Police Officer

Summary

Performs and provides police services to the public with a commitment to the primary goals of protection of life, property, and maintenance of order. Protects the rights of all individuals.

Responsibilities

• Regularly conducts patrol throughout the Town and extra-territorial jurisdiction;
• Responds and takes appropriate action on a wide range of calls for police service;
• Assists in the apprehension and arrest of law violators;
• Conducts initial investigations and some follow-up investigations for minor offenses;
• Serves as backup to other officers as necessary;
• Investigates traffic collisions, issues citations for state and local statutes, directs traffic, and/or participates in other emergency operation activities;
• Performs initial investigations of reported crimes, including but not limited to, documenting observations, interviewing involved parties and witnesses, documenting/preserving/collecting physical evidence, making arrests, and presenting case findings in court;
• Enforces local ordinances, and state and federal laws, issues citations or warnings, serves warrants, apprehends and processes criminal suspects with transports to a magistrate and/or County detention facility, and serves civil process as required;
• Assists with movement of vehicular traffic when necessary for school drop-off/release, accident scenes, special events, and as needed;
• Operates a two-way police radio to receive information from or to report information to other police officers, supervisors, or central communications (dispatch); maintains assigned vehicle, weapons, and all other Town and Department equipment in standard working order;
• Performs as a community liaison to solve problems, provides assistance, and builds relationships with all persons in the community.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, local ordinances, and the policies and procedures of the Davidson Police Department;
• Knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and equipment, especially as relates to community policing, problem-oriented policing, directed patrol, and conducting initial criminal investigations;
• Knowledge and understanding of scientific crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures;
• Skill in the use of firearms, other police equipment, and police tactics in the course of their duties as a police officer, including but not limited to, application of defensive tactics, collection/preservation/submission of evidence, surveillance/intelligence gathering as a uniformed officer, obtaining/executing arrest warrants, and conducting community engagement and traffic enforcement programs;
• Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations;
• Ability to prepare clear and concise incident and activity reports;
• Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with citizens, department staff, and town officials.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting: To drive patrol car; work at the desk; attend meetings; review police officer's reports; write reports and prepare cases for prosecution, interview suspects, witnesses, and informants; perform other miscellaneous administrative duties;
• Walking/Running: Frequently on asphalt; occasionally on all types of surfaces and terrain, including rough terrain, rock or uneven ground, or areas presenting obstacles such as alleys with garbage or debris. To patrol on foot, perform administrative and investigative functions, and respond to a variety of calls for service such as accidents, alarms, building searches, narcotics violations, crime scenes, and follow-up investigations;
• Navigate confined areas and streets with heavy traffic; and carpet and tile while working indoors;
• Lifting/Carrying: Frequently, to collect evidence, move objects and equipment, traffic signs, tree limbs, guard rails, bumpers, and traffic barriers. May encounter many physical challenges daily. Although these are examples, they are not an absolute list. On rare occasions extricate victims from auto accidents and assist emergency service providers.

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, local ordinances, and the policies and procedures of the Davidson Police Department;
• Knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and equipment, especially as relates to community policing, problem-oriented policing, directed patrol, and conducting initial criminal investigations;
• Knowledge and understanding of scientific crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures;
• Skill in the use of firearms, other police equipment, and police tactics in the course of their duties as a police officer, including but not limited to, application of defensive tactics, collection/preservation/submission of evidence, surveillance/intelligence gathering as a uniformed officer, obtaining/executing arrest warrants, and conducting community engagement and traffic enforcement programs;
• Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations;
• Ability to prepare clear and concise incident and activity reports;
• Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with citizens, department staff, and town officials.