Officer (Lateral)

About the role

The Red Oak Police Officer position involves performing law enforcement and crime prevention services, controlling traffic flow, enforcing local, state, and federal laws, and participating in specialized crime prevention programs.

Responsibilities

• Maintains order and protects the community through prevention, intervention, and enforcement.
• Enforces local, state, and federal laws, and local regulations and ordinances.
• Arrests law violators; transports and processes suspects, victims, and prisoners; represents the City Police at court hearings; prepares reports and testifies in court cases.
• Investigates crimes and accidents; secures and processes crime and accident scenes; identifies, collects, and processes evidence within scope of authority and training.
• Maintains the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the Department by ensuring compliance with rules and regulations and preserving accountability and public trust.
• Patrols the City in a radio-equipped vehicle; answers calls for protection of life, property, and enforcement of laws; conducts preliminary investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, hold-ups, vehicle accidents, deaths, and other criminal incidents.
• Checks buildings for physical security; responds to calls related to traffic incidents and other required emergencies; observes, monitors, and controls traffic conditions; assists and advises motorists; enforces traffic safety laws; stops drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; warns drivers against unlawful practices; issues citations; and makes arrests as necessary.
• Directs traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations; interviews, investigates, and interrogates suspects; gathers and preserves evidence; testsifies and presents evidence in court; searches, fingerprints, transports, and books prisoners; prepares arrest reports, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed.
• Plans and executes crime prevention programs and presentations for local schools, churches, businesses, and community groups; maintains contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems; assists in the performance of special investigative and crime prevention duties, as assigned.
• Responds to emergency and non-emergency calls for service; communicates with victims, witnesses, and suspects in cases; secures accident and crime scenes; and provides assistance and protection for Fire and Medical personnel.
• Completes detailed reports, specialized forms, affidavits, citations, and necessary paperwork; inspects and maintains police vehicles, emergency response tools and equipment; and personal equipment according to Department standards.
• Assists and coordinates with other emergency services personnel, outside organizations, and Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
• Presents education and information programs for community and school awareness projects; counsels residents on law enforcement activities and referral resources.
• Performs additional assigned duties, including work with special enforcement teams.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years of age.
• Must hold a Basic Peace Officer’s License issued by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
• Lateral Entry applicants must have no break in service from a comparable-sized city/agency or larger and must have two or more consecutive full-time years of experience at said agency to be eligible for the lateral entry hiring process.
• Lateral applicants currently under internal investigation with their employing agency will not be considered.
• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Certificate.
• For U.S. Military Service, must present DD214.
• Visual acuity in both eyes, correctable to at least 20/20 binocular vision.
• Valid driver license with acceptable driving record.
• Computer literate.
• Must meet all physical requirements.

Qualifications

• General Knowledge Required: Knowledge of City policies & procedures, Police Department General Orders, Code of Conduct, policies & procedures, City, County, State, and Federal laws, regulations, codes and ordinances, Texas criminal justice and court procedures and records management methods, modern law enforcement methods, practices, and procedures, basic criminal law on the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including preservation and presentation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases, investigative procedures and protocols for observation of critical details, local community issues, and community resources available to citizens, geography, roads, and landmarks of City and surrounding areas.
• Communication Skills Required: Successful applicants must have effective written and verbal communication skills and be able to create legible, articulate, and error-free reports. Applicants must also have strong interpersonal skills to be able to interact with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds in a positive manner. Must be able to render credible testimony in a court of law.
• Other Required Skills & Abilities: Exercise controlled discretion in situations requiring diplomacy, fairness, and sound judgment, interpret laws and regulations, make decisions, maintain composure, and work effectively under stressful conditions and emergency situations, recognize suspicious behavior patterns, mediate difficult situations, question victims and witnesses, and use effective arrest & control techniques, interact with people of different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, remain alert at all times and react quickly and calmly in emergency situations, evaluate facts and evidence, draw logical conclusions, and make proper recommendations, safely maintain and operate a variety of firearms, impact weapons, chemical agents, and other law enforcement tools and equipment, operate a personal computer utilizing a variety of business software, communicate effectively, both verbally and written, render credible testimony in a court of law.