POLICE OFFICER (ENTRY LEVEL)

Statement of the Job

Perform professional law enforcement and crime prevention work involved in the protection of life and property enforcing State, Federal, Municipal laws and regulations. Work is performed in accordance with departmental and City rules and regulations, and patrol officers receive assignments and instructions from officers of higher rank. Assignments include uniformed patrol, traffic control, technical and staff service, administration, special support team activities, and investigative work. Work requires exercise of initiative and independent judgment in routine and emergency situations involving exposure to potential injury or loss of life. Work methods and results are evaluated by superior officers through personal inspections, review of reports, and discussions. Work is subject to rotating shift assignments, irregular hours, holiday assignments, and on-call status.

Requirements

• Minimum age requirement is 21 years of age at the completion of the Police Academy. Must be a United States Citizen at the time of application.
• Note: Applicants will be requested to submit to a Written examination; a Physical Fitness evaluation; a thorough Background Investigation; a Polygraph examination; a Psychological examination; a Medical examination; an employment interview; and a drug screen.

Education & Experience/Licenses & Training

• High School Diploma or GED, and any combination of education, training and experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position is desirable.
• Licenses & Training: Successful completion of required training and AZ POST (Arizona Peace Officer Standards & Training) certification. Must possess a valid Driver’s License issued from the state in which the person’s full-time residence is maintained.

Essential Functions/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Operates an automobile, motorcycle, bicycle, or watercraft to perform patrol assignments on an assigned shift.
• Responds to calls of service and appears at scenes of disorder, emergencies, and crime.
• Conducts property checks on businesses and homes for burglary and other criminal activities.
• Stops and questions suspicious persons. Assists with a variety of emergencies.
• Prepares reports of incidents and investigations.
• Contacts victims, witnesses, and suspects for detailed interviewing when required.
• Secures, investigates and collects evidence at the scenes of incidents and crimes.
• Investigates criminal complaints and takes statements.
• Serves warrants.
• Follows-up on investigations when assigned.
• Appears in court proceedings when summoned, on and off duty.
• May act as the DARE or a School Resource Officer for the schools.
• Arses, detains, transports, and has responsibility for the care and safety of detained persons.
• Issues traffic citations for violations of laws and ordinances and performs traffic control assignments and accident investigations.
• Intervenes in disputes to protect the public, and maintain order.
• Assists with receiving, searching, fingerprinting, photographing, and bonding of prisoners.
• May perform safety inspections on commercial vehicles.
• May be assigned to perform special duties.
• Provides exceptional customer service to internal and external customers.
• Complies with and promotes safe practices in agreement with the safety rules and procedures set forth in the Loss Control Program.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Represent the City and all Departments with respect, confidence and trust that our colleagues and community place in us. Responsible for conducting ourselves with, and using our value statement of PRIDE: Being Professional, Responsible, being an employee of Integrity, being Dedicated and striving for Excellence with staff and the public.

Knowledge of

• Geography of the City and the location of important buildings, or the ability to acquire this knowledge rapidly.
• Laws and regulations that pertain to proper arrest, search and seizure, and police work in general.

Skills in

• Meeting and maintaining state mandated firearms requirements.
• Rapidly attaining and firing a handgun from behind cover in a prone, kneeling or sitting position.
• Retaining a handgun in holster with one hand and shoving a suspect back with the other hand;
• Rapidly and safely reloading a handgun with weapon pointing downrange.
• Standing and moving about for prolonged periods of time.

Ability to

• Read, write and communicate in the English language using a telephone, police radio system, or in person in a group or one-on-one setting.
• Understand departmental and City policies, instructions, laws, and regulations.
• To direct traffic from four or more directions.
• Understand police and fire radio transmissions, distinguish the color of vehicles, stop lights, suspect eye color, hair and clothing color.
• Visual acuity to see during times of low visibility or darkness, and ability to correctly identify a license plate number within 100' in daylight conditions.
• Smell odors of smoke, marijuana, alcohol, natural gas, acetone, or gasoline.
• Stay alert for long periods of time.
• Detect and distinguish sound of gunfire, muffled screams, cries for assistance, glass breaking, squealing tire, radio alert tones.
• Verbally communicate and talk clearly and effectively in a loud voice.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentials functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a variety of weather conditions, including extremely hot weather. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Medical/Rx (EPO or HDHP)

• Medical/Rx (EPO or HDHP)

Dental/Vision

• Dental/Vision

Wellness Program

• Wellness Program

Flexible Spending/Health Savings Account

• Flexible Spending/Health Savings Account

Group Life Insurance

• Group Life Insurance

Optional Additional Life Insurance

• Optional Additional Life Insurance

Optional Additional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

• Optional Additional Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance

12 Paid Holidays Annually

• 12 Paid Holidays Annually

Paid Vacation (Accrual rate is dependent upon full time years of service)

• Paid Vacation (Accrual rate is dependent upon full time years of service)

Paid Personal Leave (96 Hours/Year)

• Paid Personal Leave (96 Hours/Year)

Short Term Disability

• Short Term Disability

Long Term Disability

• Long Term Disability

Retirement Plan - 401A Defined Contribution Plan

• Sworn Police Officers participate in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS). Contribution rates are determined by State Legislature

Optional Deferred Compensation

• Optional Deferred Compensation

Tuition Reimbursement

• Tuition Reimbursement

Service Awards

• Service Awards