Peace Officer

JOB SUMMARY

Under supervision of superior officers, the Police Officer is responsible for performing general
duty police work in protecting life and property and enforcing laws and ordinances. Maintains law
and order for the prevention of crimes and for protecting life and property within the City. Work
methods are developed and demonstrated in detail by superior officers, much of the work is of a
routine nature, incumbents must be able to exercise sound and independent judgment in
emergency situations where danger to life or property may be involved. All assignments involve
responsibility for recognizing the social importance of police functions, for tactful and courteous
treatment of the public, and conscientious and efficient performance without immediate
supervision. Exercises no supervision. Police Officers report to their assigned Police Sergeant.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Development (GED) Certification
• Meet the minimum requirements for licensing as enacted by the Texas Commission on

Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATES

• Valid Class “C” Texas Driver’s License.
• Current and valid Texas Peace Officer License.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Patrol the City proactively in furtherance of the Police Department Mission, Vision, Values

and Goals; works in furtherance of developing community partnerships; actively engages
and dissuades criminal activity and dangerous conduct.

• Enhance interaction and communication with the citizens and business representatives

by means of increased patrol presence, stop & talk (business checks), and other
strategies (bicycle patrol program, foot patrol)

• Respond to calls for police services in a timely manner without unnecessary delay;

assists other City departments when a need is recognized or when on assignment.

• Make arrests for violations of laws or ordinances and testify in court.
• Provide an exceptional response and management of calls for service; develop and

implement an appropriate course of action; prepares detailed offense and case reports.

• Enforce traffic and parking regulations proactively and reactively in furtherance of safe

vehicular and pedestrian movement, directs traffic when necessary; participates in traffic
enforcement initiatives promoted by the Department; aggressively pursues DWI and DUI
Minor offenders.

• Investigate all reports of accidents involving vehicles or pedestrians as required by the

Texas Transportation Act; make detailed reports of traffic accident investigations.

• Accurately document, obtain, and process evidence in accordance with Police

Department standards.

• Perform courtesy security checks on residential property when requested by residents

who are out of town.

• Check doors and windows of business establishments; investigates any suspicious

conditions.

• Maintain good working relationships with others and always provide a positive example

for others to follow.

• Performs duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local laws and ordinances.
• Knowledge and application of the Alamo Heights Police Department Mission Statement,

Values Statement, and Goals/Objectives during the course of duties.

• Knowledge of the rules, regulations, policies and procedures in the Alamo Heights Police

Department General Manual; knowledge and adherence to all General and Special
Orders issued or authorized by the Chief of Police.

• Knowledge of law enforcement techniques and procedures.
• Knowledge of standard broadcast procedures of a police radio system.
• Ability to maintain physical condition meeting department fitness standards and

appropriate to the performance of police training functions, assigned duties and other
responsibilities which may include demonstrating proficiency during training exercises or
during the performance of actual duties not limited to effecting arrest, subduing resisting
individuals, chasing fleeing subjects and running, walking, crouching or crawling during
emergency operations.

• Ability to maintain firearms proficiency with all authorized and assigned firearms as

prescribed by TCOLE rules, to include the issued duty sidearm, the police shotgun , the
patrol rifle, and any other firearm issued in the furtherance of a specialized police
response.

• Ability to meet certification requirements and maintain proficiency with all Department

issued intermediate weapons.

• Ability to move equipment, injured/deceased persons and climb stairs/ladders.
• Ability to perform life-saving and rescue procedures.
• Ability to walk, stand or sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to operate assigned equipment and vehicles safely and within prescribed

procedures.

• Ability to effectively deal with personal danger which may include exposure to

armed/dangerous persons, dangerous animals, communicable diseases, hazards of
emergency driving, hazards associated with traffic control, working in and near traffic and
natural and man-made disasters.

• Ability to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making

observations, communicating with others and reading and writing.

• Ability to recognize dangerous situations; take measures to notify others or abate the

situation.

• Ability to maintain mental capacity that allows the capability of exercising sound judgment

and rational thinking under dangerous circumstances.

• Ability to evaluate various options and alternatives and choose an appropriate and

reasonable course of action.

• Ability to demonstrate intellectual capabilities during training and testing processes.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS;

Work in a highly stressful emergency environment, under intense life-threatening conditions.

• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

1) Making observations
2) Reading and writing
3) Operating assigned equipment
4) Assessing the situation at an incident scene
5) Communicating with others

• Effectively deal with personal danger which may include exposure to:

1) Confined or high work places
2) Dangerous animals
3) Dangerous people
4) Extremely loud noises
5) Hazards of emergency driving
6) Hazards associated with traffic control, working in and near traffic
7) Natural and man-made disasters
8) Adverse weather conditions.

• Maintain Physical Condition appropriate to the performance of police training exercises,

assigned duties and other responsibilities which may include the following:
1) Running, walking, crouching or crawling during emergency operations
2) Moving equipment and injured/deceased persons
3) Climbing stairs/ladders
4) Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time
5) Performing life-saving and rescue procedures
6) Operating assigned equipment
7) Proficiency demonstrations utilizing assigned equipment and police tactics in varied
conditions of climate, terrain and other adverse conditions under both stressful and
non-stressful conditions
Police officers may be assigned varying shifts and days off as necessary to maintain adequate
staffing of shifts. Additionally, police officers may be required to work overtime to meet service
demands and/or to maintain operational efficiency. Police officers must be prepared to work
any shift, and assume scheduled days off if required.