Police Officer

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION The Patrol Officer is responsible for protection of life and property, prevention of crimes, apprehension of criminals and the general enforcement of laws and ordinances. Duties normally consist of routine patrol, preliminary investigation and traffic regulation. To provide a safe environment for citizens and visitors and to answer calls for service ranging from friendly assists to highly stressful and dangerous incidents. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Performs preventive patrol in assigned areas, both in vehicle and on foot. Enforces state Laws and City ordinances. Operates motor vehicles while on patrol in a safe manner for extended periods of time in all environmental conditions and on occasion operate the vehicle at high speeds and in congested traffic situations. 2. Continually observes for and responds to criminal activity, safety hazards, traffic violations, persons needing assistance, etc. Conducts interviews and interrogations of victims, witnesses, suspects and offenders as the situation deems necessary. Identifies, collects, processes, packages and logs physical evidence. 3. Makes arrests on criminal and traffic related offenses including DWI detection and apprehension. Use of radar equipment and proper operation. Defends self and others by engaging in actual physical combat if necessary and to subdue resistive arrestees. Conducts searches of persons, places, vehicles and other articles. 4. Becomes familiar with patrol districts, geographical locations, known offenders, neighborhood routines, and potential problem areas. Conducts security inspections and surveys buildings and businesses; handles complaints made by the public; conducts preliminary and follow‑up investigations as necessary. 5. Seeks and serves arrest warrants, search warrants and other court documents. Assists various prosecutors and attorneys in preparation of cases for trial; assists judges during court sessions; testifies clearly and truthfully in front of a judge and jury in court or court related proceedings. 6. Directs and controls vehicular and pedestrian traffic by use of hand signals and/or illumination tools. Provides traffic control for blocked traffic, parades, accidents, special events; provides crowd control, security and information during special events. 7. Cleans and fires a variety of police weapons, including pistols, rifles and shotguns both in the field and to meet department standards of proficiency. 8. Types on mobile computer terminal in police vehicle as a means of gathering and exchanging information. Completes traffic/criminal citations issued to violators of city and state laws. Investigates traffic accidents and reports on the electronic system. 9. Views potentially heinous crime scenes and identifies/preserves physical evidence of a crime. 10. Types complete narrative reports as required in the performance of duty. 11. Responds to and deals with domestic disputes and resolves issues in a way that minimizes harm to the disputing parties. 12. Deals with children of all ages in a variety of situations, such as delinquents, minors requiring authoritative intervention, neglected, abused, runaways, lost, found, victims of crimes, public relations and instructional functions and informants. 13. Directs civilian employees and the public at the scenes of crimes, accidents, disasters, assemblies, etc. 14. Determines “probable cause” in making arrest of individuals; completes paperwork for those arrests, felony and misdemeanor cases. 15. Ensures affidavits of probable cause are completed, signed, notarized, and forwarded to the jail and prosecutors if needed. 16. Determines when and under what circumstances to use less‑lethal or deadly force. 17. Searches, arrests, and transports suspects. 18. Administers first aid when needed and coordinates emergency personnel and resources in crisis situations. 19. Acts as public relations officer for the city and fosters good relationships with businesses, schools, etc. 20. Performs desk duties, including telecommunications (telephone, computer terminal, and radio), assisting persons at the station, processing reports. 21. Attends training as assigned; develops and maintains required skills and licenses/permits/certifications associated with the area of special investigation, expertise, etc. 22. Police officer is involved with regular and irregular shift work and shift rotations necessary to provide police services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year (weekends and holidays included). 23. Submits timesheets to shift supervisor at the end of the corresponding pay period no later than 0800 the following Monday. 24. Keeps assigned fleet vehicle and issued equipment properly cleaned and serviced at regular intervals. 25. Files reports by end of watch to assigned supervisor. 26. Performs any other related duties as required or assigned. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE High school or GED, plus specialized schooling and/or on the job education in a specific skill area; e.g. data processing, clerical/administrative, equipment operation, etc, plus 12 to 18 months related experience and/or training, and 7 to 11 months related management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. COMMUNICATION SKILLS Ability to read and understand documents such as policy manuals, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals; ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to effectively communicate information and respond to questions in person‑to‑person and small group situations with customers, clients, general public and other employees of the organization. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of known variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram formats. REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Must possess a valid Arkansas Driver’s License and Basic Law Enforcement Training Certification. PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS Not indicated. SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED Basic: Database, Word Processing/Typing INITIATIVE AND INGENUITY Not specified. SUPERVISION RECEIVED Under direction where a definite objective is set up and the employee plans and arranges own work, referring only unusual cases to supervisor. PLANNING Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner, and/or sequence of performance of own work; may also occasionally assist in the planning of work assignments performed by others within a limited area of operation. DECISION MAKING Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision‑making of minor importance and also frequent opportunity for decision‑making of major importance; the latter of which would affect the work operations of other employees and/or clientele to a moderate degree. MENTAL DEMAND Close mental demand. Operations requiring close and continuous attention for control of operations. Operations requiring intermittent direct thinking to determine or select the most applicable way of handling situations regarding the organization’s administration and operations; also to determine or select material and equipment where highly variable sequences are involved. ANALYTICAL ABILITY / PROBLEM SOLVING Moderately structured. Fairly broad activities using moderately structured procedures with only generally guided supervision. Interpolation of learned things in somewhat varied situations. RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORK OF OTHERS Not indicated. RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUNDS, PROPERTY and EQUIPMENT Occasionally responsible for organization’s property where carelessness, error, or misappropriation would result in moderate damage or moderate monetary loss to the organization. The total value for the above would range from $5,000 to $150,000. ACCURACY Probable errors would not likely be detected until they reached another department, office or patron, and would then require considerable time and effort to correct the situation. Frequently, possibility of error that would affect the organization’s prestige and relationship with the public to a limited extent, but where succeeding operations or supervision would normally preclude the possibility of a serious situation arising as a result of the error or decision. ACCOUNTABILITY Not specified. FREEDOM TO ACT Directed. Freedom to complete duties as defined by wide‑ranging policies and precedents with mid to upper‑level managerial oversight. ANNUAL MONETARY IMPACT The amount of annual dollars generated based on the job’s essential duties / responsibilities. Examples would include direct dollar generation, departmental budget, proper handling of organization funds, expense control, savings from new techniques or reduction in manpower. None. Job does not create any dollar monetary impact for the organization. IMPACT ON END RESULTS Moderate impact. Job has a definite impact on the organization’s end results. Participates with others in taking action for a department and/or total organization. PUBLIC CONTACT Regular contacts with patrons where the contacts are initiated by the employee. Involves both furnishing and obtaining information and, also, attempting to influence the decisions of those persons contacted. Contacts of considerable importance and of such nature, that failure to exercise proper judgment may result in important tangible or intangible losses to the organization. EMPLOYEE CONTACT Contacts with other departments or offices and also frequently with individuals in middle level positions; consulting on problems which necessitate judgment and tact in presentation to obtain cooperation or approval of action to be taken. Also, important contacts with associates as required in advanced supervisory jobs. USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS Regular use of highly complex machines and equipment; specialized or advanced software programs. WORKING CONDITIONS Outside or inside working environment, wherein there are potential hazardous working conditions and life‑threatening situations exist (fire, chemicals, electrical sources, heights, dangerous people, etc.) all the time per job duties and responsibilities. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions; and occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, work in high, precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. Moderate diversity, moderately physical. Work activities which allow for a moderate amount of diversity in the performance of tasks which requires somewhat diversified physical demands of the employee. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, talk or hear; and frequently required to stand, walk; occasionally required to sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; depth perception; and ability to adjust focus. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION USE OF EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS Must be proficient in the use of a personal computer, firearms, radio and other specialized law enforcement equipment as needed. OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES Ability to utilize both internal and external resources to obtain information and data necessary to carry out routine assignments and special projects. Must have ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with management and staff. Must not have a recent criminal record of any kind and before selection into this position, must be able to withstand a complete background investigation, possible polygraph examination and credit history report and in addition, must complete a physical and mental evaluation as part of the employment requirements within thirty days of hiring date. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to grasp, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The incumbent must be able to perform the following; physical and mental stamina to fire weapons, react and move rapidly from sedentary to active condition in response to environmental situations, assume a variety of bodily positions and postures necessary to employ “cover and concealment” during a deadly force encounter, respond to a physical attack and possess the ability to escape attacker, subdue attacker and/or summon aid. Must be able to react quickly and efficiently in all emergencies, natural or man‑caused disasters. WORK ENVIRONMENT 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. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions, moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; works with explosives; risk of radiation; and risk of vibration. The noise level in the work environment is sometimes loud. The work of a commissioned police officer involves an element of personal danger. Police officer must be able to exercise sound, independent judgment under stress. Assignments may include work on special tasks which call upon specialized abilities and knowledge possessed by the officer. Work assignments can be general or specific and special instructions are received from a supervisor who reviews work methods and results through reports, personal inspection and discussion. Job Type: Full‑time Benefits Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Professional development assistance Retirement plan Vision insurance Application Question(s) Are you currently a certified law enforcement officer. Ability to Commute Centerton, AR 72719 (Required) Ability to Relocate Centerton, AR 72719: Relocate before starting work (Required) Work Location: In person #J-18808-Ljbffr