Police Officer

Police Officer Position

Police Officers are responsible for providing protection of life and property within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Palm Beach. Work activities include responding to calls for service and/or emergencies, including calls which are of a criminal nature; crime prevention and suppression; investigation of crimes and criminal activity; apprehending violators of State and Local Laws and Ordinances; preparing official reports and other documents, including legal affidavits, summonses, and citations; performing first aid and/or other assistance to injured persons, mentally or physically handicapped, persons stranded or lost motorists, and others who may need aid or assistance. Officers are required to maintain physical skills necessary to perform job tasks; retain Police Standards Certification and certification in firearms and other lethal/non-lethal weapons, as required.

Key Responsibilities

Preserves the peace by responding to calls for assistance involving altercations between people, including but not limited to domestic disturbances, fighting, and neighborhood disputes; performs crowd and traffic control; enforces state and local laws and ordinances relating to keeping of the peace; provides foot patrol to residential and business areas in order to maintain community relations.

Protects life by responding to calls for service and emergency assistance; renders aid to the physically injured, handicapped, and others requiring assistance, including but not limited to victims of accidents, criminal incidents, drowning or other water related incidents, and mental or physical disabilities; investigates safety hazards and take action to correct potential problem areas, including road hazards, defects, and environmental hazards.

Protects property by performing security checks of residences and businesses, physically walking through residential areas and viewing all areas of buildings to insure their physical integrity; observes potential of real hazards including but not limited to natural disasters, fires, alarms, gas leaks, hazardous material spills, roadway debris, and other structure and infrastructure defects, and take corrective action by contacting proper authorities for assistance and/or securing areas through the use of barricades of other devices; takes found property into custody for safekeeping.

Investigates violations of state laws and local ordinances, and arrests violators using the degree of force necessary in accordance with state law and department policy; secures and protects crime scenes in order to identify and collect any physical evidence present; obtains descriptions of suspects and vehicles involved in crimes or criminal activity; enforces traffic laws on order to curtail violations which endanger lives and property, including excessive speed, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and careless driving.

Prepares incident and accident reports, affidavits, citations, legal documents, memorandums, and other job related forms and documents; prepares and testifies in court as to report information and action taken; uses computers to enter and query information as necessary in the performance of official duties.

Participates in job related training and course to maintain skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to perform duties, including continued Police Standards Certification, certification in lethal and non-lethal weapons, and other job related areas as required.

Maintains physical condition necessary to perform official duties and day to day operations, and to operate job related equipment, including lethal and non-lethal weapons, radios, handcuffs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, water rescue apparatus, crime scene kits, and other equipment as needed.

Performs service related activities including assistance to broken down, lost, or locked out motorists, animal complaints, nuisance calls, and other calls for service as warranted.

Drives and operates police vehicles in routine and emergency situations, including normal day to day driving, emergency responses to calls and high speed pursuits of offending vehicles.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications

Must be Florida Certified Police Officer, United States citizen, 19 years of age or older.

If not Florida certified, the hiree must successfully complete any academic requirements as set forth in F.S.S Chapter 943.

Must not have ever been arrested for a crime classified as a felony or have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

Any military service must have been completed with an honorable discharge.

Must possess a valid Florida Driver License or the ability to obtain same within 30 days of employment.

Must not have any tattoo, body ornamentation, body art piercing (other than small hole ear piercings), or intentional disfigurement on the neck, face, head, or that would be visible when wearing a standard uniform consisting of short-sleeved collared shirt, uniform trousers, or uniform shorts.

Must not have used any tobacco products in the last 12 months, including electronic cigarettes and vapor devices.

Skills and Competencies

Knowledge and skills to make sound decisions during emergency conditions.

Ability to observe situations analytically, competently, concisely, and objectively and record them clearly.

Ability to enforce laws, ordinances and regulations with firmness, tact and impartiality.

Ability to develop skills in the care and use of firearms.

Ability to safely operate and care for a motor vehicle or bicycle under both routine and emergency conditions.

Benefits

This is an non-exempt position paid on an hourly basis which is eligible for overtime. The Town of Palm Beach offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, prescription, dental and other supplementary benefits. Refer to the Police Benefits Page for more information on these programs. The Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation is a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Town of Palm Beach First Responders and the community at large. Please see this website for information on benefits the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation offers to our first responders outside of the Town's benefit.