Police Officer (Entry Level)

Police Officer (Entry Level)

Thank you for your interest in our Police Officer (Entry Level) position. The City of Selma is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of nearly 25,000 and is situated in the heart of California's Central Valley. The City provides a full-range of services to our citizens. To be considered for this outstanding career opportunity applicants must submit an application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a complete, detailed application. This is a "continuous recruitment" which means, we will accept applications on a continuous basis. When applicants pass the interview phase, their name will be placed on our Continuous Police Officer (Lateral) eligibility list. As candidates are added to the list, the rank order of candidates on the list, may change. Applicants may apply and interview only one time during a six-month period. FAILURE TO ATTACH REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO YOUR APPLICATION WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION.

A. PURPOSE: Under general supervision, protects life and property; performs law enforcement and crime prevention duties; controls traffic flow and enforces state and local traffic regulations; and performs related duties as required.

B. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This is the entry level class in the Police series. Position allocated to the class of Police Officer primarily are assigned patrol, traffic, and police-community relations duties.

C. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Protects the life and property of the general public;
• Patrols assigned areas of the city;
• Answers calls for the protection of life and private property and the enforcement of city, county and state laws;
• Conducts preliminary investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, holdups, vehicle accidents, deaths and suicides;
• Issues parking citations;
• Checks doors and windows of business firms at night;
• Investigaates suspicious persons and activities;
• Gives information and directions to the public;
• Investigaates complaints regarding juvenile and adult actions to determine if a crime has been committed;
• Prepares and submits crime reports;
• Directs traffic, including vehicle flow at fires, parades, funerals and other emergencies or congested situations;
• Stops drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of city and state laws;
• Issues citations and makes arrests as required;
• Prepares reports of arrests made, investigations conducted and illegal incidents observed;
• Appears in court as a prosecution witness and to assist in the presentation of the case;
• Apprehends and arrests suspects;
• Transports suspects to County Jail;
• Searches records to establish identification and prior criminal activity of suspects;
• Reviews case records and reports;
• Makes concentrated patrol of areas with a high crime incidence;
• Interviews and interrogates persons concerned in criminal cases; and
• Performs a variety of animal control and related duties.

D. ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 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, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. General and Specialized Job Knowledge and Abilities:

• General Knowledge of: English grammar, spelling and syntax; basic math.
• Specialized Knowledge of: City, state and federal laws and regulations; law enforcement procedures; law enforcement report writing; use of firearms; use of emergency equipment; high speed driving; broadcast procedures of a police radio system.
• Ability to: Observe and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents and places accurately while under stress and in emergency situations; use and care for firearms in a safe manner; think and act quickly in emergencies, judging situations and people accurately; learn, understand, interpret and apply laws and regulations; understand and carry out oral and written instructions; prepare concise and comprehensive written reports; learn and use a standard broadcasting police radio system in accordance with departmental procedures and FCC laws and regulations; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; meet standards of physical stature, endurance and agility as established by the City of Selma.

2. Resources, Including Money, Equipment, Materials and Records: Police records; reports; confidential records; patrol vehicle; police radio; firearms; other police equipment used in the apprehension and control of criminals.

3. Solving Problems: Determining when to make an arrest or issue a warning; resolution of family disputes; determining when to step into child custody problems; traffic and criminal activity investigations; how to work with and control gang problems; how to maintain control while maintaining the respect for the uniform; how to apprehend and subdue individuals without undue force.

4. Performance of Others: Other team members; rookies and P.O.S.T. interns.

5. Relations with:

• Internal Relations with: Other officers; Police Sergeant; Police Captain; Chief of Police; other City employees; members of the City Council.
• External Relations with: General public; other police agencies; child and adult protective services; fire departments; hospitals; parole officers; attorneys; court personnel.

6. Communications:

• Oral: Instructions; radio dispatch; communication with other officers.
• Written: Instructions; memos; reports; criminal records.
• Visual: Traffic situations; individual driver's performance; crime scenes; traffic accidents; injuries; weapons discharge; hand signals of fellow officers.
• Auditory: Traffic noises; movements of suspects in hiding; radio dispatch; communication between partner and fellow officers; sirens and horns.

7. Safety:

• Hazardous conditions: Driving at high speeds, in rain and at night; answering police calls; apprehending suspects; apprehending parolees; entering burning buildings; accident scenes; traffic control; working with injured who may be HIV positive; being fired upon.
• Frequency: Many times each shift.
• Consequence: From minor injury and abrasions up to and including death.

8. Tolerance of Job Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Heat and cold; dampness; loud noises; violence; smells; toxic chemicals; vicious dogs; long hours.

9. Physical Aptitude:

• High degree of hand/eye coordination and physical strength
• Minor to heavy lifting and strength required to subdue criminals, break into buildings, and restrain violent physical actions.

10. Application of Mental and Physical Effort: Requires concentration for extended periods of time and the ability to analyze and interpret data from a wide variety of sources; make correct decisions under stress; utilization of both strength and agility in the apprehension and subduing of individuals without undue force.

E. PREREQUISITES:

• Education and Experience: Any combination equivalent to graduation from high school and completion of P.O.S.T. training for police officers.
• Licenses, Registrations, Accreditation, etc.: Possession of a valid Class C California Motor Vehicle Operators License; certificate of completion of the P.O.S.T. Basic Academy; standard CPR and First Aid Certificates issued by the American Red Cross.