Police Officer

The City of Roanoke is seeking qualified and motivated individuals to perform responsible Police protective service work. The duties involve an element of personal danger. Any combination of education or experience equivalent to graduation of high school.

• Educational Reimbursement
• Approved to offer GI Bill Educational Benefits by the VA State Approving Agency
• On‑Site Fitness Center
• Take Home Car Program (with tenure and eligibility requirements)
• Tattoos and beards allowed

Graduation from a community college in social or police science is desirable. Possession of a valid driver’s permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Vision requirements: standard is 20/30 in the better eye corrected, 20/40 in the worse eye corrected. Worse than 20/60 uncorrected, must correct with corrective lenses to 20/30 or greater in the better eye; or to 20/40 or greater in the worse eye.

Disqualified if uncorrected vision is 20/200 or greater in both eyes. Applicants MUST BE 21 YEARS OLD prior to completing DCJS Certification test during academy training and must submit to a drug screening test and Polygraph. Bilingual, Spanish/English speakers encouraged to apply. Shift work includes weekends and holidays.

Patrols assigned beat on foot, motorcycle, bicycle or in patrol car to control traffic, prevent crime or disturbance of peace, and arrest violators. May perform assigned work in either a uniformed or non‑uniformed capacity.

• On an assigned shift, working nights and days; 12‑hour shifts once the basic academy has been completed.
• Operates a motor vehicle or walks to observe for violation of traffic laws, suspicious activities or persons and disturbances of law and order.
• Responds to communication dispatches to answer calls and complaints.
• Assists persons in distress.
• Makes arrests following service of warrants, personal observation of offenses, and individual investigation.
• Participates in criminal investigations.
• Testifies in court.
• Directs traffic as required and reports unsafe conditions in streets or other public facilities.
• Prepares detailed reports for permanent record or inter‑department use.
• Recovers stolen and lost property.

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience – Associate's degree or equivalent from two‑year college or technical school with a major in social or police science desirable but not required; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills – Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to prepare reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively with groups of customers or employees of organization.

Reasoning Ability – Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations – Possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Successful completion of recertification required by the Commonwealth of Virginia on a biennial basis.

Physical Demands – While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 125 pounds: 25 pounds constantly, 25‑70 frequently and over 70 pounds occasionally.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment – The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.