groups.
- Makes arrests as necessary; interviews victims, complainants and witnesses; interrogates suspects; gathers and preserves evidence; testifies and presents evidence in court.
- Serves warrants from this and other law enforcement agencies; remains current on laws and procedures required for processing warrants.
- Assists other officers in the resolution of complex problems and situations.
- Prepares detailed reports of arrests made, activities performed and unusual incidents observed in accordance with department guidelines.
- Stops drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; warn drivers against unlawful practices or issues citations and makes arrests as necessary.
- Assists ambulance attendants and firefighters and performs emergency efforts to save life and property.
- Ability to successfully complete continuing education courses as assigned.
- Properly maintains, and is accountable for, department owned equipment.
- Uses force in short and moderate duration.
- Uses restraining devices.
- Uses restraining / control holds.
- Uses hands / feet for self defense.
- May train and/or supervise others.
- May perform other tasks as assigned by the Chief of Police or his/her staff.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must be a United States Citizen;
- Must possess, or be able to obtain prior to employment, a valid Texas driver’s license.
- Must be at least 18 years of age, but if younger than 21 must have one of the following:
- Associates degree or 60 college semester credit hours.
- 2 years of military service; or
- Received an honorable discharge from the United States forces after at least two years of service;
- Cannot currently be, nor have been within the last ten years, under court ordered community supervision or probation for any offense above the grade of a Class C misdemeanor;
- Cannot have been convicted of any Class A or Class B misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years;
- Cannot ever have been convicted of any offense classified as a felony;
- Cannot ever have been convicted of any offense involving family violence;
- Cannot be prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle;
- Cannot be prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition;
- Must meet one of the following educational requirements:
- High School graduate; or
- Have passed a general educational development (GED) test indicating a high school graduation level and have passed at least twelve (12) semester credit hours from an accredited college or university with a grade point average of 2.0 or better; or
- An honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States at least 24 months of active duty service;
- Must not have been discharged from any military service under less than honorable conditions, specifically
- under other than honorable conditions;
- bad conduct;
- dishonorable; or
- any other characterization of service indicating bad behavior;
- Cannot have had a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) license denied by final order or revoked, or have a voluntary surrender of license currently in effect;
- Must meet the minimum TCLEOSE training standards and pass the TCLEOSE examination for each license sought;
- Cannot have violated any TCLEOSE rule or provision of Occupation Code, Chapter 1701;
- Must be of good moral character;
- Must be capable of performing all essential job functions;
- Must pass the TCLEOSE licensing examination for licensing as a peace officer;
- Must successfully complete the following:
- Written Examination and Interview
- Physical fitness assessment test
- Polygraph
- Thorough background investigation (including being fingerprinted and subject to a search of local, state, and national records and fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record)
- Medical examination (including a drug screen) and Psychological Examination;
- Must meet and continue to comply with any and all other TCLEOSE requirements for licensing;
- Maintain a good driving record and have good driving skills;
- Ability to communicate (read, write and speak) effectively in the English language;
- Knowledge of, or ability to learn, the geographic layout of the City and landmarks;
- Knowledge of, or ability to learn, the principles, practices and procedures of police work and related department regulations;
- Attend and understand police officer training courses;
- Ability to read and comprehend laws and regulations, and to follow departmental policies and procedures;
- Ability to think clearly and act effectively in emergency situations;
- Ability to write clear and accurate reports;
- Ability to maintain effective relationships with peers, supervisors, and the public;
- Ability to work under stressful conditions for extended periods of time;
- Ability to successfully complete the required departmental field training program and probationary periods;
- Must arrive at work on time;
- Must maintain a regular and reliable level of attendance.