Police Officer - Lateral

Police Officer

Under general supervision, performs a wide variety of patrol and related duties involving the prevention of crime, the protection of life and property, traffic control, and the enforcement of Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances; employs community policing strategies to prevent juvenile crime and delinquency; assists in the preparation of cases and testifies in court; provides information and assistance to the public;

depending on assignment, performs specialized administrative or investigative work; and performs related duties, as assigned.

Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management staff. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

This is the journey-level classification in the Police Officer series. Positions at this level perform the full range of duties of a sworn law enforcement officer in a municipal Police Department in the enforcement of Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances. Assignments can include all functional areas of the law enforcement field, including investigation, youth services, administration, and training are included.

Positions at this level are distinguished from the Police Trainee class by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned, working independently, and exercising judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the department. This class is distinguished from Police Corporal in that the latter is the lead level in this sworn class series responsible for providing functional direction and training lower-level sworn staff on an assigned shift.

Examples of typical job functions (illustrative only):

• Performs a variety of community policing duties to maintain a highly visible presence within the community for the purpose of deterring crime, maintaining good community relations, and providing assistance to the public, including speaking before various civic and community groups, patrolling assigned divisions by foot, bicycle, or vehicle, and performing other related duties as required.
• Patrols the City within an assigned area in a radio dispatched automobile to secure life and property, observes situations, reports and inspects suspicious and criminal activity, or hazardous conditions, and deters crime by providing high visibility patrols.
• Responds to emergency calls for service, disturbances, thefts, burglaries, vehicle accidents, domestic disputes, suspicious activities, and other incidents to protect public safety and property, resolve problems, diffuse situations, and enforce laws and ordinances.
• Provides information, directions, and assistance to the public in a variety of situations; takes reports and assists the public with complaints or unusual situations.
• Detects, apprehends, arrests, and transports suspected or convicted criminals.
• Enforces traffic laws; prepares and issues tickets for violations; investigates traffic accidents and determines causes; administers drug and alcohol testing as appropriate; arranges for additional emergency and patrol vehicles as necessary.
• Secures crime scenes and evidence; interviews suspects, victims, and witnesses; collects and preserves evidence; performs complete investigations and/or cooperates with other law enforcement agencies providing investigative and case development support.
• Responds to a wide variety of calls from citizens in need of first aid, information, and general assistance; provides direction or information to individuals or groups for the purpose of preventing, subduing, or alleviating harmful, dangerous or illegal situations; performs traffic and crowd control duties as needed.
• Prepares a variety of detailed and concise police reports related to crimes, investigations, traffic accidents, and assigned activities; maintains records and logs related to daily activities; prepares search warrants and press releases related to criminal activity as assigned by the position.
• Serves as an informational resource to the public concerning law enforcement activities; responds to inquiries and provides detailed and technical information concerning related services, crimes, laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Communicates with other law enforcement agencies, City personnel, and various outside organizations to exchange information, coordinate activities, and resolve issues or concerns; collaborates with other law enforcement agencies in the investigation of various crimes as appropriate; assists the District Attorney's Office in preparing, documenting, and developing cases and gathering information; testifies in court as required.
• Serves writs, warrants, subpoenas, and other legal documents as necessary.
• Operates and maintains a variety of specialized law enforcement equipment such as patrol vehicles, firearms, handcuffs, leg restraints, batons, flashlights, radars, two-way radios, pepper spray,…