Police Officer

Overview

The Police Officer performs a variety of duties related to the protection of public health, safety, and welfare and the enforcement of applicable federal, state, and local laws; provides traffic enforcement and control; and carries out special assignments in a particular phase of police work.

This is an entry / journey level class responsible for performance of the full scope of assigned law enforcement duties and responsibilities. New incumbents may have limited related experience but are expected to learn the full range of duties and responsibilities, perform duties with minimal direct supervision, and exercise sound judgment and discretion in making decisions.

Responsibilities

• Patrols assigned areas of the City to preserve law and order, discover and prevent commission of crimes, and enforce traffic and other laws and ordinances; maintains awareness of and remains alert for wanted suspects, known criminals, stolen vehicles, missing persons, traffic violators, and crimes in progress; makes arrests; issues warnings and citations.
• Responds to calls for the protection of life and property, the enforcement of laws and ordinances, general public service calls, and complaints including those involving automobile accidents, traffic hazards, misdemeanor and felony incidents, domestic disturbances, health code and local ordinance violations, property control, civil complaints, and related incidents; responds to and provides assistance at a variety of public service type calls that are non-criminal in nature.
• Conducts initial and follow-up investigations at scenes of incidents to which summoned or observed; determines what, if any, crime has been committed; collects, preserves, processes, photographs, and books evidence; locates and interviews victims and witnesses; identifies and interrogates suspects.
• Prepares and serves search and arrest warrants; apprehends and arrests offenders for crimes committed under federal, state, and local laws and codes; controls and mitigates people under the influence of drugs or alcohol or other potentially hostile situations.
• Directs traffic at special events or emergency situations; provides traffic and crowd control at community and emergency events.

Education / Training

License or Certificate

Desirable Qualifications

Positions assigned to the Police Department will be required to pass a thorough background investigation, including polygraph testing, and must be able to maintain the same level of security as when first hired as a condition of continued employment. Assignments to the Police Department will require successful completion of a comprehensive pre-employment psychological and medical examination prior to employment.

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