Patrol Officer

General Duties

Perform responsible police work involving the protection and safety of the community through community policing, problem solving, crime prevention, arrests, enforcement of laws and ordinances, and provision of emergency services as required.

Works under the direct supervision of the Patrol Sergeant and general supervision of the Lieutenant. Duties may vary by position and assignment.

• Establish partnerships between the officers, the police department, and with the community to prevent, reduce or decrease opportunities for crime and to improve quality of life.
• Actively promote community policing, problem‑oriented policing and proactive policing within the assigned area and the community.
• Seek out, identify and serve as a catalyst for opportunities to use problem‑solving techniques such as directed enforcement, education, and partnerships with residents and community groups to address neighborhood or community concerns.
• Evaluate crime patterns and quality of life issues within the assigned area and direct police initiatives to improve these issues.
• Participate in community meetings such as neighborhood watch, police/community dialogues, neighborhood associations, civic groups, schools and agency meetings to discuss and address fear of crime and promote quality of life.
• Patrol the community to protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, enforce laws and resolve quality of life issues.
• Conduct legal searches, apprehend and arrest law violators, prepare reports of incidents and arrests, and safely transport suspects and prisoners in accordance with department policy.
• Assist in the prosecution of law violators and testify in court as the arresting or investigating officer or as a witness; complete reports related to legal processes.
• Conduct preliminary and follow‑up investigations or assist detectives with more extensive investigations.
• Prepare complete and accurate reports and forms on all criminal, animal‑control and non‑criminal matters.
• Collect and preserve evidence; take photographs of and preserve crime scenes and assume custody of impounded property and vehicles as appropriate.
• Respond to calls for service for criminal and non‑criminal activity, take action and mediate disputes as necessary, prepare required reports, and advise victims and complainants of process and actions taken.
• Respond to accidents, fires and other emergencies, assist with rescue, provide emergency first‑responder treatment, control the scene, and direct traffic flow.
• Interview witnesses, victims and suspects, take statements as appropriate, conduct interrogations, and refer victims and survivors to other agencies and community groups for additional assistance as appropriate.
• Attend roll call, review shift logs and obtain other relevant information that occurred within the last 24 hours.
• Assist and cooperate with other department members and outside agencies such as neighboring counties, communities and the State Highway Patrol as needed.
• Maintain crowd control and proactively resolve and mediate disputes in citizens' homes, places of business or other public gathering places to prevent crime, ensure public safety and promote quality of life.
• Operate and assist in maintaining all equipment and vehicles used by the department.
• Keep firearms clean and operating, and maintain skills and proficiency in firearm use, self‑defense, use of force, pursuit driving and first‑responder duties as required by the Minnesota POST Board or department.
• May be assigned special work assignments such as School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Firearms or Use of Force Instructor, Bike Patrol, SWAT, Evidence Officer, canine officer or other.
• Perform building checks for businesses to ensure the buildings are secure and no vandalism or break‑ins have occurred.
• Notify residents of serious injuries, accidents or deaths of relatives.
• Remove hazards in roadways or contact public works staff; locate and remove stray animals and transport to the animal pound.
• Attend required and/or elective training as directed.
• Perform other duties as needed or assigned.

• Considerable knowledge of police…