Lateral Police Officer

About the role

The City of Farmington is seeking one Lateral Police Officer. This position requires a minimum of two years of continuous employment as a Police Officer with the City of Farmington and a commitment to three years of continuous employment as a Police Officer.

Responsibilities

• Perform shift work which may include days, evenings, and nights including weekends and holidays.
• Works on performing security patrols, traffic control, investigation and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
• Works an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance.
• Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone to respond to police matters.
• Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.
• Patrols City streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies and other law violations; and to otherwise serve and protect.
• Responds to emergency radio calls and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.
• Interrogates suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests or cites violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene.
• Conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift. Seeks out and questions victims, witnesses and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches scene of crimes for clues. Evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings.
• Prepares a variety of reports such as offense/incidents, field interrogation cards, DWI, towed vehicle, and accident reports.
• Undertakes community oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse, traffic and bicycle safety, etc.
• Participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the City limits, obtaining evidence and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing charges, testifying in court, and related activities.
• Conducts patrol activities including directing traffic, investigation of reported or observed violations of law, and conduction patrol activities.
• Covers coordination activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney or district attorney's office regarding cases, policies and procedures as needed and assigned.
• Maintains contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities, provide mutual assistance during emergency situations and provides general information about department activities.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public.
• Operates a motor vehicle to carry out the business of the department and the City.

Qualifications

• This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes, pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow-up testing.
• Extensive background checks required.
• Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal histories are not allowed.
• Must have LE certification.
• Must not have used any illegal drugs within the past three years.
• Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits.
• Must be a United States Citizen.
• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.
• Must have completed 669 law enforcement training hours (Academy Training, Advanced Training, or combination of both).
• Must have ability to become a certified law enforcement officer in the State of New Mexico within three years.
• Must have all advanced certificates available for review.
• Must submit a copy of course curriculum from police academy attended.
• Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid New Mexico driver's license with acceptable driving record for past three years.
• Must be able to read and write the English language.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances and department rules and regulations.
• Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers and supervisors.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to learn the City's geography.

Tools and Equipment Used

• Ability to operate a police car, police radio, radar gun, handgun and other weapons as required, straight baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, cell phone, on-board video camera, first aid equipment and chemical agent.
• Extensive use of computers for dispatching, reporting and communicating is required.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to frequently lift and/or move heavy objects or persons.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to sit, stand, talk and hear.
• Must be able to use hands and fingers to feel objects or controls.
• Must be able to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, run and physically subdue combative subjects.

Benefits

Lateral Police Officers will be eligible for the $29,100 sign-on bonus, the requirement is a commitment to three years of continuous employment as a Police Officer with the City of Farmington.

Schedule

Varied

Pay

$31.0063 - $41.8678 - DOE