Detention Officer

Job Announcement

The purpose of this position is to protect life and property, to respond to the needs of the general public, to deter criminal activity within the community, to enforce all City statutes, ordinances and the laws and regulations of the state, and to perform investigations, special details, and specific assignments within an assigned division.

Essential job functions include:

• Answers non-emergency, not in progress calls for service including, but not limited to: domestic disputes, abuse, assaults, burglaries, thefts, property damage, public service duties, found property, and civil issues.
• Responds to complaints and questions related to law enforcement issues and activities; mediates disputes; provides information, advice, and guidance; takes and relays messages and/or directs calls to appropriate personnel; returns communication as necessary; and provides referrals for additional public and private resources, including the civil court system.
• Researches problems and initiates problem resolution; answers the telephone, e-mail, and social media posts; and receives visitors in person.
• Enforces all applicable codes, ordinances, laws and regulations in order to protect life and property, prevent crime, and promote security.
• Writes citations; serves warrants in the jail; arrests and processes offenders as appropriate; assists in booking inmates into jail; processes evidence.
• Conducts preliminary and advanced investigations; obtains warrants; interviews victims, complainant and witnesses and takes statements; gathers information and evidence; prepares investigative reports and sketches; participates in court activities; and testifies in judicial proceedings.
• Provides assistance and support to other officers as necessary; provides assistance to other law enforcement or public service agencies as appropriate.
• Follows safety procedures, utilizes safety equipment, and monitors work environment to ensure safety of employees and other individuals; performs driving functions in a safe and efficient manner under various conditions, including day/night hours, in congested traffic, in adverse weather conditions, and in non-emergency situations.
• Inspects and maintains assigned uniform, weapons, and equipment.
• Performs research functions as needed; researches criminal histories and location of individuals via computer; and searches driver's license files, pawnshop database, and video systems.
• Creates/maintains positive public relations; provides education and information regarding laws, law enforcement, crime prevention, drug abuse, and related issues.
• Maintains records, logs, and files of work activities; maintains current manuals, policies/procedures, bulletins, map books, and other materials for reference and/or review.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, checklists, accident reports, incident reports, supplemental reports, complaint forms, property/evidence sheets, citations, suspension notices, accident information sheets, diagrams, warrant applications, booking sheets, bail/bond forms, grant proposals, lesson plans, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, logs, evidence sheets, witness statements, criminal history reports, warrants, subpoenas, summonses, court dockets, templates, diagrams, hit-and-run reports, toxicology reports, hospital records, laws, codes, ordinances, policies, procedures, maps, bulletins, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Communicates effectively and coherently via telephone and/or two-
• Communicates with supervisors, officers, employees, other departments, dispatchers, law enforcement agencies, fire personnel, emergency/medical personnel, court officials, attorneys, victims, complainants, prisoners, suspects, the media, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to obtain information, coordinate activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
• Attends shift meetings, training sessions and seminars as required to remain knowledgeable of Department operations, to promote improved job performance, and to stay current with changing policies, procedures, codes, and criminal/civil case law; reads professional literature; and maintains professional affiliations.
• Operates a variety of standard and specialized machinery, equipment, and tools associated with law enforcement.
• Operates a personal computer, general office equipment or other equipment as necessary.
• Develops in-service training classes; updates existing classes; and determines curriculum for fall and spring in-service sessions; conducts monthly training sessions with individual detention shifts; conducts/assists with field training of new Detention Officers; and conducts remedial training and other specific training of Detention Officers as needed.
• Performs building security patrols on a daily basis.

Additional functions may include:

• May perform special operations/details such as crime prevention/analysis, Real-time Crime, Intelligence-Led Policing, training, teaching, and/or other duties as assigned.
• May escort individuals or groups who are entering or leaving City buildings.
• May provide law enforcement and public safety support as a Class III Officer, including assisting with crowd and traffic control or furnishing security in the courtroom, airport, and other facilities.
• May conduct background investigations on applicants for various positions within the Police Department.
• May provide escorts for Property and Evidence Technicians to drop-off and pick-up locations.
• May operate the City's Info Line during large events or peak hours.
• May conduct data entry of arrest reports, charging documents, or other reports completed by other employees.
• May schedule and lead tours of Police Department facilities.
• May act as Court Liaison; assist with officer attendance; maintain shared JRL court calendar and communicate with Clerks office regarding required pickups; provide Detention with a list of prisoner pickups in a timely manner; verify guilty pleas and those that need to return to court; and ensure officers complete re-writes.
• May complete mobile-name-candidating in JMS.
• May enter hand-written "blue" tickets into the RMS citation module.
• May perform special operations/details such as crime prevention/analysis, Real-time Crime, Intelligence-Led Policing, training, teaching, and/or other duties as assigned.
• May perform detention application backgrounds checks; report findings to Training Division and Detention Lieutenant.
• May participate in pre-service training alongside training officer.
• May create mentorship with new hires as they progress towards the FTO program

Performs other related duties as requested, required and assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

Requires a high school diploma or equivalent; no experience required but prior experience in law enforcement or some public relations experience in a similar police/law enforcement or related environment preferred.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must possess and maintain a valid South Carolina driver's license.

Must be eligible to obtain and maintain the following certifications: South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Class III and SLECO Law Enforcement Officer Certification.

May be required to attain and maintain other certifications as related to assignment.

Special Requirements:

Must be 18 years of age.

Must be a U.S. Citizen or have resident status.

Must be qualified to operate a firearm.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of law enforcement rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Knowledge of training methods.
• Knowledge of interview techniques.
• Knowledge of customer service principles.
• Skill in handling animals.
• Skill in analyzing and looking beyond the obvious.
• Skill in gathering information before taking action.
• Skill in using weapons.
• Skill in acting as a settling influence in a crisis.
• Skill in performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; counting; recording of counts; and basic measuring.
• Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.
• Skill in developing and delivering training programs.
• Skill in using rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions.
• Skill in scanning situations for risk factors.
• Ability to make quick decisions.
• Ability to pay attention to details.
• Ability to build rapport.
• Ability to listen.
• Ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
• Ability to control frustration.
• Ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize,