Public Safety Officer (Police and Fire)

Job Description

Job Description

General Statement of Duties
Performs specialized law enforcement and fire service work to protect life and property in the Town.

Distinguishing Features of the Class
An employee in this class performs a full range of specialized law enforcement and fire service duties.  In law enforcement, duties include patrolling the Town during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot; preventing, detecting, and investigating disturbances and crime; performing traffic control; apprehending suspects; and executing related assignments.  In fire service, the employee is responsible for fighting fires inside or outside structures and vehicles and responding to hazardous materials incidents. Employees may also be assigned to criminal investigations or School Resources work.  Work includes maintaining departmental equipment, buildings, and grounds.  Work standards and procedures are well established and understood; however, the employee must exercise considerable independence and judgment when responding to law enforcement incidents.  Employees must exercise judgment, initiative, and calm control when performing duties; more difficult problems are normally handled under the direction of, or in conjunction with, a Public Safety Sergeant or Lieutenant assigned to the same shift.  Work involves frequent public contact which requires tact, firmness, and decisiveness.  Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from supervisors.  Employees are subject to hazards associated with public safety work, including working in both indoor and outdoor environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to hazards such as dangerous people, working at heights, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids. Work is also subject to the final OSHA standards on bloodborne pathogens.  Shift supervisors supervise work and evaluate it through observation and inspection at the incident scene, monitoring radio traffic, and reviewing reports for adherence to laws, department procedures, and appropriate decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks         

Law Enforcement role:    

• Responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior; completes calls by determining the true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
• Patrols streets in a police car; checks doors and windows; examines premises of unoccupied residences or buildings; detects unusual conditions; may maintain surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects; reports dangerous or defective streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, or other hazardous conditions.

• Investigates traffic accidents; issues traffic citations; directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities; provides preliminary medical assistance until advanced rescue crews arrive; assists with loading and transport.
• Performs investigations of accidents or possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks, arrests and processes criminal suspects; presents findings in court; maintains case files; coordinates cases with DA’s office as needed; may be assigned to full-time investigations unit.
• May be assigned to School Resources Officer role; establishes rapport and trusting relationships with students, faculty, staff, parents and administration; may teach the DARE or GREAT curriculum; participates in planning and delivering various community and school engagement programs; plans and participates in school lockdown drills; investigates possible crimes and serious behavioral issues at the school; provides classroom talks regarding bullying, weapons, drugs, sexting, etc.   
• Issues citations for violation of traffic regulations, serves warrants; apprehends and processes criminal suspects and transports them to detention facilities.
• Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times at local schools and when traffic signals malfunction or accidents require it.
• Provides special public safety services to Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital campuses; conducts fire drills; investigates assaults and other crimes on campus; assists staff with violent patients; transports mental health patients among state facilities.
• Operates a two-way radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information to headquarters; operates mobile data terminals to prepare reports and obtain information; maintains vehicle, weapons, and other equipment in standard working order.
• Advises the public on laws and local ordinances; serves papers as needed.

• Prepares accurate and thorough records and reports of activities.

Fire response role:

• Responds to fire or other incident calls in patrol vehicle and participates in firefighting activities working inside or outside the structure as conditions demand, performs search and rescue, attacks fires with hose or other equipment and/or chemicals, salvages personal property, returns equipment and apparatus to service.
• Performs routine maintenance of apparatus and other equipment; cleans and dries hose, inspects hose and connections for damage and wear, especially following a fire call.

Additional Job Duties      

• May act as telecommunicator in receiving emergency and routine calls from citizens needing police and rescue assistance and operating a two-way radio to dispatch other officers on the shift to the call.
• May be assigned as K-9 officer.
• Attends lectures, studies manuals, and participates in drills to stay abreast of fire and law enforcement skills and knowledge.
• Assists stranded motorists; gives information and directions to visitors and the general public.
• Provides escorts for citizens making bank deposits; provides traffic escorts for funerals; works as a school crossing guard.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances, and policies of the department, especially relating to search and seizure, traffic control, pursuit, and arrest.
• Knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and the use of assigned equipment.
• Knowledge of NFPA guidelines and of the operation of a variety of firefighting equipment and firefighting principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the geographic characteristics and street layout of the Town as well as hydrant locations.           
• Knowledge of basic crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures.
• Skill in the use of firearms, firefighting equipment, and other law enforcement and fire service equipment and in the application of self-defense tactics.
• Skill in collaborative conflict resolution and effective public interactions.
• Skill in effective teamwork.
• Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to use information technology to obtain information and prepare reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to present effective court testimony.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise activity reports.
• Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with the citizens; ability to deal tactfully yet firmly with the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and public officials.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic operational functions of standing, walking, balancing, stooping, hearing, talking, kneeling, crouching, reaching, feeling, grasping, pushing, pulling, bending, climbing, lifting, crawling, fingering, and performing repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform heavy work exerting 100 pounds or more of force occasionally; 50 pounds frequently; and 20 pounds constantly.
• Must possess visual acuity to operate a police vehicle and distinguish details and differences when observing people, places, or things on patrol, and colors and smoke in fire incidents, and to prepare written reports.

Desirable Experience and Education

• Graduation from high school, completion of basic law enforcement training and possession of a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate, completion of basic firefighter training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements

• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license.
• Completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training with prospects of successfully completing the entire certification process within prescribed time frames. 
• Possession of NFPA Firefighter certification.
• Ability to obtain other certifications as required by the department.

  Administering the Class PSOs may be hired as trainees under the provisions of the Personnel Policy but may not complete probation until they achieve the certifications listed above.

Special Note 
This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements.  However, for each individual position assigned to this class, a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities checklist is available and provides further details about that specific position.  Review those documents before initiating a selection process.  They provide additional details to support various personnel actions and help management make legal and defensible personnel decisions.

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