Police Officer Trainee

City Sponsored Recruit Training Program

General work as a City sponsored student enrolled in a basic recruit training program at one of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) certified training schools. The work consists of related trainee law enforcement duties. The purpose of this position is to become trained to participate in patrol or investigative activities or in the performance of specialized and technical police functions. Success in this position results in the enforcement of laws and the increased safety of life and property in the City of Miami Beach.

Illustrative Examples of Essential Duties

• Timely attends and participates in all lectures, demonstrations, applications, formations, inspections, examinations, and any other gatherings conducted as a part of Basic Law Enforcement Courses and remedial training.
• Studies, comprehends, retains, and successfully demonstrates attained knowledge and skills garnered from all lectures, texts, material, data, and any other sources of information on subjects presented by the institute.
• Successfully demonstrates proficiency in all the designated high liability areas.
• Maintains a healthy physical condition and demonstrates the skills necessary to agilely accomplish arduous and aqueous tasks, goals, assignments, etc.
• Adapts and adheres to the conduct and attitudes required by training advisors, instructors, and administrators of the basic recruit training program at the CJSTC certified training school.
• Is appropriately attired at all times as designated by the institute's Trainee Orientation Manual.
• Performs and submits related work as required.

Contacts are typically with other institute instructors and administrators, other trainees, law enforcement personnel, and the general public. Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, resolve problems, and provide services.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities include:

• Ability to study, comprehend, retain, and successfully demonstrate knowledge of various fields of law enforcement in the curricula of regularly scheduled Basic Law Enforcement Courses, or remedial academic or remedial in all high liability areas at a basic recruit training program at the CJSTC certified training school.
• Ability to achieve and maintain a physical condition and skills to successfully complete any and all physical requirements included within those courses or training.
• Ability to become proficient in all high liability areas.
• Ability to adjust behavior patterns and attitudes.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions, orders, and regulations.
• Ability to maintain working relationships with peers and supervisors.
• Ability to demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity in the community.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, coworkers, the press the general public and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds regardless of race, religion, age, sex, disability, political affiliation, gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Ability to serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the letter and spirit of all city ethics and conflicts of interest policies. Strong understanding of ethical behavior is required.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.
• Ability to report to work as directed during an emergency as an essential employee of the City of Miami Beach
• Performs related work as required

Guidelines include Southeast Florida Institute of Criminal Justice standards and requirements; federal laws and regulations; Florida State Statutes; Miami-Dade County ordinances; City of Miami Beach ordinances; and Departmental Standard Operating Procedures. These guidelines are generally clear and specific, but may require some interpretation in application.

Minimum Requirements

• Be at least 21 years of age at the time of hire.
• Have a U.S. high school diploma or equivalent. Equivalence of non-U.S. education must be approved by the State of Florida's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
• Meet one of the following criteria:
  1. Possess a Bachelor's Degree; or
  2. Have completed three years of active duty military service with an honorable discharge; or
  3. Be at least 23 years old at the time of hire with three years of verifiable, satisfactory, continuous and/or progressive employment.
• Be a United States citizen prior to appointment. Fla. Stat 943.13 (2). Applicants who are not United States citizens must have applied for citizenship by the time they submit their application.
• Not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States. Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement is not eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication. Notwithstanding this subsection, any person who has pled nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving a false statement, prior to December 1, 1985, and has had such record sealed or expunged shall not be deemed ineligible for employment or appointment as an officer.
• Must meet all of the requirements during the background investigation, to include drug testing.
• The applicant must meet all physical requirements listed above, and must pass a physical examination by the City's licensed physician.
• Must pass State guidelines as determined by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for entrance into the police academy. Currently an individual must pass a Commission-approved Behavioral Abilities Test (BAT) prior to entering a basic recruit training program.)
• Complete a course of basic recruit training approved by the CJSTC unless exempt and achieved an acceptable score on the officer certification exam in accordance with Florida Statutes. Fla. Stat. 943.13(9) and (10).
• Comply with Section 943.135, Florida Statutes, and CJSTC continuing training and education requirements. Fla Stat. 943.13(11).
• Possess a valid Florida driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Bonus Points:

• Current City of Miami Beach employee and in good standing (2 bonus point)
• Current City of Miami Beach resident (1 bonus point)
• Emergency Medical Technician and/or National Registry Emergency Medical Technician certification (1 bonus point)
• Master's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university (5 bonus points)

Please make sure to reference the applicant handbook section on bonus points and submit the required supporting documentation. If you fail to submit the require documentation at the time of application, bonus points will not be awarded. You MUST download the following documents: (click on the titles of documents to download) 1) Applicant Information Handbook (Download PDF reader) - important information and detailed description of the application and selection process. Applicants are responsible for reading, knowing and complying with all the information provided in the handbook. 2) Agreement to Urinalysis (Download PDF reader) - MUST be signed and submitted with application. 3) Documentation Checklist (Download PDF reader) - To assist with the application process. APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITHOUT PROPER REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION WILL BE DEEMED INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment:

• Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact.
• Have no worse than 20/100 vision rating in each eye, correctable to 20/30.
• Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as, but not limited to, word processor, calculator, copier, and fax machine.
• Some crawling, reaching, handling, sitting, standing, pushing, and pulling.
• Physical capability to pass police physical agility entrance tests.
• Physical capability to run, walk, and climb over rough and unfamiliar terrain, fences and other obstacles for extended periods of time.
• Bend, accessing attics, crawl spaces, and other recesses of buildings.
• Operate motor vehicle for long periods of time.
• Ability to control persons resisting arrest; to move a disabled or combative individual.

For all positions:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, coworkers, the press the general public and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds regardless of race, religion, age, sex