Police Officer Entrance Exam

About the role

This position involves working closely with residents, businesses, schools, community groups, service clubs and other officers to improve the quality of life in Texarkana by protecting life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances, including the prevention and investigation of crimes, traffic collisions and disturbances; enforcement of traffic laws, parking regulations; and patrolling designated areas of the City.

Responsibilities

• Works on rotating shifts performing security patrols, traffic control, investigation, and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation, and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
• Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedent.
• 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, detect, and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies, and other law violations and to otherwise serve and protect.
• Interrogates suspects, witnesses, and drivers.
• Preserves evidence.
• Arses violators.
• Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents.
• Sums up 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.
• Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders.
• Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings.
• Prepares a variety of reports and records including officer's daily log, reports of investigation, field interrogation report, offense report, vehicle impoundment form, traffic hazard report, etc.
• Undertakes community oriented police work and assists citizens with such matters as locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, traffic safety, etc.
• Participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the city limits, obtaining evidences and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing of charges, testifying in court, and related activities.
• Collaborates 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, Court Administrator, and Municipal Prosecutor'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 departmental activities.
• Apprehends and/or arrests offenders; transports individuals to jail facilities; books prisoners.
• Attends and participates in a variety of meetings and in-service training sessions.
• Cleans and maintains assigned law enforcement vehicles and equipment.

Requirements

• Must possess a valid State driver's license without record of suspension or revocation in any state.
• Ability to meet the department's physical standards.
• Ability to pass the appropriate written Civil Service exam.

Qualifications

• At least twenty (20) years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Be licensed as a peace officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education, or have received an associate's degree or successfully completed sixty (60) semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university.
• Have an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least two years of active service.
• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

Skills

• Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances, and departmental 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.

Benefits

• Three weeks of paid vacation and three weeks of paid sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays per year.
• Retirement benefits are through the Texas Municipal Retirement System with the City contributing at a rate of 2 to 1 and the employee contributing 7% each paycheck to TMRS.
• Employees are vested after five years and may retire after either twenty years of service at any age or at age 60 as long as they are vested.
• Retirement benefits for the Fire Department are paid through the Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund and employees are eligible to retire after twenty years of employment.
• A voluntary 457 deferred compensation program through MissionSquare is also offered to all City employees.

Pay

$59,758.40 - $70,324.80 based on years of service.

Schedule

Rotating shifts.