THE CITY OF PLACENTIA IS NOW RECRUITING FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE OFFICER (LATERAL)
Competitive Pay Potential for initial pay to match your experience and background upon hire
POST Certification & Education Pay Eligible employees can receive POST certification or education pay upon hire
Accelerated Leave Accrual Rates Potential for leave accrual rates that consider your prior sworn service upon hire
Under the direction of the Police Sergeant, the Police Officer patrols an assigned area, enforces public safety laws, codes, and regulations and maintains order, prevents, detects, and investigates crime, responds to emergencies and calls for service, carries out special assignments in the protection of life and property, and performs other related duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Positions in this class are distinguished from the Police Sergeant, which serves as a first-line supervisor and has responsibility for the development, coordination, and evaluation of sworn personnel that are part of a work shift or section. Police officers may be assigned to special assignments, such as motor, traffic, K-9, detective, SWAT, field training officer, jail, bike team, VIP handling, reserves, and similar details. The following list of functions, duties, and tasks is typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform other closely related or department-specific functions, duties, and tasks from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
- Enforces federal, state, county, and city laws, regulations, and ordinances related to public safety and law enforcement.
- Patrols an assigned area of the city, in a patrol vehicle or on foot, in order to detect and prevent crime and maintain law and order; may operate a motorcycle or bicycle as part of a special assignment detail.
- Gives verbal warnings and prepares citations, arrest reports, crime reports, daily observation reports, vehicular incident and pursuit forms, injury reports, collision reports, and impounded property reports.
- Responds to radio messages and citizen requests for protection of life and property and public assistance and appears at crime and scenes of disorder and determines proper course of action; investigates suspicious vehicles or persons; observes situations related to stolen cars, traffic violations, and proper flow of traffic.
- Inspects premises at night and on other shifts; assists in the investigation of crimes; conducts preliminary investigations of disturbances, burglaries, thefts, armed robberies, vehicle accidents, deaths, or other types of incidents involving possible violations of public safety laws and codes.
- Questions suspects, interviews victims and witnesses; books property and evidence; performs basic crime scene investigation; testifies in court regarding facts, circumstances, and violations; completes field and follow-up investigations.
- Takes written statements; examines conditions of accident scenes; clears scene of obstructions and damaged vehicles; notes and reports traffic hazards; provides first aid for injured persons or requests medical attention in accordance with departmental procedures.
- Reports abandoned or damaged vehicles; inspects establishments providing alcoholic beverages and entertainment, and other public gatherings and assures that proper licenses and permits are in effect.
- Intervenes in private or public disputes to protect the public and maintain order; supervises arrestees; and monitors the status of parolees and individuals on probation status, including court orders.
- Participates in police briefings, exercises, training courses, and programs.
- When assigned to Reserves Detail, tracks and coordinates the scheduling and training of reserve police officers.
- When assigned to Traffic Detail, enforces specialized Traffic and Motor Vehicle Codes and prepares traffic and collision reports and investigation records; sets up DUI monitoring; coordinates work with Department of Motor Vehicles and Courts; attends meetings, prepares logs, and makes presentations.
- When assigned to Field Training Officer Detail, organizes, coordinates, and provides officer training in the field related to proper law enforcement surveillance, handling of traffic stops, preparation of departmental reports, and related tasks; completes training records and employee progress reports at regular intervals.
- Receives, searches, books, fingerprints, and takes custody of prisoners; guards and transports prisoners; provides meals and completes daily records.
- When assigned to K-9 detail, also assists in searches of suspects and properties; trains animals and conducts exercises in proper pursuit and control methods; feeds and