Police Officer - POST Grad or Lateral Transfer

Police Officer - Post Grad Or Lateral Transfer

The City of Atascadero is now accepting applications for a Police Officer - Post Grad Or Lateral Transfer. If you are passionate about law enforcement and seeking a dynamic and supportive environment to further your career, we encourage you to apply. Join us in shaping the future of policing in Atascadero.

Welcome to the Atascadero Police Department – where modern-day policing meets a distinctive and rewarding employee culture. Aspiring law enforcement officers will find an exceptional environment that prioritizes cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment, reflecting our commitment to providing our officers with the best tools for effective and efficient policing.

In addition to a competitive salary and comprehensive health coverage, our department takes pride in offering an extensive employee wellness program. This program is carefully crafted to enhance the physical and mental well-being of our team members. It encompasses access to fitness resources, mental health support, wellness workshops, and various initiatives designed to foster a healthy work-life balance. We firmly believe in investing in the overall wellness of our employees, creating a positive and thriving workplace environment.

At the Atascadero Police Department, we adopt a proactive approach to crime reduction. This strategy involves leveraging predictive analytics, community policing, and early intervention techniques. Specifically tailored for individuals not yet certified as law enforcement officers, our open positions offer a unique opportunity. Selected candidates will undergo training at a POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) certified Law Enforcement Academy, ensuring they receive comprehensive and standardized training to meet the demanding requirements of the job.

General Purpose: Under general supervision, patrols an assigned area in the prevention of crime and enforcement of law and order, carries out special assignments related to departmental operations or law enforcement in general, participates in community oriented policing activities, performs related duties as required.

• On assigned, rotating shifts, patrols designated areas either in a vehicle, on a bicycle or on foot, enforces City, County, and State laws, conducts both preliminary and follow-up investigations, responds to calls for service, makes field contacts, completes forms, serves warrants and subpoenas, works traffic accident scenes, and performs other general police functions.
• Makes arrests as necessary, interviews victims, complainants and witnesses, interrogates suspects, gathers and preserves evidence, receives, searches and books prisoners, fingerprints and transports prisoners, testifies and presents evidence in court.
• Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the investigation of crimes and the apprehension of offenders. Writes reports and field notes, participates in staff development, and attends briefings and training sessions.
• Assists the public and answers questions, administers first aid and responds to calls for medical assistance, establishes and maintains good relationships with the public.
• May participate in or be assigned to special programs such as canine, traffic unit, investigations, or school resource officer as a rotating assignment.
• Attends and/or schedules meetings within the community to foster communication with citizen's groups and individuals.
• Participates in community-based policing; must be familiar with and work to promote positive interactions between law enforcement and all members of the community. Participates in community activities.
• Engages in collaborative partnerships with community members and organizations to be part of developing solutions to problems and to increase trust in the department.
• Coordinates police activities within any given beat or other geographical area;
• Participates in and coordinates other City Departments' teamwork. Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications:

• Must be at least twenty-one years of age at time of appointment.
• Possess a High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Weight in proportion to height, vision correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses supplied by the applicant, and normal depth perception.
• Possess Certificate of Completion from an accredited basic P.O.S.T Academy
• Must possess or be eligible for a valid First Aid Certificate issued by the American Red Cross and verified completion of an approved CPR course within one year of the appointment.
• Must meet all other current requirements in keeping with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.
• Must possess a valid Class C California Driver's License.
• Must meet the Department's Fitness for Duty standards as defined in the Policy Manual.
• In addition to the above qualifications, Lateral Police Officer applicants must possess a Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate and have a minimum of two years of full-time experience, as defined in Section 830.1 of the California Penal Code, with a California law enforcement agency.
• Must be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition, including bias against race or ethnicity, gender, nationality, religion, disability, or sexual preference that might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.

Abilities and Skills Required:

• Ability to analyze situations quickly and effectively, interpret the application of criminal law, department policy, and standard procedures, perform training and/or give guidance as needed, identify and assume control of situations that require intervention.
• Interact effectively with the community, liaison groups and their representatives, other governmental agencies, coworkers, and management;
• Organize and prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports, utilizing basic typing and personal computer skills.
• Clearly communicate in a concise, legible and comprehensive manner, including reading, writing and oral communication in English; ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with supervisor(s), coworkers and the public; effectively communicate with local citizens and understand the community.
• Deal with a variety of culturally sensitive issues and proactively engage in collaborative partnerships with diverse individuals, groups, community members and organizations.
• Use firearms; react quickly and calmly in emergencies; and to exercise good judgement in personal encounters and relationships with the public.
• As trained and required, ability to operate patrol vehicle, police radio, radar gun, handgun and other weapons as required, baton, handcuffs, first aid equipment, cellular telephone, mobile computer and desktop computer including records management and word processing software.

Special Requirements:

• Pursuant to California Labor Code Section 3211.9, service is essential in times of extreme emergency or disaster. For this reason, State law designates public employees as "Disaster Service Workers". As such and even when off-duty, this position may be required to return to duty in case of emergency or disaster.
• Ability to meet department's physical standards;
• Must be a United States Citizen or hold status of "Permanent Resident."

Tools and Equipment Used:

Police vehicles of varying types, radios, radar equipment, handgun and other weapons and ammunition as required, baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, first aid equipment, personal computer and related software, flares, mace, pepper spray, pens/pencils, keys and locks, bicycles, other standard office equipment, flashlights, telephones, video and audio recording equipment, small tools, and other tools and equipment as necessary.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. Occasionally required to stand, walk, run, use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste, smell, feel or touch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions, day or night. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City:

The Atascadero Police Department serves the City of Atascadero, which is a small, beautiful California central coast community located in San Luis Obispo County. We have a population of 30,000 residing in an area just under 27 square miles. Our community is a great place to live, work and raise a family! We are situated along Highway 101,