Public Safety Officer 1 - Lateral

Public Safety Officer I - Lateral

Under close supervision of a Public Safety Lieutenant or Captain, learns to perform a wide range of public safety work involving the protection of life and property including law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical services; and performs related work as required.

Public Safety Officer I is a sworn training position. Public Safety Officer I is distinguished from the lower-level classification of Public Safety Officer-in-Training in that the Public Safety Officer-In-Training is a non-sworn classification where the main duty is to complete a police academy. Public Safety Officer I is further distinguished from the higher-level Public Safety Officer II in that the Public Safety Officer II is the fully qualified sworn level where incumbents are capable of performing the full range of police and fire duties.

Assignment to this classification is temporary. If incumbents do not successfully complete field training and a fire academy, they will be terminated. Upon successful completion of all phases of training, members of the Public Safety Officer I classification are promoted to the position of Public Safety Officer II.

Although members of this classification are not necessarily required to use the full range of knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics listed elsewhere in this document, they nevertheless must possess all of them in order to advance to the level of Public Safety Officer II. As with all public safety work, incumbents face an element of personal danger.

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision. Acute hearing is required to perform the duties of the Public Safety Officer. The need to lift, drag and push equipment and bodies weighing up to 165 pounds, the ability to run continuously for 500 yards and climb 6 foot high fences is also required.

When in the field, positions are required to walk and stand during emergency situations, including on uneven and slippery surfaces; wear police officer and firefighter clothing and carry equipment; climb ladders and work from elevated positions and enter confined spaces wearing appropriate breathing apparatus. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Education and experience can be met in the following way:
Associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university; AND Two years of experience in police work; AND Successful completion of a post approved police academy. OR Associate's degree or 60 semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university; AND Successful completion of a POST approved police academy as a City of Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer in Training, Public Safety Officer in Training Academy Attendee or employment as a Public Safety Officer In Training Academy Graduate.

Knowledge of laws, codes, ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures necessary to perform the essential functions of this classification. Basic principles of electricity. Principles of physics, chemistry of fire, and mechanics. Weights, measures and capacities. Principles of business letter writing and crime report preparation, including English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Mathematical calculations as they relate to the essential functions of this position.

Presentation techniques. Crime scene investigation techniques including sketching such things as crime scenes and accidents. Principles and practices of good customer service. Principles and practices of effective interpersonal communication. Principles and practices of risk assessment for public safety agencies. Office methods, procedures, software and equipment.

Ability to apply principles and practices of law enforcement. Successfully complete field training and a fire academy. Use firearms and other modern police equipment and communications and information systems related to law enforcement. Interpret and apply department policies and procedures and related State and Federal laws. Learn to perform firefighting, emergency response and rescue and medical aid duties in response to calls for service.

Learn to drive and operate fire vehicles and equipment. Visually identify and accurately distinguish colors and between various visual inputs at long and short ranges and in dark and smoky environments. Hear and comprehend auditory inputs in radio transmissions, long range conversations, commands, and cries for assistance when obscured by background noises. Detect and distinguish the smell of different materials/chemicals, smoke/fires, and toxic gases.

Speak in an understandable voice…