POLICE OFFICER - CERTIFIED

JOB SUMMARY

This person in this position is responsible for performing a full range of law enforcement duties in the patrol, community policing, crime prevention, traffic enforcement and school safety and security functions of the City of Douglasville Police Department. The incumbent may be assigned temporarily to a specialty area within the department based on needs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

POLICE OFFICER

• Maintains law and order and protects life and property to include: Patrols assigned geographic area;
• Receives and responds to dispatched calls;
• Investigates and takes appropriate action on assigned calls;
• Conducts security checks of businesses, parks, public buildings, industrial areas and residences; Serves as a counselor for domestic disputes; Issues citations and/or makes arrests for violations of laws including traffic violations and local ordinances;
• Prepares incident and accident reports;
• Attends and testifies in various levels of court, including Superior, State, Juvenile, Administrative and Municipal, on cases investigated or reports written;
• Responds to natural and man-made disasters;
• Locates defendants and serves criminal warrants;
• Assists with crowd control and security assignments at various public gatherings or incident scenes;
• Reports hazardous conditions on public roadways and bridges;
• Conducts surveillance;
• Provides assistance to the public as needed;
• Provides information and guidance regarding victims' rights;
• Assesses victims, rendering aid to the injured prior to EMS arrival;
• Requests assistance of other agencies including emergency and towing services;
• Processes arrested persons following established procedures;
• Renders aid to other law enforcement personnel;
• Attends/participates in daily roll call including inspection and training prior to going on duty;
• Participates in training programs to improve knowledge and skills; May serve on the SWAT team;
• Performs a minimum of twenty training hours to include firearms and legal updates;
• Transports inmates to and from medical facilities;
• Works with public, civic organizations, etc. in conducting community activities;
• Performs specialized short or long term assignments including administrative, technical and investigative duties as required;

K-9

• Uses K-9 to maintain law and order and protect life and property;
• Handles K-9 when performing duties such as locating illegal drugs, area searches, locating evidence, tracking suspects, clearing buildings, crowd control and other duties when necessary;
• Performs patrol officer duties.

FIND UNIT PATROL

• Performs criminal investigations on the interstate for the purpose of stopping the transport of narcotics;
• Interviews suspects; Searches vehicles as necessary;
• Collects evidence; Processes crime scene;
• Apprehends criminals;
• Contacts federal agencies as necessary;
• Enforces traffic laws;
• Assists stranded motorists;

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Requires a High School Diploma or Equivalent.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of law enforcement concepts and terminology, including criminal investigation, law enforcement and crime prevention; first-aid principles and techniques; report preparation and record keeping; and human behavior theories related to criminology, crisis intervention and crowd control;
• Knowledge of laws and court decisions pertaining to law enforcement, including search and seizure, suspect and prisoners' rights, and custody and protection of evidence; operational principles and practices of criminal investigation, law enforcement and crime prevention; court and trial procedures;
• Knowledge of the use and effects of law enforcement weapons; methods of self-defense and physical restraint;
• Knowledge of City of Douglasville Police Department policies and procedures and geographic layout of City;
• Knowledge of vocabulary of technical/specialized fields of law enforcement such as identification, detention and pathology;
• Skilled in learning, interpreting, applying and explaining complex laws and regulations;
• Skilled in reading and interpreting documents such as maps, diagrams and textbooks;
• Skilled in performing accurate mathematical calculations; comprehending and retaining factual information and applying what is learned;
• Skilled in observing and remembering details of events, names, faces, numbers and physical descriptions; preparing and maintaining clear, accurate and concise reports and files;
• Skilled in communicating effectively in both oral and written form;
• Skilled in exercising tact, self-restraint, judgment and strategy in dealing with people of all races, ethnicities and socio-economic groups and who may have emotional or physical difficulties;
• Skilled in exercising sound independent judgment in emergency or stressful situations; correctly interpreting a given situation and taking appropriate action under a variety of conditions;
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies;
• Ability to operate a computer and various programs;
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Ability to obtain higher education requirements, as necessary;
• Ability to complete a 40-hour police motorcycle school and attend recertification training twice a year and complete 120 hours of accident investigation schooling within the first year of assignment to the unit, as required if assigned to Motor duty;
• Ability to become certified to operate radar and laser speed detection devices;
• Ability to complete K9 school, as required if assigned to K-9;
• Ability to gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts and evidence and to draw sound conclusions; working ability to obtain valid information by interview and interrogation;
• Ability to work rotating shifts, varying hours and be on call 24/7.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The employee is regularly required to: Have visual acuity in both eyes, normal color vision, good accommodation and no field deficits; Hear in-person, radio and telephone conversations; Recognize differences or changes in sound patterns, loudness or pitch; Speak audibly and clearly; identify and distinguish smells of different materials; Sit or stand for prolonged periods; Walk, run, kneel, stoop, crawl and crouch; Make precise and coordinated finger, hand and limb movements; Maintain uniform, controlled hand-arm posture or movement; Push, pull or drag an adult (averaging 160 pounds); Lift and carry boxes of evidence (average 50 pounds); Use force to restrain/subdue others; Work efficiently for long periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a variety of field and office settings and may require exposure to dangerous and life-threatening situations. Must be willing to carry a firearm on and off the job; mentally and physically capable of taking the life of another, if justified; willing to work any hour of the day or night (shift work), overtime, weekends, on call and holidays; work at any location in the City and travel on specific assignments.