POLICE CADET

Police Cadet Program

The Police Cadet program is designed to educate and train future Police Officers. Police Cadets will attend and successfully complete a Basic Police Officer Training Program at a department authorized New Mexico Regional Satellite Academy. Basic Training is the mechanism through which those entering the law enforcement profession are trained and prepared to serve the citizens of the State of New Mexico and safeguard the stability of our society. This is a non-sworn, non-represented, civilian classification, specifically designed to train police officer candidates for eligibility as a sworn police officer with promotion to the position of police officer contingent upon satisfactory completion of police academy training and meeting all other requirements. Position requires full-time attendance at a New Mexico Regional Satellite Academy to prepare the cadet to assume the responsibilities of a police officer upon completion of the academy. Work may also include performing non-sworn police related tasks directly for the Police Department during non-academy hours. Academy training progress is reviewed by designated academy staff. Non-academy work performed at the Police Department is reviewed through written reports, inspections, and observations of results achieved by superior officers. Police Cadets receive their commissions upon successful completion of the police academy and are then certified as peace officers by the State of New Mexico.

Essential Duties

• Regular attendance is required to perform the duties of this position
• Attends a New Mexico Regional Satellite Academy designated by the City of Hobbs to obtain formal training in police work associated with public safety and the protection of life and property.
• May perform non-sworn work in the Police Department's detention operation, field division, property and evidence handling, service desk, community relations, Code Enforcement or any other designated department area as assigned.
• Learns to patrol assigned areas; learns to answers special calls; conducts initial and follow-up investigations; interviews victims, complainants, and witnesses; learns to answer complaints, including domestic disturbances, health code, and local ordinance violations; learns to perform surveillance activities; learns procedures for conducting chemical, drug, and alcohol testing; learns to investigate suspicious circumstances.
• Learns to enforce traffic laws; learns methods for conducting complete accident investigations; controls and directs traffic when necessary; performs crowd control, special event or riot duties; may learn and assist in crime prevention activities and the control of juvenile delinquency; counsels and educates the community; administers first aid in cases of emergency; transports, books and is responsible for the care and custody of detained persons.
• Learns procedures to obtain and process evidence; takes written statements; prepares and/or dictates required reports and maintains investigative records; serves warrants and subpoenas; may testify in court proceedings; provides information and referrals in non-criminal situations; contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies as warranted.
• Failure to successfully complete the New Mexico Regional Satellite Academy Basic Police Officer Training Program and/or licensing exam at the end of the training program may result in termination.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent required.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Bilingual skills are preferred; however, all applicants must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking English.
• Qualify for and satisfactorily meet the ongoing standards of a New Mexico Regional Satellite Academy.
• Learn to apply the technical, legal, administrative, and human principals involved in modern police work.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine the proper course of action including emergency situations.
• Cope with situations firmly, courteously and tactfully, with respect for the rights of others.
• Obtain information through interview, interrogation and observation and to understand and execute oral and written instructions.
• Express ideas clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing and to prepare comprehensive records and reports.
• Develop a skill and proficiency in the use and handling of firearms.
• Work effectively with co-workers, supervisor, and the public.
• Ability to learn the city's geography.
• Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition and ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers and supervisors;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions; Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Must meet New Mexico Department of Public Safety requirements for the position.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Police vehicle, police radio, radar unit, handgun and other weapons as required, baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, pager, first aid equipment, copy machine, personal computer, flashlight, hand tools.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Valid State issued Driver's License
• CPR/First Aid certification

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of Police Academy staff and/or a Police Sergeant.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The majority of the time, heavy physical activity is not required. However, a Police Officer needs to be able to actively respond to any situation in which the public or an officer may be in danger. The ability to physically interact with another person, including restraint, arrest, rescue, and defense of the employee or others is an essential function of the job.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, run, lift, talk and hear. The employee is routinely required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, and feel objects, tools, and controls; reach with hands and arms; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste and smell. The employee must be able to operate all authorized and issued weapons, equipment and motor vehicle.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move heavy objects or people. The minimum physical limits are specified in the Protocol for Job Specific Tasks and standards set by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. These are simulated through a series of job specific tasks designed to ensure the employee can lift 70 pounds floor to knuckle and 40 pounds knuckle to shoulder; lift and move a 150 pound dummy onto a stretcher, quickly run up and down three flights of stairs without exceeding 80 percent of the Maximum Percentage of Heart Rate (MPHR), successfully climb over a five foot wall, crawl 25 feet at a continuous pace, and walk the length of a 4 inch wide beam six times. The employee may also be required to complete the following fitness screening in specified times which are gender and age normed: push-ups, sit-ups, mile and a half run, flexibility and 300-meter run.

Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Minimum vision abilities set by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy are as follows: uncorrected distance vision should be no more than 20/100, correctable to at least 20/30; near vision correctable to at least 20/40; color vision correct reading of at least nine or more of the first thirteen plates of the Ishihara test; depth perception should be sufficient to demonstrate normal stereo depth perception with/without correction to the standard-100 ARC seconds. Minimal hearing acuity should be the average hearing level at the test frequencies, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz will not exceed 25dB in either ear, and no single hearing level will exceed 30dB at any of these test frequencies in either ear. Hearing loss at 3000Hz will not exceed 40dB HL in either ear. State or New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy requirements shall be the minimum standards applicable.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places, and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, or extreme cold, extreme heat, and some vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Hazards consist of possible life-threatening situations