Police Officer (Lateral)

Police Officer

To promote community order and protect life and property through the preservation of public peace, prevention of crime, and enforcement of laws; and to provide technical support to an assigned supervisor.

Receives general supervision from a Police Sergeant.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Protect life and property by patrolling an assigned area of the City; respond to radio messages and appear at scenes of crime or emergency.
• Answer calls for service from citizens regarding criminal activity and other matters relating to the safety of the community.
• Make arrests; issue citations and verbal warnings; safely subdue suspects.
• Provide traffic control at accident or crime sites; investigate traffic accidents.
• Intervene in public or private disputes to protect the public and maintain order.
• Appear in court to give testimony as the arresting officer.
• Obtain criminal complaints; serve subpoenas and warrants; transport prisoners.
• Investigate crimes through contact with victims, suspects and witnesses; collect, process and store evidence.
• Document activities through complete, clear, and concise written reports and correspondence.
• Assist citizens, give directions, and promote community relations.
• Cooperate with other law enforcement agencies.
• Engages in community-based policing and collaborative problem solving in order to build trust and familiarization between law enforcement and community residents.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Foster an environment that embraces diversity, integrity, trust, and respect.
• Be an integral team player, which involves flexibility, cooperation, and communication.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Methods and procedures of police work, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation, jail operations, and records and reports.
• Safe and effective use of the tools and equipment used in police work.
• Relevant local, State, and Federal laws, rules and regulations related to area of assignment.
• Principles, practices and techniques of law enforcement, including apprehension of suspects, interviewing techniques, search and seizure, and preservation of evidence.
• Use and care of firearms.
• City geography.
• Community-based policing, intelligence-led policing, and other similar practices used to develop relationships with the community in order to best identify and solve public safety problems.

Ability to:

• Safely and effectively perform law enforcement functions and activities.
• Intermittently, review and evaluate documents related to department operations; observe, identify and problem solve office operations and procedures; understand, interpret and explain department policies and procedures; explain operations and problem solve issues for the public and with staff.
• On a continuous basis, stand at emergency scenes or sit at desk or in vehicle for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone; write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; lift or carry weight of 50 pounds or less; maintain appropriate physical condition to effect arrests, subdue resisting individuals, and chase fleeing subjects; run, jump, walk, crouch or crawl during emergency operations; move equipment and injured/deceased persons; climb stairs/ladders; and perform life-saving and rescue procedures.
• Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective and reasonable course of action.
• Write clear and accurate reports.
• Safely operate and maintain automobiles, equipment and firearms.
• Effectively deal with personal danger that may include exposure to armed/dangerous persons, dangerous animals, communicable diseases, hazards of emergency driving, hazards associated with traffic control and working in and near traffic, and natural and man-made disasters.
• Observe and remember places, names, faces and details of incidents.
• Use sound judgment in recognizing scope of authority.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computers and applicable software.
• Maintain regular attendance and adhere to prescribed work schedule to conduct job responsibilities.
• Utilize appropriate safety procedures and practices for assigned duties.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Experience: Two years of responsible experience involving sworn public safety.
• Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver's license. Possession of a Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certificate. A supplemental questionnaire is required to be completed by all applicants.