Police Officer

Police Officer

If you are interested in joining an honorable and noble profession that makes a difference in the lives of those who live, work, and attend school or visit our community, come join our team as a Police Officer. The City of Bastrop Police Department is a cohesive, collaborative team of professionals dedicated to providing our community exceptional public service and possess a willingness and compassion to work together with the citizens of Bastrop to maintain a healthy and safe community. The Department has a full-time staff of 31 sworn police officers and 6 civilian support staff. Under direct supervision of a Patrol Sergeant, performs a wide variety of police and law enforcement activities. Tasks are service and protection oriented, and include collecting and dispensing information, arbitrating disputes, providing assistance, protecting and recovering property, preventing crime and providing other public protection services. Incumbents perform duties in accordance with state and local laws and ordinances, as well as established departmental policies, procedures, and guidelines. The incumbent must be able to act without close supervision and must be able to exercise independent judgment. Performs related work as required.

Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responds to calls for police service and takes action upon observing a circumstance or situation requiring police attention, i.e., traffic accidents, DWI/DUID suspects, domestic disputes and disturbances, disputes among neighbors, criminal complaints.
• Serves and arrests suspects on warrants; serves search warrants.
• Interviews witnesses, victims, suspects, arrested persons, and informants to obtain pertinent information concerning accidents/crimes.
• Provides assistance and service to the public, i.e., changing tires, directing traffic, etc.
• Responds to emergencies, burglary and fire alarms, robbery in progress calls, and performs initial building searches.
• Performs or assists with scene control in all situations, i.e., fire, EMS, traffic accident.
• Conducts initial crime scene investigations, i.e., identifies and collects crucial evidence to be secured for processing, labels evidence with data for crime scene reconstruction, packages and stores evidence in a manner to protect chain of custody.
• Enforces laws and apprehends misdemeanor and felony violators and fugitives; arrests and transports persons found to have committed a criminal act.
• Testifies in civil, juvenile, traffic, and criminal court proceedings.
• Performs considerable report and record maintenance duties, i.e., traffic citations, family violence reports, subpoenas, daily activities, statements, vehicle impounds, inventory and search, property receipts and dispositions.
• Maintain current knowledge of changes in laws, new methods of enforcement, and other trends and developments in law enforcement by attending in-service workshops and training.

Bastrop Police Department requires a Personal History Statement be completed and submitted with your application. Please click the following link and upload it under "Attachments" in your application.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: • Working knowledge of applicable federal laws, state statutes, and local ordinances. • Working knowledge of crime prevention techniques. • Working knowledge of principles and techniques employed in crime scene investigations. • Working knowledge of principles and techniques employed in accident investigations. • Working knowledge of report and record maintenance principles and practices. • Considerable knowledge of care and safe operation practices for a variety of firearms and impact weapons. • Skill in the operation of motorized vehicles under all conditions. • Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions. • Ability to communicate effectively with superiors and the general public. • Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, and to determine proper courses of action within the established framework of policies and procedures. • Ability to learn the geography of the City and surrounding areas. • Ability to maintain composure under emergency situations, and to work effectively under stressful conditions. • Ability to exercise discretion.

Education, Training and Licenses/Certifications: • Basic Peace Officer certification from TCOLE. • A valid Texas Class C Driver's License with an acceptable driving record to be maintained throughout employment. • Required to complete all Incident Command Trainings.

Other Requirements: • Regular and consistent attendance for the assigned work hours is essential. • Must be able to work holidays, weekends, or after hours for special events, meetings, or during emergency situations as required.

Physical Demands and Working Environment: Standing, sitting, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching handling, fine dexterity, kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, twisting, climbing, balancing vision, hearing, talking, use of foot controls. Exposure to weather extremes, smoke from fires, risk of physical abuse or wounds, noise exposure during firearms training or use.

Employment is contingent on passing post-offer, pre-employment drug testing and criminal background investigations.

The City of Bastrop is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO) and values diversity in its workforce. As an EEO employer, the City will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, veteran status or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

In addition to a competitive salary, the City provides a generous Comprehensive Benefits package that includes a mandatory retirement plan through Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) at a 7% employee deposit rate with a municipal matching ratio of 2:1 at retirement, a voluntary 457 plan, as well as comprehensive medical coverage, Health Savings Account (HSA), life insurance, paid vacation, paid sick leave and 13 paid holidays. The City pays 100% of employee medical and dental insurance and contributes 50% to dependent coverage.

Current Starting Salary & Benefits (Salary based on a 12-hour shift): Police Officer, less than 5 years of police experience $62,222 annually. Senior Police Officer, 5 years or more of police experience $68,516 annually.

Additional Pay:

• Night Shift Differential Pay
• Certification Pay: Intermediate Peace Officer License $ 600 annually Advanced Peace Officer License $1200 annually Master Peace Officer License $1800 annually

• Sign-on Bonus: $5,000 after completing 3-years of continuous service / additional $5,000 after completing 6-years of continuous service.
• Education Pay: BA $125 per month; Masters $175 per month
• Bi-Lingual Pay: $100 per month