Police Officer

About the role

This work involves providing vital public safety services to the community by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing criminal and motor vehicle laws and ordinances and miscellaneous police services to the community.

Responsibilities

• Works within a squad environment on rotating shifts responding to radio and computer dispatched routine and emergency calls for service, performs self-initiated routine patrols, provides traffic control and traffic law enforcement and investigates traffic crashes, investigates and arrests persons involved in misdemeanor or felony criminal activity and other unlawful activities, obtains and submits evidence, investigates unattended death of all natures, testifies in Depositions, Civil Court, Traffic and Criminal Court, performs other law enforcement/public safety duties as required or assigned.
• Works an assigned shift and patrols all areas of the City, independently applies sound judgment, Department policy and best professional practices while determining the proper course of action for difficult, complex or emergency situations.
• Maintains availability and operating knowledge radios, cellular telephones and Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) in order to respond as dispatched to routine or emergency calls for service as directed by the Communications center or Patrol Supervisor.
• In conjunction with service calls provided above, may also respond to calls regarding civil disturbances, evaluating persons that require involuntary admission due to mental or chemical impairment, missing persons, or incidents that may involve the use or anticipated use of Department issued firearms or other Department authorized weapons.
• Carrries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws, ordinances and Department policies; monitors the operation of public places for compliance with laws and ordinances.
• Patrols all public places, commercial businesses open to the public and neighborhoods to preserve the peace and enforce laws.
• Conducts foot patrol to verify that business establishments are secure (after hours) and performs residential property checks as requested or assigned.
• May be assigned (with additional training) to Boat patrol or use of Department All-Terrain Vehicle.
• May be required to provide basic first aid to injured persons including CPR or use of Automatic Emergency Defibrillator (AED).
• Works overtime including patrol duties, special events, coverage for sick and vacation leave. May be subject to call back.
• Safes crime scenes; interviews victims, suspects, witnesses and drivers. Locates and preserves evidence, including latent impressions and documenting relevant aspects of the investigation with photographs and/or video. Conducts follow-up of active investigations.
• Prepares a variety of official Departmental incident and investigative reports and other records documenting self-initiated or assigned activities or assignments.
• Practices community-oriented policing by assisting citizens with such matters as disabled vehicles, crime prevention, house watches, traffic safety issues, pet and bicycle registrations, etc.
• Transports prisoners to police station and to County Jail.
• Executes search warrants and serves injunctions for protection.
• Coordinates activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchanges information with personnel in other law enforcement agencies as directed, and seeks counsel from Supervisors, Court Personnel, Victim Witness Services and the appropriate authority at the State Attorney’s Office regarding criminal investigations and active cases, current case law.
• Maintains contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigative activities, provides mutual assistance to other law enforcement personnel during emergency or exigent situations and provides general information about Department services or activities as authorized.
• Maintains issued or assigned departmental equipment, supplies and facilities. Reports ineffective or inoperable equipment.
• Serves as a member of various employee committees.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age or older and a citizen of the United States.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Applicants must meet all requirements established by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for a law enforcement Officer in the State of Florida.
• Applicants must pass an oral board, polygraph and psychological evaluation. Additionally, applicants must pass a physical agility exercise, a thorough medical evaluation, (including drug screen) and a comprehensive background investigation.
• Applicants must be currently certified as a law enforcement officer in the state of Florida or be currently certified in another state with plans to complete the Equivalency of Training course.
• Valid Florida Driver's License.
• Maintain certification as a Police Officer from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards.

Skills

• Impartiality.
• Model professionally sound ethics and integrity.
• Understand the principles and practices of current law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Proficiency in operating the tools and equipment listed below:
• Police vehicle, police radio, mobile data terminal, records managements system, laser/radar, service pistol, shotgun and patrol rifle, TASER, ASP baton, handcuffs, intoxilyzer, portable and mobile radio, telephone, first aid equipment including AED, and other emergency equipment.
• Learn and enforce the applicable laws, ordinances, and department policy, procedure, rules and regulations.
• Analyze situations objectively, report and record them clearly and completely.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Access input and retrieve information from an office and mobile data computer.
• Change from walking, standing some lifting and carrying objects of light to heavy weight (5-100 pounds).
• Perform work requiring good physical condition.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with people in a variety of situations, peers and supervisors.
• Exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in determining the appropriate course of official action.
• Follow verbal and written direction or instructions.
• Exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in determining the appropriate course of official action.
• Practice community-oriented policing by assisting citizens with such matters as disabled vehicles, crime prevention, house watches, traffic safety issues, pet and bicycle registrations, etc.
• Transport prisoners to police station and to County Jail.
• Execute search warrants and serve injunctions for protection.
• Coordinate activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchanges information with personnel in other law enforcement agencies as directed, and seeks counsel from Supervisors, Court Personnel, Victim Witness Services and the appropriate authority at the State Attorney’s Office regarding criminal investigations and active cases, current case law.
• Maintain contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigative activities, provides mutual assistance to other law enforcement personnel during emergency or exigent situations and provides general information about Department services or activities as authorized.
• Maintain issued or assigned departmental equipment, supplies and facilities. Reports ineffective or inoperable equipment.
• Serve as a member of various employee committees.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee-only coverage for health and dental insurance.
• Basic life insurance.
• Long-term disability.
• AD&D policies.
• Vision.
• AFLAC.
• Health savings account.
• Flexible spending account.
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• Retirement program with Florida Retirement System (FRS) and requires a 3% employee contribution.
• Optional deferred compensation program with Mission Square or Nationwide.
• 88 hours of annual vacation leave for the first four years, 96 hours of annual sick leave, and ten paid holidays with 8 hours of pay for each holiday.