Police Officer

Description

An employee in this class performs a full range of general law enforcement duties. Work includes patrolling the Town during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot; preventing, detecting and investigating disturbances and crime; performing traffic control work; performing parking control; apprehending suspects; and executing related assignments. Work may also include assignment as a School Resource Officer (SRO).

Employees must exercise judgment, initiative and calm control when performing duties. Work involves frequent public contact which requires tact, firmness and decisiveness. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from superior officers. Employees normally work on shifts and are subject to hazards associated with law enforcement work including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as dangerous persons, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids.

Work is subject to the final OSHA standards on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under general supervision and is evaluated through observation, monitoring radio traffic, discussion, and review of reports for adherence to laws, department procedures, and proper judgment.

• Patrols streets in a police car or on foot; checks doors and windows; examines premises of unoccupied residences or buildings; detects unusual conditions, may maintain surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects; reports dangerous or defective streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, or other hazardous conditions.
• Responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted; responds to fire and emergency medical calls to assist first responders; responds to beach patrol needs.
• Investigates traffic accidents; issues traffic citations; directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities; enforces parking regulations.
• Performs investigations of possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks and secures crime scenes, arrests and processes criminal suspects; presents findings in court.
• Serves warrants; apprehends and processes criminal suspects and transports to magistrate and/or County detention facilities.
• Investigates alarms, noise and disturbances and trespassing calls for service; responds to narcotics overdoses, juvenile issues, and domestic disturbances.
• Prepares records and reports of activities; enters into the records management system.
• Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times as needed.
• Operates a two-way radio and/or a cell phone to receive instructions and information from or to report information to police headquarters; maintains vehicle, weapons and other equipment in standard working order; utilizes specialized law enforcement software for information and records production.
• Advise the public on laws and local ordinances; perform business and house checks; assist stranded motorists; give information and directions to visitors and the general public; assist fire and emergency medical staff with incident response; handle basic animal leash and nuisance issues; assist the public with emergency conditions; participate in storm preparation and mitigation as needed; serve papers as needed.
• Establishes effective working relationships with businesses and citizens in assigned zone; participate in community…