Auxiliary Police Officer

Overview

The purpose of this classification is to perform auxiliary police officer duties and municipal security work functions. Prior experience as a sworn law enforcement officer is required. An auxiliary police officer's sworn status and authority will be limited to only those hours and situations where they are in uniform and working directly for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, and in direct line with carrying out their duty as instructed by the Chief of Police.

Auxiliary Police Officers are not classified as a regular full time police patrol officer trainee, or a certified police officer or a rank thereof as defined in the Tuscaloosa Police and Fire Pension Plan and therefore are not eligible to participate in the Tuscaloosa Police and Fire Pension Plan. This position will be eligible to participate in the Retirement Systems of Alabama pension plan.

Responsibilities

• Enforces all city, state, and applicable federal laws, statutes, codes, ordinances and regulations to protect life and property and to prevent crime and promote security.
• Provide support services to law enforcement personnel, including responding to low priority calls for service; do not self-generate calls for service or perform traditional patrol officer functions unless extreme circumstances exist.
• Work under the direction of the Police Chief in ancillary positions to handle traditionally low risk situations, duties, and calls for service and maintain sworn status by completing annual firearms qualification and continuing education requirements per APOSTC and TPD regulations by attending prescribed training classes and qualifications through the TPD Training Division.
• Volunteer for special details as approved by the Police Chief; auxiliary officers are not required to respond to emergencies or be drafted for emergencies or special details.
• Work in uniform only; auxiliary officers are not allowed to work off-duty in a sworn officer status and may not work in plain clothes.
• Assist municipal personnel with access to areas and help as appropriate; maintain presence to preserve law and order and prevent or discover crime on municipal property.
• Respond to requests and complaints from law enforcement agencies and the public regarding municipal building safety, roadways, streetlights, traffic lights, and related problems.
• Operate a vehicle to patrol municipal facilities and perform security duties such as locking / unlocking gates.
• Log incoming calls and forward to appropriate personnel; take written reports when needed documenting incidents on or related to City of Tuscaloosa municipal property; maintain daily logs of activity and patrols.
• Open and secure buildings for authorized entries; utilize computers and related equipment (emails, Word documents).
• Patrol governmental buildings and municipal property by foot and vehicle; respond to requests from various departments as needed; monitor compliance with policies and procedures.
• Participate in training programs related to security procedures and policies; monitor surveillance camera feeds and record / playback as needed.
• Communicate professionally with municipal officials, employees and private citizens; liaise with police on safety issues on municipal property; assist vendors and third parties with access as appropriate.
• Maintain records and communicate information to other personnel using communications and computer equipment.
• Investigate malfunctions (e.g., temperature, lighting, open windows) and coordinate repairs; identify and submit building maintenance needs and work orders.
• Greet the public, answer calls, forward messages, and provide information about city operations, policies and procedures.
• Perform general office duties, including transcribing, editing, typing correspondence, compiling forms and reports, maintaining records, and managing filing systems.
• Answer phones, relay messages, locate appropriate on-call personnel, and dispatch service crews; research code numbers and prepare work orders.
• Open, sort, process and distribute incoming mail; prepare mail for sending; attend meetings and assist with special projects.
• Must accomplish essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations and participate in continuous quality improvement activities; maintain regular attendance and positive interpersonal relationships.

Qualifications

Physical and Other Requirements

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