Police Officer - Academy Graduate/Lateral

DEFINITION
Under general supervision, provides a wide variety of police duties including but not limited to; conducts patrol of an assigned area to enforce laws and ordinances, maintains orders, protects life and property, prevents, detects and investigates crimes, maintains law and order, apprehends criminals, performs community policing activities, special assignments, and other related law enforcement work as required.
 
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receive general supervision from assigned supervisor.  Technical and functional supervision may be provided by other designated police department personnel.
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Completion of a California Peace Officer & Standards Training Basic Police Academy.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
 
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Utilizing a variety of patrol methodologies, which include, but is not limited to automobile, bicycle, and foot patrol to respond to radio and dispatch calls related to traffic incidents and any other required emergencies; observing, monitoring and controlling routine and unusual traffic conditions; assisting and advising motorists, and enforcing traffic safety laws.
• Coordinating and conducting complete investigations of crimes involving juveniles and adults, crimes against persons and property, and crimes involving vice, gambling and narcotics violations, robberies, burglaries, thefts, thefts, accidents, deaths and similar events.
• Collecting and preserving evidence at scene of crime and/or accident; lifting fingerprints, drawing sketches, and taking photographs.
• Making arrests as necessary; interviewing victims, complainants and witnesses; interrogating suspects; searching and transporting prisoners; testifying and presenting evidence in court; serving warrants and subpoenas; keeping up-to-date on laws and procedures required for processing warrants; retrieving and requesting information involving arrests and subpoenas; filing complaints and performing other work related to the processing of misdemeanor and felony complaints.
• Enforcing laws and ordinances, detecting and investigating crimes, maintaining order, protecting life and property; developing community-based methodologies for the prevention of crime.
• Contacting and cooperating with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
• Preparing reports of arrests, activities, and unusual incidents.
• Stopping drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; warning drivers against unlawful practices; issuing citations and making arrests, as necessary.
• Maintaining contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserving good relationships with the general public.
• Preparing written reports on accidents, offenses, arrests, and on property impounded.
• Operating computer equipment and related software programs.
• Preparing reports on arrests and on property impounded;
• Inspecting establishments which provide alcoholic beverages and entertainment for conformance to all applicable laws and codes.
• Intervening in disputes to protect the public and to maintain order.
• Participating in training and related programs as directed.
• Exercising safety and precaution in the performance of law enforcement duties in accordance with the City's police departmental procedures and citywide safety policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

The following generally describes the knowledge and abilities required to enter the job and/or to be learned within a defined short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
 
Knowledge of:

• Offensive and defensive weapons nomenclature and theory;
• Self defense tactics;
• Interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Principles of Community Oriented Policing

• Interpret and apply the current laws of arrest, search and seizure as well as, pertinent local, County, State and other laws.
• Interpret and apply the current law enforcement methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation and identification techniques, and police records and reporting.
• Interpret and apply current criminal laws, codes, ordinances, and policies and procedure with particular reference to apprehension, arrest and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
• Interpret, apply and practice the safe use and care for firearms, equipment, tools and supplies; think and act quickly and safely in emergencies, exercise safety in the performance of all law enforcement work; and administer first aid and CPR as required.
• Observe and accurately recall critical details, including names, facts, faces, numbers, incidents, places, and able to judge situations and persons accordingly;
• Apply standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system;
• Understand and carryout oral and written instructions in an independent manner;
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the essential functions/duties of this job classification as required by POST standards.
• Present oral reports and accounts, prepare thorough, accurate and detailed reports in written form and in pre-structured format;
• Utilize and apply good judgment in a variety of typical and/or unusual situations;
• Work cooperatively with others, including coworkers, members of the residential and business communities, community groups, and officials from other agencies, the general public, and those contacted in the course of work.
• Other related duties as assigned.

• Possession of a valid California driver's license at time of appointment.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Typical office and field tools and equipment include:
Computer, Keyboard And Monitor; Variety Of Printers And Copiers; Telephone Or Cell Phone; Pager; Print Kit; Calculator And 10-Key Adding Machine; Facsimile Machine; Two-Way Radio; Patrol Car, Including Computer And Printer; Paper Shredder Or Cutter; Specialized Computer Software; Car Radio;  Gasoline Pumps; R.A.D.A.R. Guns; Taser Or ECD Devices; Hand-Pack Radios; Handguns, Shotguns, And In Some Cases, Rifles; Bullet Proof Vests; Ammunition; Eye, Ear, Hand And Head Protection Equipment;  Handcuffs; Flashlight; Uniforms; Batons And Collapsible Batons; Chemical Agent Weapons; Chemical Reagents; Narcotics Test Kit; Citation Books, Report Forms, Pencils And Pens; Cameras/Tape Recorders/Video Cameras; Keys To A Variety Of City Locks, and other assigned equipment and tools necessary to successfully and safely perform responsibilities.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job classification.  Work of all sworn personnel may be dangerous. When performing Police Officer duties, may go from being seated in a docile position in a police car to a highly energized position, and then return to the docile position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Standing:   Typically, incumbents stand while taking police reports, communicating with citizens and while directing traffic. They also stand at the scene of traffic accidents, crimes and often stand while awaiting information at a hospital after a traffic accident has occurred. Incumbents stand while booking prisoners in a jail or detention facility or while confronting suspects/citizens during the normal course of duty.
• Walking:   Typically, incumbents walk while going to a home, business or site of an incident where they take reports. Incumbents also walk while returning to their patrol cars. Incumbents walk while in the police facility on police business such as filing a report, attending briefings or during training.
• Sitting:   Typically, incumbents spend a great deal of time sitting while driving a patrol car or other police vehicle. Most of the officer's time may be spent sitting in a police vehicle. Occasionally, people will invite incumbents to sit down while they are taking a report. Incumbents may also sit while waiting at a hospital during the treatment of an arrested person or while attending training or performing office tasks and report writing.
• Stooping/Bending:   Typically, stooping and bending are necessary if incumbents are at the site of a crime in progress. Stooping or bending may also be needed to take a position of cover or concealment. Incumbents may find it necessary to pick up an uncooperative prisoner or may find it necessary to assume awkward positions in order to place a person under arrest and/or in a patrol car.
• Lifting:   Incumbents may have to pick up prisoners if the prisoner is not cooperative as in the case of a prisoner under the influence of drugs or alcohol. On occasion it might be necessary to assist another officer in carrying a prisoner and they may have to lift and/or drag up to 165 pounds. Items such as evidence or recovered stolen property like television sets, computers, stereos, or bicycles may also be lifted on occasion.
• Carrying:   Incumbents may have to carry a prisoner if the prisoner is not cooperative or incapable of walking on his/her own. They also carry weapons on their duty belts which may weigh up to 30 pounds when equipped with portable radio, handcuffs, batons, flashlights, and extra ammunition. This extra weight increases the fatigue factor of an officer on duty. Incumbents may need to carry barricade equipment, car video equipment, spike strips, briefcases or other materials during the course of their shift or while attending a court hearing.
• Pushing/Pulling:   Incumbents may find it necessary to push stalled cars out of the roadway to avoid traffic hazards. Pushing and pulling might also be involved while dealing with uncooperative or combative prisoners or when attempting to gain entry.
• Balancing:     Incumbents need to be able to balance while walking on a roof or fence or while going over ledges when trying to apprehend a criminal suspect. Incumbents may also find it necessary to climb ladders. In addition, Incumbents have to demonstrate balance as part of a field sobriety examination associated with suspected drunk drivers. 
• Climbing:   Incumbents may find it necessary to climb fences and ladders while pursuing a suspect. They may climb to get into a yard to cover the back of a house when there is a reported crime in progress. They will climb stairs to access all areas in questions or while working in the office.
• Twisting/Turning:   Twisting and turning activities might occur while wrestling a prisoner in an attempt to restrain him/her. Twisting and turning might also occur while searching buildings and vehicles or while searching collapsed buildings or other structures for victims of an earthquake or other disaster.
• Kneeling:   Kneeling might occur while attempting to arrest or apprehend a suspect or may be necessary in the identification and collection of evidence at a crime scene.
• Reaching:    Reaching may be involved in restraining an uncooperative prisoner who is climbing or trying to resist arrest and in the investigation of a crime scene.
• Visual, Hearing and Mental Capacity:  Must meet the POST requirements.