Patrol Officer

Job Description

Job Description

Applicants must be TCOLE licensed or currently attending a Law Enforcement Academy to be considered-

Job Summary/Objective:

The Patrol Officer is responsible for general patrol duties within the City of Dayton, which includes responding to calls for service as well as a routine patrol. This position is required to operate a city vehicle and is considered a safety-sensitive position.

Essential Job Functions:

• Arrests and processes offenders with outstanding warrants
• Responds to calls for service as directed by the dispatcher or supervisors
• Conducts preliminary and entire investigations of offenses
• Response to crimes in progress dispatched and observed
• Enforces traffic laws including stopping vehicles, writing citations, making arrests, conducting field sobriety tests, obtaining wreckers, and completing necessary reports

• Collects and preserves evidence at crime scenes and traffic accidents
• Investigates traffic accidents
• Prepares reports as required including offense, supplemental, DWI, arrest, and juvenile
• Patrols the city for observed violations of criminal and traffic laws
• Directs traffic at accidents, fires, emergencies, and disasters
• Makes arrests in accordance with current laws and department policy
• Attends training, as required, including driving, firearms, defensive tactics, and classroom
• Provides assistance to persons in need in accordance with department policies and procedures

• Lawfully arrests persons using appropriate levels of force ranging from verbal persuasion to deadly force

• Provides testimony in court, before the grand jury, and in any other legal administrative proceedings

• Works in conjunction with other public safety services, such as fire departments, EMS, and any other municipal, state, or federal law enforcement agencies

• Performs other related duties as required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to  effectively communicate in oral and written communications
• Ability to operate commercial telephones and a two-way radio
• Ability to use office equipment including calculator, copier, fax machine, computer, printer, etc.
• Ability to respond to work with minimal notice for emergencies
• Ability to perform duties in all types of weather and lighting conditions
• Ability and skill to operate a law enforcement emergency vehicle, as well as the following equipment: vehicle radio, portable radio, spotlight, and emergency equipment consisting of lights and siren

• Ability to carry on one’s person, as well as the ability and skill to operate equipment such as a handgun (must be able to shoot, reload, and maintain this weapon), handcuffs, flashlight, chemical irritant spray, and baton

• Ability to drag and/or carry people and items, climb, crawl, lift and run
• Ability to interview people in various emotional states, record the information, disseminate the information to others, and write reports

• Ability to think clearly, plan a course of action to meet changing situations, possess versatility and the ability to adapt to varying situations, and to respond quickly and correctly during a period of high stress and danger

• Ability to direct traffic by hand signals and/or flashlight

Required Education and Experience:  

• Minimum 21 years of age
• Current and valid Texas Peace Officer License issued by TCOLE
• Valid Texas Driver’s License
• No felony convictions and no convictions for offenses involving moral turpitude
• Able to successfully pass security background investigations and drug screening examinations on a random and/or specific basis

Preferred Education and Experience:

One year of Patrol Officer experience.

Supervisory Responsibility: 

This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.  

Physical Demands:

Physical requirements include visual acuity, speech, and hearing; hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer, keyboard, phones, photocopier, fax machine, and basic office equipment.  The position is subject to sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, and standing to perform the essential functions. 

Note:

This job description is intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position.  Duties, responsibilities, and actions may change at any time without prior notice.