Police Officer

Police Officer

Salary can vary depending on certifications/qualifications: Police Officer $50,980.80 Police Officer I $53,539.20 Police Officer II $56,201.60 Senior Police Officer $61,963.20 Corporal $65,062.40

Performs responsible law enforcement work to protect life and property in the City.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class performs a full range of general law enforcement duties. Work includes patrolling the City during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot; responding to calls for assistance; preventing, detecting and investigating disturbances and crime; performing traffic control work; performing accident control; apprehending suspects; serving warrants; and executing related assignments. Employee must exercise judgment, initiative and calm control when performing duties. 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 superior officers. Employees normally work on shifts and are subject to hazards associated with law enforcement work including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as dangerous persons, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids. Work is subject to the final OSHA standards on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under general supervision and is evaluated through observation, monitoring radio traffic, discussion, and review of reports for adherence to laws, department procedures, and proper judgment.

This is a generic specification for the Police Officer classification. Work performed by employees at different levels may be similar and will be distinguished only by the level of attainment in the career ladder in the Kinston Police Department career development program. This specification does not provide specific examples of all possible work that might be performed by this class. Specific duties may be found in the department's standard operating procedures.

Essential Functions

• Patrols the City in a police car or on foot; 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.
• Responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
• Investigates traffic accidents; issues traffic citations; directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities; may enforce parking regulations.
• Performs investigations of possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks and secures crime scenes, arrests and processes criminal suspects; presents findings in court.
• Serves warrants and criminal summons; apprehends and processes criminal suspects and transports to magistrate and/or County detention facilities; serves subpoenas.
• Investigates alarms, noise and disturbances and trespassing calls for service; responds to narcotics overdoses, juvenile issues, and domestic disturbances.
• Prepares incident, accident, and arrest reports and records of activities; enters into the records management system.
• Presents evidence and testimony in court hearings of prepared cases.
• Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times as needed.
• Participates in community-oriented policing activities and special City events and community activities.
• Advises the public on laws and local ordinances; performs business and house checks; assists stranded motorists; gives information and directions to visitors and the general public; assists fire and emergency medical staff with incident response; assists the public with emergency conditions; participates in storm preparation and mitigation as needed.
• Establishes effective working relationships with businesses and citizens; participates in crime prevention programming.
• Operates a two-way radio and/or a cell phone to receive instructions and information from or to report information to police department; maintains vehicle, weapons and other equipment in standard working order; utilizes specialized law enforcement software for information and records production.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Minimum Qualifications

Considerable knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances and policies of the police department, especially relating to search and seizure, traffic control, pursuit, and arrest.

Considerable knowledge of the geographical layout of the City.

Working knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods and equipment.

Working knowledge of law enforcement technology, equipment, vehicles and tools.

Some knowledge of scientific crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures.

Some knowledge of the application of information technology to the work.

Skill in the use of firearms and other police equipment and in the application of self-defense and de-escalation tactics, teamwork and collaborative conflict resolution.

Skill in the interpretation and application of federal, state, and local policies, codes, and laws.

Skill in analyzing problems and identifying solutions.

Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.

Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.

Ability to present effective court testimony.

Ability to prepare clear, concise and accurate reports.

Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with citizens.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, court personnel and other public officials.

Desirable Experience and Education

Graduation from high school and completion of basic law enforcement training; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements

Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license.

Certification by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Commission for certified law enforcement officers.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to physically perform the basic life functions of climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, and hearing and repetitive motions. Must be able to perform heavy work exerting 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move an object. Must possess the visual acuity to operate a police vehicle and computer, distinguish details and differences when observing people, places, or things on patrol, take measurements and recognize colors and shapes for identification purposes.