Police Officer

Police Officer (Lateral/Academy Graduate)

The City of Winters is located in the southwestern corner of Yolo County, just east of Lake Berryessa and the Blue Ridge Coastal Range. Just thirty miles from Sacramento and an hour to the San Francisco Bay, Winters is perfectly situated in the countryside with convenient access to suburban and metropolitan areas.

Winters has a current population of approximately 8,500 residents. It is known for its friendly, small-town atmosphere, community events and easy access to outdoor activities. Its charming, historic downtown boasts one of the more vibrant downtowns in Northern California, including farm to table restaurants, wineries, breweries, coffee houses, and boutiques. Winters is a highly desirable location to live and raise families and the city is expecting a 30%+ population growth within the next few years.

The Winters Police Department enjoys widespread support from the community and elected officials. The Police Department operates from a modern public safety facility and focuses on providing staff with the highest quality equipment as well as ample training opportunities.

Primary duties of officers are patrol-related; however, ancillary opportunities include participation in regional SWAT/CNT/Crown Control teams, in-house firearms/DT/EVOC instructors, Investigations, Bicycle and e-motorcycle patrol, Cadet Advisor, and more.

Typical Duties & Responsibilities

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responds to emergency and non-emergency public service calls and complaints. Patrols an assigned area by vehicle, bicycle or on foot. Assists other officers as well as city, county, state, or federal officials as needed. Conducts public assembly checks, building security checks, and checks of other public areas. Enforce federal, state, and municipal violations. Preserves the peace in the community including at public and private gatherings, and at repossessions of property.
• Apprehends or makes physical arrests of persons suspected of violating the law or wanted by the police by forceful and non-forceful means. Completes detailed reports on crimes, contacts and arrests made, traffic accidents and recovery of property. Assures safe and competent handling of firearms and equipment, including department vehicles.
• Preserves good relationships with the public and communicates with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems. Develops, promotes, and participates in crime prevention, community outreach and public education programs, events, and activities, and acts as departmental representative to community organizations. Answers general questions asked by the public.
• Assists persons with mental and/or physical disabilities or lost persons in need of police assistance. Renders assistance or first aid to citizens who are seriously ill or injured and requests additional emergency medical assistance, as necessary. Identifies and contacts suspicious adults and juveniles. Counsels' juveniles and adults when necessary and refers them to other persons or agencies for further assistance.
• Conducts criminal and crime scene investigations, including the collection, processing, preservation, recording and storing of physical and/or digital or computer-based evidence. Processes crime scenes for latent fingerprints, DNA, and other evidence. Photograph's crime scenes and evidence using still and video cameras. Identifies and collects evidence from other sources. Prepares crime scene sketches, as necessary. Interviews and takes statements from victims, complainants, suspects, and witnesses. Makes court appearances, testifies, and presents evidence in court or other proceedings during on duty and off duty hours.
• Performs traffic control duties including initial and follow up traffic collision investigations, vehicle abatement, parking enforcement, and hazard reporting and/or removal. Report's streetlights and traffic signals out of order and other safety problems. Directs traffic at special events, emergency, or high congestion situations. Stops vehicles operating dangerously or illegally and enforces vehicle and municipal code violations.
• Searches for lost and missing persons, and property; performs inventory searches of seized vehicles, vessels, and aircraft. Conducts mechanical, vehicle identification and registration inspections, and conducts correction verifications. Guards and transports seized evidence, found and stolen property, victims, witnesses, and arrested persons.
• Serves writs, court subpoenas and arrest warrants on officers and employees within the department and on victims, witnesses, suspects, and agents of outside agencies. Witnesses blood tests administered to suspects arrested for driving while intoxicated.
• Operates a variety of motor vehicles; services and maintains assigned police vehicle. Operates a wide variety of law enforcement equipment, including radio and communications equipment to transmit to and receive information from Police personnel using a coded response system; and computer terminals and printers to create and retrieve a wide variety of police reports and records.
• Attends briefings, meetings, seminars, and training activities. Discusses crime problems, administrative issues, and other general information. Reviews department policies, general orders, operating procedures, criminal law changes, crime maps and other related information.
• Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to Police Department business. Performs special projects and assignments as required. May act as a field training officer for new employees and may work in specialty assignments as assigned.
• Participates in inspections of uniforms, equipment, and general appearance.
• Makes public presentations, as required.

Supervision Received & Exercised:

• During Field Training Program, receives immediate supervision from a Field Training Officer and general supervision from a Police Sergeant.
• After successful completion of Field Training Program, receives direct supervision from a Police Sergeant and general supervision and direction from the Chief of Police.
• Exercises no direct supervision but may provide functional supervision to other officers when assigned as a Field Training Officer or as primary responding officer.

Qualifications

The minimum peace officer selection standards are set forth in Government Code Sections 1029 and 1031. Police Officers for the City of Winters must be:

• Free of any felony convictions
• A citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship
• At least 21 years of age
• Fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record.
• Of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation.
• A high school graduate, pass the General Education Development test or other high school equivalency test approved by the California Department of Education (C.D.E.), or have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited or approved institution.
• Found to be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
• Possess a valid California Class C Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record as a condition of initial and continued employment
• Graduate from Basic POST Academy by date of hire.
• Must successfully complete the Winters Police Department Field Training Program and obtain P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate as a condition of continued employment.

Additional Qualifications:

• Knowledge of: English usage, grammar, punctuation, and spelling; general practices of basic report writing.
• Principles and practices of law enforcement, crime investigation and prevention, and officer safety
• The functions of and organization of municipal law enforcement agencies
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws and ordinances
• Principles and practices of providing public services
• Interviewing techniques; techniques for conflict resolution; techniques for effective interpersonal communications
• Modern office procedures and methods including computer keyboard operation
• Safe driving principles and practices; safe work practices; geography and efficient vehicle navigation of local area

Ability to:

• Apply principles of law enforcement
• Understand, interpret, and apply pertinent laws, codes, ordinances, policies and procedures, principles, practices, and methods
• Learn city and department policies and procedures
• Remain calm, make decisions, and take appropriate action in stressful or emergency conditions; diffuse angry or emotional people and mediate conflict
• Work independently for long periods of time
• Drive and handle police vehicles and related equipment; Respond to urgent matters and emergency situations
• Perform multiple tasks concurrently
• Spanish bilingual skills are highly desirable

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Physical Demands: Work may include: prolonged sitting, moderate to heavy lifting (from 25lbs-100lbs+), reaching, climbing, stooping, twisting, grasping, crawling, pulling and pushing activities. The