Police Recruit

Job Summary

The purpose of this position is to perform protective service work and enforce laws for the Town of Bluffton (Town). Duties include; enforcing laws; investigating criminal activity; ensuring safety of public; maintaining records and files; testifying in Court; and preparing reports.

Essential Job Functions

Attends and successfully completes the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA).

Completes the field training officer program which consists of:

• Operates patrol vehicle or walks to observe for violations of traffic laws, suspicious activities or persons, and disturbances of law and order; operates specialized police equipment; and maintains a visible police presence throughout the community.
• Interviews victims and witnesses; obtains additional information regarding crimes, accidents, violations, etc.
• Investigates crimes; collects evidence; and conducts searches.
• Responds to radio dispatches; answers calls and complaints; serves warrants, summons, etc.; and completes arrest records.
• Participates in illegal drug enforcement operations; conducts surveillance.
• Makes arrests; testifies in Court; and prepares incident and various special reports.
• Conducts traffic stops; enforces traffic laws; investigates accidents; issues traffic citations; directs traffic; and provides first responder medical assistance.
• Provides police escorts; directs traffic; and performs residential and commercial security checks.
• Participates in a variety of in-service and special training programs.
• Responds to and investigates domestic disputes; assists other law enforcement agencies when assigned.
• Reports dangers of defective streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, or other hazardous conditions.

May be assigned to collateral duty assignments such as school resource officer, investigations, etc.; works on assigned shifts.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent; and no experience required but some law enforcement experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid South Carolina driver's license.
• Possess a South Carolina Criminal Justice Training Academy (SCCJA) certification.

Special Requirements:

None.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of police methods, practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Police Department.
• Knowledge of the geography of the Town and location of important buildings.
• Skill in using firearms.
• Skill in operating a police vehicles.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationship with associates and the general public.
• Ability to carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to prepare clear reports,
• Ability to deal professionally, courteously, and fairly with the public.
• Ability to analyze situation.
• Ability to adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action when dealing with hazardous circumstances.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The work is light work. The employee is frequently required to apply 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The employee is occasionally required to exert up to 20 pounds of force to move objects. In addition, positions in this classification typically require balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, discriminating among sounds, kneeling, lifting, manual dexterity, mental acuity, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, expressing ideas by the spoken word, shouting to be heard above ambient noise, visual acuity to analyze data/work with color or depth perception/determine accuracy or observe facilities/operate motor vehicles or equipment/inspect defects or fabricate parts, and walking. Duties are regularly performed outdoors under various weather conditions with: exposure to fumes, airborne particles, and bloodborne pathogens; exposure to toxic substances, electrical hazards, and explosives; exposure to vibrations and loud noises (such as traffic); and occasionally working in cramped or high places. Work requires dealing with potentially hostile or violent individuals, performing strenuous tasks, or potentially wearing protective gear such as respirators. Duties are also performed in a moderately noisy business office with copy machines, phones, and printers along with some light foot traffic. This job requires working on various shifts as scheduled.

The Town of Bluffton has the right to revise this job description at any time. This description does not represent in any way a contract of employment. The Town of Bluffton commits to a policy of equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees, complying with local, state and federal laws. The Town's policy is to employ qualified persons without discrimination regarding race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, country of national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, political affiliation, ethnicity, or status in any other group protected by federal/state/local law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

Health and Dental Insurance

All regular full-time employees, employees who work 30 hours or more per week, and Town Council members are eligible to participate in the Town's health plan through the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA). If an employee elects to be covered, the cost for the coverage will be deducted from each paycheck. The Town covers the premiums for the employee portion of the State Health and the State Dental plans. The employee will be responsible for the cost of any additional dependent premiums selected.

Paid Time Off (PTO)

All regular full-time employees, employees who work 30 hours or more per week, will start accruing PTO on the first day of employment. PTO is a cumulative bank of time for sick days, vacation time, and bereavement leave.

Full-time employees will accrue PTO according to the following schedule:

• 0-5 years of employment: 5.2 hours / pay period
• 6-9 years of employment: 6.8 hours / pay period
• Over 9 years of employment: 8.32 hours / pay period

Holiday Pay

The Town of Bluffton offers 13 paid holidays and 1 personal day (8.5 hours):

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Presidents' Day
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving
• Heritage Day (Friday after Thanksgiving)
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day
• Personal Day

Paid Parental Leave

The Town of Bluffton will provide up to six weeks or two weeks of paid parental leave upon the occurrence of a qualifying event to employees who occupy a full-time position.

Milestone Anniversary Bonus

Employee will receive a monetary bonus once they have reached a milestone anniversary (5,10,15,…).

Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts are a tax-saving way to pay health care and dependent care expenses that you would typically pay out-of-pocket. Expenses such as deductibles, co payments, coinsurance, prescriptions, dental procedures and eyeglasses can quickly add up, and dependent care expenses can add up even more. The FSA's let you pay these expenses with pretax dollars.

Contributions are deducted from your pretax pay in equal amounts during the year. This means you save money, as contributions are not subject to Social Security tax, federal income tax or state income tax.

Medical Spending Accounts and Dependent Care Spending Account enrollments are only valid for one year and be re-enrolled during the Annual Open Enrollment Period in order to continue. Your account(s) will not automatically renew each year.

Pension Plans: South Carolina Retirement System or Police Officer Retirement System

All regular full-time and part-time employees and Town Council are required by law to join the South Carolina Retirement Systems. Seasonal and temporary employees have the option to opt out of the memberships.

The Town offers two plans for employees, the South Carolina Retirement