Certified Police Officer

Police Officer

Under general supervision, responsible for performing a variety of law enforcement and crime prevention duties and may be assigned to any functional area to include patrol, investigations, or administration. Reports to the Police Sergeant.

Provides general public assistance involving non-criminal activities such as traffic accidents, street hazards, and other potential problems and hazards requiring law enforcement intervention; and collaborates with the community in addressing problems.

Patrols and responds to a variety of criminal activities requiring law enforcement, intervention such as homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, property crimes, domestic violence, vice and narcotics related activities, crimes by and against juveniles, and other crimes; evaluates situation and determines the most appropriate course of action.

Pursues or apprehends suspects and criminals; makes arrests which may involve physically restraining or subduing individual(s) and possible use of deadly force; interviews and interrogates victims, witnesses, suspects, and other contact persons; and protects the crime scene for processing; and processes suspects.

Assists senior officers at crime scenes; makes detailed search and analysis of crime scene using various technical procedures, including photography, fingerprint detection and identification, casting of footprints, etc.

Performs administrative duties in law enforcement, planning, and operations including preparing and presenting court testimony; training; maintaining associated case files; preparing and completing forms, narrative reports, and correspondence; appears in court as witness to give testimony in court concerning investigation results and evidence obtained.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

The employee has a general knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures and investigative techniques, as well as having knowledge of local, state and federal laws relative to civil and criminal processes and procedures. The officer must have a command of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the city. The employee has a general knowledge of both the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them. He or she is skilled in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment, as well as being able to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action. The employee is able to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations. The employee is able to prepare clear and concise reports. The employee must be able to present court testimony effectively, as well as be able to exercise tact and firmness in contact with the general public. The employee must maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Graduation from high school or GED; and at least 1 year of credited service as a police officer.

Selected applicants must be available to work all assigned shifts. This will include day shift or night shift.

Requires a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Certification.

If certified out of state, then must be able to obtain a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Certification within one (1) year of employment.

Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; sex offender registry and credit check.

Requires satisfactory results from a medical, psychological evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

Must obtain and maintain for continued employment U.S. Citizenship prior to appointment as a Police Officer; all State requirements for Police Officers as specified in Virginia Code; all federal and state requirements to carry a firearm; may require certifications such as Breathalyzer certification.

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Must be able to wear a standard issued duty belt with all applicable gear.

Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a motor vehicle, a variety of firearms and defense devices, a two-way radio, typewriter, calculator, copier, etc. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical requirements of the job are those rated for Heavy Work.