Police Officer; Certified​/Experienced

POLICE OFFICER

to view the OPD Career webpage

Department: Police Reports to: Lt. /Sergeant

Summary: Under basic supervision, provides professional, responsive, and courteous police services for the Odessa Police Department (OPD); responds to calls for service, enforces laws and ordinances, prevents crime, and maintains peace and public order in the community; basic duties include patrol, interventions, investigations, surveillance, traffic regulation; may act as trainer, team leader, and technical specialist in area of expertise.

Essential Functions: Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Enforces state and federal laws, and City regulations; identifies, prevents, and terminates unlawful activities using experience and technical training; performs work according to OPD policies to preserve the peace, solve problems, and provide the highest quality police services; duties will vary according to job assignment.

• Performs duties of Police Officer and assists OPD officers in the performance of their duties; may act as a team leader, training officer or technical specialist; participates in complex crime prevention, investigation, intervention and enforcement activities.

• Patrols the City, looking for unusual and suspicious activities and persons; recognizes criminal activities and suspects, and uses reasonable cause to stop vehicles and initiate contact with persons of interest.

• Responds to emergency and non-emergency calls for service; investigates, documents, and resolves citizen complaints, traffic incidents, crimes, and dangerous and illegal activities; interrogates and communicates with victims, witnesses, and suspects in cases; provides scene security for emergency services personnel.

• Responds to citizens' requests for assistance, enforces traffic regulations and safety issues, apprehends violators, and assures public safety; applies laws and regulations fairly and consistently.

• Investigates crimes and accidents; secures and processes crime and accident scenes and identifies and collects evidence; arrests law violators; transports and processes suspects, victims, and prisoners.

• Provides community-oriented police services and improves the quality of life in partnership with the community; works with citizens to address the issues of safety, crime, crime prevention, and neighborhood problems; assures citizens are treated with courtesy and respect for individual liberties.

• Preserves the peace of the community through mediation, investigation, intervention, assistance, and arrest; utilizes all lawful means to improve the quality of life by recognizing and resolving problems.

• Completes detailed reports and required paperwork; testifies in court as directed.

• Maintains OPD vehicle and equipment according to Department standards.

• Assists and coordinates with other emergency services personnel, regional organizations and businesses, and federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations.

• Performs specialized functions in areas of expertise, including training, SWAT, Tactical Flight, and other special enforcement, assessment, surveillance, intervention, and investigative teams.

• Maintains the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the Odessa Police Department by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed, and that accountability and public trust are preserved.

• Supports the departmental operations with regular and timely attendance.

• Supports the relationship between the City of Odessa and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines: High School Diploma or GED required; AND successful completion of Police Academy training. Knowledge of:

• City, county, state, and federal civil and criminal laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances.

• Duties, powers, authorities, and limitations of a Police Officer.

• Texas criminal justice and court systems, and the principles of criminal justice records management.

• Basic law enforcement methods and procedures, including case laws governing arrest, rules of evidence, probable cause, use of force, custody of evidence and property, and search and seizure.

• Basic law enforcement management principles, practices, and trends.

• Investigative and interrogative procedures, and protocols for observation of critical details.

• Local…