Police Officer

Police Officer

Hourly Wage: $26.00

Dept: Police

Exempt: No

Reports to: Police Sgt.

Hours: 42 per week

This is highly responsible, independent work of a critical, high-hazard nature, protecting the life and property, health and welfare of citizens. This position's primary tasks include enforcing the law, apprehending violators and preventing crime. Work is performed under the immediate direction and control of a Sergeant or a Commander and is reviewed and inspected, formally and informally, on a continuous basis for compliance with the prescribed agency policies and procedures.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Attends meetings, roll calls, briefings, squad meetings, division meetings, etc., at the direction of the Sergeant.
• Develops and maintains good working liaison with agencies contacted during the course of assigned duties.
• Insures that equipment and vehicles used are properly maintained.
• Reports unsafe working and equipment/vehicle conditions.
• Maintains safe work practices and habits.
• Cooperates with other department personnel.
• Requests teletype checks or wants warrants, driver's licenses, criminal histories, registrations, etc.
• Uses K-9 dogs to track suspects, search buildings, check the scene of burglaries and performs narcotic searches.
• Requests records checks. (such as firearms, stolen equipment, vehicles, etc.)
• Makes arrests and completes attendant booking procedures and paperwork.
• Interviews persons. (Suspects, citizens, informants, etc.)
• Interrogates apprehends and restrains suspects.
• Detains people and vehicles, conducts traffic stops, felony stops, field frisk, strip search, also searches in buildings, grounds vehicles, people, evidence and contraband, etc.
• Performs building checks. (vacation house checks and building security)
• Coordinates activities at scenes of accidents, crimes or incidents.
• Protects chain of evidence.
• Packages, seals and labels evidence.
• Preserves evidence, transports evidence and property.
• Makes court and court-related appearances as required.
• Testifies at trials, hearings, and grand juries.
• Meets with attorneys.
• Investigates abandoned vehicles.
• Calls for supplementary aid. (wrecker, ambulance, rescue, back-up officer, etc.)
• Prepares reports, forms, and required paperwork.
• Collects descriptions of property, persons and sequence of events.
• Establishes identity of suspects.
• Directs and controls vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
• Estimates and records motor vehicles and property damage at accidents and incidents.
• Conducts accident investigations.
• Controls disorderly or irate persons.
• Secures and protects crime scenes.
• Provides general police services not involving criminal acts such as calls for assistance.
• Identifies possible leads.
• Monitors obedience to traffic control devices.
• Responsible for the care and custody of evidence including transportation to and from the laboratory.
• Takes photographs and fingerprints.
• Performs video surveillance, drug testing and destruction of seized property or evidence, film processing and photo printing.
• Participates in the execution of search warrants.
• Conducts routine patrol of residential, commercial, rural areas as well as roadways and waterways.
• Responds to emergency and non-emergency calls and requests for service.
• Reports hazards and problems observed.
• Criminal investigation of assigned cases.
• Preparation of cases to be presented in court.
• Checks pawn shop receipts against stolen property lists.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualification requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) is required. The applicant must meet minimum employment requirements as established by Florida Statues for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. The applicant must have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician based on established specifications. The applicant must possess a valid Florida driver's license and a clean driving record.

Language Skills:

The applicant must have the ability to establish and maintain effective public and employee relations. The applicant must also possess ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships with officials and employees of the various municipal departments.

Reasoning Ability:

The applicant must demonstrate the ability to plan, organize, and direct people and other resources. The applicant must have the ability to plan and conduct research projects, and must be able to work independently and to exercise good judgment. The applicant must be able to communicate both orally and in writing. The employee must be able to speak and deal directly with the public in an amiable manner, and be able to communicate under times of emergencies.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to understand and execute complex oral and written instructions.
• Good observation and memory capabilities.
• Excellent physical condition.
• The ability to act firmly and courteously with the public and subordinates.
• Dependability.
• Some knowledge of law enforcement practices.
• Knowledge of the geography of the City.
• Ability to be alert, calm and decisive in emergency situations.

Work Environment/ADA:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach, climb, walk, stand, kneel, bend, stoop, throw, drive, taste, balance, crawl, push and smell. The employee may work outside in various weather conditions, in or with moving vehicles and/or equipment, with heights, radiant energy, electrical energy, grease or oils, solvents, chemicals, and in dusty or noisy conditions.

Lifting: No more than 45 Pounds

Environment: Office or outside in various weather conditions

Vision: 20/20 or Corrected to 20/100

Hearing: Normal to High Noise Levels