Certified Police Officer

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB Under general supervision, responsible for performing a variety of law enforcement and crime prevention duties and may be assigned to any functional area to include patrol, investigations, or administration. Reports to the Police Sergeant. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Provides general public assistance involving non-criminal activities such as traffic accidents, street hazards, and other potential problems and hazards requiring law enforcement intervention; and collaborates with the community in addressing problems. Patrols and responds to a variety of criminal activities requiring law enforcement, intervention such as homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, property crimes, domestic violence, vice and narcotics related activities, crimes by and against juveniles, and other crimes; evaluates situation and determines the most appropriate course of action. Pursues or apprehends suspects and criminals; makes arrests which may involve physically restraining or subduing individual(s) and possible use of deadly force; interviews and interrogates victims, witnesses, suspects, and other contact persons; and protects the crime scene for processing; and processes suspects. Assists senior officers at crime scenes; makes detailed search and analysis of crime scene using various technical procedures, including photography, fingerprint detection and identification, casting of footprints, etc. Performs administrative duties in law enforcement, planning, and operations including preparing and presenting court testimony; training; maintaining associated case files; preparing and completing forms, narrative reports, and correspondence; appears in court as witness to give testimony in court concerning investigation results and evidence obtained. Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Knowledge of Job: The employee has a general knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures and investigative techniques, as well as having knowledge of local, state and federal laws relative to civil and criminal processes and procedures. The officer must have a command of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the city. The employee has a general knowledge of both the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them. He or she is skilled in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment, as well as being able to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action. The employee is able to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations. The employee is able to prepare clear and concise reports. The employee must be able to present court testimony effectively, as well as be able to exercise tact and firmness in contact with the general public. The employee must maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments. Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public. Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions." Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas. Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests. Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meeting job responsibilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction. Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment. Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Sergeant, professionals and the general public. Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time