Police Officer Lateral/Academy Graduate

Soledad Police Department; Soledad (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Soledad Police Department is seeking a sworn working-level officer to perform non-supervisory patrol, traffic enforcement, and crime investigation duties across rotating beats in Soledad, CA. Incumbents may work in uniform or plain clothes and could be assigned to vehicle, foot, or bicycle patrol as needed to protect life and property.

Responsibilities include responding to emergencies, securing scenes, conducting investigations, testifying in court, and providing public information and

Qualifications

• Knowledge of law enforcement principles and procedures.
• Understanding of patrol, traffic enforcement, crime scene control and investigation.
• Familiarity with rules of evidence and courtroom procedures.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and departmental rules.

Responsibilities

• Patrols the City within an assigned beat on a rotational basis in a radio dispatched automobile to secure life and property, observe situations, report suspicious or criminal activity, hazardous conditions, and deter crime by providing high visibility.
• Responds to emergency calls for service, disturbances, thefts, burglaries, vehicle accidents, domestic disputes, suspicious activities, and other incidents to protect public safety and property, resolve problems, diffuse situations, and enforce laws and ordinances.
• Provides information, direction, and assistance to the public in a variety of situations; takes reports and assists the public with complaints or unusual situations.
• Performs community policing duties to maintain a highly visible presence within the community for deterring crime, maintaining good relations, and providing assistance to the public.
• Observes, monitors, and controls routine and unusual traffic situations; stops and warns drivers or issues citations; assists motorists.
• Makes arrests and serves warrants and subpoenas; transports individuals as required.
• Secures crime scenes and evidence; interviews suspects, victims, and witnesses; collects and preserves evidence; cooperates with other agencies.
• Conducts comprehensive investigations into felony and high-level crimes; conducts surveillance and coordinates crime scene activities.
• Provides assistance to Animal Control and performs animal control duties as assigned.
• Oversees juveniles and delinquents; discusses issues with schools; refers juveniles to community resources.
• Assists City Attorney or District Attorney staff in preparing cases and testifies in court as required.
• Directs the activities of police support personnel in office and field situations.
• Provides emergency medical attention when responding to calls for assistance and requests medical aid as necessary.
• Provides mutual aid to other law enforcement agencies as dispatched.
• Prepares reports; maintains logs, records, and files.
• Serves writs, warrants, subpoenas, and other legal documents.
• Attends meetings, trainings, and briefings; stays current on developments in assigned areas; may conduct shift briefings.
• Oversees the use and care of equipment as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job description

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Police Sergeant. No supervision of staff is exercised.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This sworn working-level law enforcement class performs all non-supervisory assignments found in a municipal police department. While incumbents are normally assigned to rotating beats for patrol or traffic enforcement, all functional areas of the law enforcement field, including investigation, youth services, administration, and training are included. Incumbents may be armed and may be assigned to work in uniform or plain clothes. Shift schedules and job assignments may be changed periodically to assure the maximum delivery of effective police service. This class is distinguished from Police Sergeant in that the latter is the first supervisory level in this sworn class series.

Examples of ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Patrols the City within an assigned beat on a rotational basis in a radio dispatched automobile to secure life and property, observe situations, report suspicious or criminal activity, hazardous conditions, and deter crime by providing high visibility.
• Responds to emergency calls for service, disturbances, thefts, burglaries, vehicle accidents, domestic disputes, suspicious activities, and other incidents to protect public safety and property, resolve problems, diffuse situations, and enforce laws and ordinances.
• Provides information, direction, and assistance to the public in a variety of situations; takes reports and assists the public with complaints or unusual situations.
• Performs a variety of community policing duties to maintain a highly visible presence within the community for the purpose of deterring crime, maintaining good community relations, and providing assistance to the public, including speaking before various civic and community groups, patrolling assigned divisions by foot, bicycle or vehicle, and performing other related duties as required.
• Observes, monitors, and controls routine and unusual traffic situations; stops and warns drivers or issues citations as appropriate; assists motorist with inoperable vehicles and arranges for immediate removal of stranded vehicles; provides direction and traffic control in accident or incident situations, special events, or other congested situations.
• Makes arrests and serves warrants and subpoenas; takes individuals into custody and may transport them for medical clearance and/or booking at a longer-term facility, as required.
• Secures crime scenes and evidence; interviews suspects, victims, and witnesses; collects and preserves evidence; performs complete investigations and/or cooperates with other law enforcement agencies providing investigative and case development support.
• Conducts comprehensive investigations into felony and high-level crimes as assigned, including conducting surveillance activities and coordinating and maintaining crime scene activities.
• Provides assistance to the Animal Control Officer as assigned and performs the full range of animal control duties in their absence.
• Provides oversight of juveniles and delinquents; interprets law to school officials and parents; confers with school administrators to identify and discuss criminal and public safety issues; works to resolve cases involving unfit homes and crimes committed against or by juveniles; advises and refers juveniles to appropriate community resources as requested or as necessary.
• Assists the City Attorney or the District Attorney staff in preparing, documenting, and developing cases and gathering information; testifies in court as required.
• Directs the activities of police support personnel in office and field situations.
• Provides emergency medical attention to the public when responding to calls for assistance and requests appropriate medical assistance as necessary.
• Provides mutual aide to other law enforcement agencies as dispatched and in accordance with departmental policy.
• Prepares reports; prepares and maintains logs, records, and accurate files.
• Serves writs, warrants, subpoenas, and other legal documents.
• May perform and/or coordinate specific program or project areas such as school resources, investigations, crime prevention, and/or field training as assigned by the Police Chief and/or the Police Lieutenant.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions; reviews publications and materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in assigned work areas; and may conduct shift briefings in the absence of the Sergeant.
• Oversees the use and care of equipment as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Law enforcement principles, practices, and techniques related to patrol, traffic enforcement, crime scene control and investigation, protection of life and property, and the pursuit, apprehension, and transportation of suspects.
• Investigation and identification techniques and equipment.
• Rules of evidence regarding search and seizure and the preservation of evidence.
• Courtroom procedures and techniques for testifying.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, ordinances, court decisions, and departmental rules and regulations.
• Safety practices and equipment related to t