Police Sergeant

Sierra Madre Police Department; Sierra Madre (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Madre Police Department, California, seeks an experienced supervisor to oversee watch operations, coordinate patrol and detective activities, and supervise staff with a focus on safety, fairness, and community engagement.

You will mentor personnel, review shift reports, train teams, and act as liaison with residents, businesses, and public officials. The role may include collateral duties such as scheduling, budgets, or equipment management while maintaining high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of police operations and supervision practices.
• Ability to train and evaluate staff; administer disciplinary actions.
• Experience in planning, scheduling, and coordinating patrol and detective operations.
• Proficiency in report writing and information gathering.

Responsibilities

• Acts as watch commander; plans, coordinates, directs and supervises the work of assigned watch; oversees station operations; manages detective bureau, narcotics operations, records security; plans and supervises special details and operations.
• Supervises subordinates, reserves, and volunteers; assigns, reviews, and coordinates work; provides instruction and guidance; selects new employees; handles promotions, discipline, and evaluations; investigates complaints.
• Promotes community service and proactive problem solving with fairness and engagement; advises in patrol, detective, juvenile and desk supervision; reviews shift reports.
• Confers with department members, public and officials; liaison with mutual aid cities, media, DOJ, and other departments; may oversee collateral duties like scheduling, payroll, budget, and equipment; may oversee special programs.

Skills

Supervision

Training

Decision making

Group facilitation

Public relations

Emergency response

Tools

Firearms

Job description

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under direction of the Captain and/or the Police Chief, supervises, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of law enforcement staff involved in the protection of public health, safety, and welfare and the enforcement of applicable federal, state, and local laws; carries out all assignmentswith the focus on treating everyone with compassion, dignity and respect. These tasks are accomplished through working in partnership with residents and the business community to promote and enhance an environment of safety through listening with respect, being approachable, and responding unfalteringly to the challenges we face together.

CLASSIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to protect life and property, prevent and investigate crimes, arrest criminals, and to enforce laws and ordinances.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Acts as watch commander; plans, coordinates, directs and supervises the work of assigned watch; oversees the operation of the police station; manages the detective bureau, narcotics operations, records security; plans and supervises special details and operations;
• Supervises the work of subordinates, reserves, and volunteers; assigns, reviews, and coordinates work, provides instruction and guidance, selects new employees; responsible for recommending and approving promotions, discipline, salary increases, personnel evaluations; acts on employee problems; investigates complaints against personnel on assigned shift; may perform risk management tasks; develops and implements training programs;
• Promotes a culture of community service in proactively solving problems with an emphasis on fairness and personal engagement;
• Advise and assist in patrol, detective, juvenile and desk supervisory operations;
• Reviews shift reports;
• Confers with members of the department, public and private officials and the general public relative to specific police problems, policies and procedures; acts as a liaison with mutual aid cities, the media, the Department of Justice and other city departments and personnel.
• Serves as a member of the Chief’s staff; may be assigned to any of the following collateral duties; scheduling, payroll, budget, purchasing and inventory, patrol operations, armory/tactical equipment, administration, training and/or jail management;
• May be assigned to oversee special programs, projects, or other department functions/activities; coordinates with other agencies, City Departments, and/or the public;
• Patrols a designated area of the city in a vehicle; enforces motor vehicle operation and parking regulations, the penal code and city ordinances; prevents commission of crimes; inspects, reports, and corrects conditions which may lead to crime or delinquency; answers radio/service calls;
• Obtains criminal, search and traffic warrants;
• Apprehends crime suspects and/or makes arrests; performs jail booking procedures, including fingerprinting and photographing of prisoners; supervises jail operations;
• Receives complaints and reports, and provides the public with information and directions;
• Performs other related duties as required.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• May act as dispatcher in his/her absence; oversee the radio/desk operations; maintain emergency operations center.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

Knowledge of:

• Operations and standard operating procedures of a Police Department.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation. Principles and practices of program development, administration, and evaluation.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations including laws governing the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons accused of felonies, misdemeanors, and petty offenses.
• Modern methods, procedures, and techniques used in providing the full range of law enforcement and crime prevention services and activities including investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, juvenile programs, record keeping, records management, automated records systems, search and seizure, care and custody of persons and property, and crime prevention.
• Care, maintenance, and operation of firearms and other modern police equipment.
• Principles and practices of data collection and analysis.
• Methods and techniques of report preparation and writing. English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Principles and practices used in the identification, preservation, and presentation of evidence.
• Techniques and applications of self-defense and proper use of force.
• Methods and techniques used in interviewing witnesses, victims, or suspects. Investigative techniques, procedures, and sources of information.
• Principles and applications of public relations.
• Geography of the local area.
• Standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

Ability to:

• Supervise, organize, and review the work of lower level staff.
• Train, and evaluate staff.
• Analyze complex law enforcement issues, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.
• Make adjustments to standard operating procedures as necessary to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Facilitate group participation and consensus building.
• Understand, interpret, apply, enforce, and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Interpret and explain law enforcement policies and procedures.
• Gather, analyze, and evaluate facts and evidence and reach sound conclusions.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Effectively use and qualify with law enforcement tools and weapons includ