POLICE OFFICER (CERTIFIED)

About the role

This position performs general police duties to ensure the strict enforcement of state and local laws relating to public safety and welfare; and performs related law enforcement work as required.

Responsibilities

• Enforces all federal and state laws and City ordinances relating to public safety and welfare;
• Performs general patrol duties, including but not limited to patrolling assigned areas of the City, monitoring property security, responding to emergency calls and/or public calls for assistance, apprehending and arresting suspects and violent persons, securing crime scenes, seizing property and/or criminal evidence, maintaining public order, investigating narcotics cases; performing undercover work; transporting prisoners and mental patients, etc.;
• Serves warrants, summonses, subpoenas, civil and other official papers;
• Assists with criminal investigations. Interviews witnesses, complainants and victims; interrogates suspects; gathers physical evidence and preserves it for court; provides case follow-up as needed; Provides testimony and presents evidence in court as necessary;
• Administers first aid and assists EMTs at emergency scenes as necessary;
• Participates in special operations as assigned;
• Performs routine service duties, including but not limited to providing escort service for the protection of persons and/or property, assisting stranded motorists, providing funeral escort, directing traffic, providing security and crowd control at special events, etc.;
• Provides leadership of assigned subordinate officers; offers advice and assistance as needed;
• Participates in officer training;
• Prepares and submits detailed work records and reports;
• Remains abreast of all federal and state laws, and ordinances of the City of Columbia;
• Maintains assigned equipment and vehicle;
• Assists other law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions as required;
• Receives and responds to citizen inquiries, complaints and requests for assistance;
• Participates in neighborhood and community relations programs; attends neighborhood meetings to enhance police/community relationships and to address safety and quality of life issues;
• Attends periodic training sessions and attends seminars and meetings to keep abreast of current law enforcement trends;
• Maintains required physical fitness and required level of proficiency in the use of firearms;
• Works under stressful, high-risk conditions;
• Remains on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week, for emergency response;
• Performs general clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, etc.;
• and Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED;
• Some relevant prior experience;
• Valid South Carolina Class “D” Driver’s License;
• Firearms certifications;
• Class I certification or successfully complete Class I Certification through the Criminal Justice Academy in accordance with23-23-40 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, and/or calculating ratios, rates and percentages;
• Ability to gather, organize, analyze, examine or evaluate data or information and may prescribe action based on such data or information;
• Ability to persuade or influence others in favor of a service, point of view, or course of action; may enforce laws, rules, regulations or ordinances general;
• Ability to lead, operate or repair complex machinery or equipment that requires extended training and experience, such as police vehicles and equipment, firearms.

Benefits

The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.