Patrol Officer (Certified)

Patrol Officer (Certified) All Locations: New Castle, DE; Cape May, NJ; Lewes, DE Opening Date: April 20, 2026 • Closing Date: Until Filled 2025 Certified New Hire Salary: $67,876 (Annualized) 2025 FTO Completion Salary: $69,763 (Annualized) Position Summary The general responsibilities of a Patrol Officer include responding to calls for service, enforcing traffic and criminal laws, and operating police vehicles during routine patrols. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Engage in interpersonal communications with the public and co‑workers by promoting a professional and courteous environment. Participate with co‑workers and supervisors in the advancement of the team’s goals and objectives. Complete assigned and self‑initiated workloads. Efficiently analyze and organize information and evidence obtained during traffic and criminal investigations for prosecution purposes. Deliver emergency services to the public by responding to calls for service safely and promptly and by providing assistance to those in need. Protect the public, co‑workers and oneself from harm and injury by following established safety and security practices and by correcting or reporting safety or security hazards or risks. Handle the entire arrest procedure including examination, handcuffing, conducting a field search and guarding the arrestee to prevent escape or suicide. Exercise discretion in the use of deadly and non‑deadly force. Arraign a defendant and testify in court. Make NCIC, DELJIS, SCIC and CAD inquiries and conduct a full traffic collision investigation (interview witnesses, sketch and measure collision scenes, determine contributing factors and identify violations, etc.). Enforce motor vehicle laws. Possess the physical ability necessary to engage in physical confrontations using offensive and defensive tactics to subdue combative subjects. Work a 12‑hour rotating shift and adapt to irregular working conditions. Write different types of reports, including traffic reports, summonses and arrest reports. Identify public utility problems and report other road hazards. Assist motorists in need of assistance or in performing traffic direction and control. Utilize a variety of equipment in the performance of duties, including an automobile, communications center equipment, baton, breath‑testing instrument, computer terminal, fire extinguisher, flashlight, handcuffs, portable radio, police car radio, radar/laser unit, semi‑automatic pistol, shotgun, body armor and photographic equipment. Instruct suspects on the process to obtain an attorney, enforce court orders, respond to civil disputes, and testify in Family Court. Prepare search warrants, collect evidence, and inventory stolen property. Stand or walk continuously for more than half the work shift and walk on narrow, elevated surfaces. Prepare interdepartmental memorandums and daily operational reports and maintain daily logs. Clean and inspect firearms and perform random equipment inspections. Provide superior customer service to everyone by responding in a courteous and efficient manner. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of laws and departmental rules, regulations, and procedures, as well as other resource materials. Knowledge of weapons craft and demonstrable usable knowledge of court decisions. Skilled in the use of firearms and non‑lethal weapons. Able to drive in both emergency and non‑emergency conditions. Ability to communicate orally and in writing, cope with stressful situations, evaluate a situation, respond correctly, and apply appropriate discretion and common sense. Ability to provide excellent customer service. Minimum Qualifications United States citizen. At least twenty‑one (21) years of age. High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent. Minimum uncorrected vision no greater than 20/200 in each eye and correctable with lenses to 20/20; able to distinguish between the colors red, green and amber. Height and weight in proper proportion; must be in excellent cardiovascular physical condition. Required Experience One (1) year of satisfactory employment as a full‑time Certified Police Officer; two (2) years preferred. Preferred Qualifications Completion of at least sixty (60) college credits from an accredited institution; or at least two (2) years of active‑duty military service with an honorable discharge. Licenses, Registrations, and/or Certificates Current valid driver’s license and at least one (1) year of driving experience. Any prior driving suspension or revocation requires one (1) year of reinstatement. Certified police officer (evaluation of academy courses and hours completed will determine eligibility). Criminal Record and Activity Any felony conviction is an automatic disqualification. Any criminal activity that would be considered a felony under Delaware law or the law of the state where the activity occurred is a disqualification. Arrests resulting in conviction must be pardoned prior to submission of an application; applicants are encouraged to apply for expungement of non‑conviction arrests. Drug Usage Use of any illegal drug within two years prior to application, or any prior use of a hallucinogenic drug, is an automatic disqualification. All other drug use, including illegal use of prescribed drugs, is subject to review. Additional Requirements Background investigation, pre‑employment physical, drug testing, fitness testing, psychological testing and medical/criminal polygraph. Direct deposit with a financial institution or enrollment in the payroll card program to receive biweekly pay. The Delaware River & Bay Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA)