Police Officer Lateral/Academy Grad

Definition

Under general supervision, performs a wide variety of law enforcement and community relations duties involving collaborative problem solving with covered communities, the detection and prevention of crime; the protection of life and property; the enforcement of laws, codes, and ordinances; conducts surveillance; investigative work; controls of traffic flow and enforcement of traffic regulations; participations in, and provision of support and assistance to, crime prevention and enforcement programs; responses to various routine, emergency, and other calls for service or assistance; preparation of cases and testimony in court; assignments in specialized Departmental roles or on task forces; provision of information and assistance to the public; familiarization with community residents; and other related work as required or assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management as reflected in the Department organizational chart. Occasionally exercises functional and technical supervision over subordinate sworn trainees, and non-sworn personnel and volunteers as reflected in the Department organizational chart.

Class Characteristics

This sworn-classification is responsible for independently performing law enforcement duties in support of the Police Department. Positions at this level exercise judgment and initiative in their assigned tasks, receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the Police Department. This class is distinguished from Police Corporal in that the latter is an advanced journey-level class in the sworn series that exercises independent judgment on diverse and specialized police service activities with accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work.

Examples of Duties

• Serves as a spokesperson and/or attends a variety of community events, meetings, and other public relations activities; cultivates good community relations by appearing before civic, fraternal, and other community groups.
• Builds relationships with community-based partners and effective collaboration, and often, before conflicts arise; improves understanding of and insight into the needs of specific diverse communities; reaches and establishes trust with the most vulnerable groups in the community.
• Patrols the City to observe and address suspicious or potential criminal activity; responds to routine and emergency calls for service, including, but not limited to disturbances, burglaries, robberies, drug crimes, vehicle collisions, domestic disputes, suspicious activities, deaths, and other incidents to protect public safety, life, and property.
• Solves problems and de-escalates/diffuses situations/conflict.
• Enforces State and local laws, ordinances, and codes.
• Provides information, directions, and assistance to the public in a variety of situations.
• Takes reports and assists the public with complaints or unusual situations.
• Observes, monitors, and controls routine and unusual traffic situations; stops and warns drivers against unlawful practices; issues citations; performs high-risk stops; makes arrests as necessary; assists motorists with inoperable vehicles; provides direction and traffic control at incidents, special events, or other congested situations.
• Captures, analyzes, and preserves evidence; evaluates and detains individuals for mental health holds.
• Prepares police reports and/or memoranda on detentions made, arrests made, activities performed, and incidents observed; prepares and maintains other related or Department reports, logs, records, and accurate files.
• Retrieves and requests information for law enforcement investigations; files complaints and performs other work related to the processing of criminal complaints; serves writs, subpoenas, and other legal documents.
• Prepares, files, and/or serves arrest and search warrants, including high-risk warrants.
• Secures crime scenes and evidence; collects, processes, photographs, and presents evidence using scientific techniques including fingerprints, DNA, fibers, blood, and related physical evidence.
• Interviews people; documents interviews; interrogates suspects.
• Prepares cases for trial; testifies and presents evidence in court; coordinates activities of pre-trial investigation and preparation for the District Attorney's Office.
• Provides emergency medical attention to the public when responding to calls for assistance and requests appropriate medical assistance as necessary.
• Provides mutual aid to other law enforcement agencies in accordance with Departmental policy; cooperates with other law enforcement agencies providing investigative and case development support.
• Provides outreach to homeless individuals; observes for potential physical or behavioral health issues; conducts welfare checks; takes appropriate action as needed.
• When assigned, provides field training and trains officers in areas such as patrol, investigations, use of weapons, weaponless defense, traffic enforcement, safety, report writing, community-based policing, and Department policy and procedures.
• Affords support to crime prevention and educational programs.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions; reviews publications and materials to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in law enforcement.
• Releases information to the public in accordance with Department policy.
• Oversees the use and care of equipment.
• Observes and complies with all Department and City safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Qualifications

• Knowledge Of Police-Community Relations.
• Principles of “Guardian Mindset” and Procedural Justice.
• Operations, services and activities of a comprehensive municipal law enforcement agency.
• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of law enforcement including patrol, investigations, interview and interrogation, crime prevention, and special operations functions.
• Laws and procedures with particular reference to the apprehension, detention and arrest of individuals committing crimes or suffering from mental health crisis.
• Rules of evidence pertaining to search and seizure and the preservation of evidence.
• Operational characteristics of vehicles and equipment used in law enforcement.
• Criminal court system processes and regulations.
• Methods and techniques of interviewing and eliciting information from people.
• Traffic control, enforcement, and education methods.
• Police communications, property, jails, and custody operations.
• Procedures in handling warrants, filing complaints, court appearances, and testifying.
• Investigation and identification techniques and equipment.
• Applicable federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Ability to:
• Perform routine and complex duties, such as responding to calls for service and critical incidents to ensure the protection and safety of the community, people and property.
• Determine response to dynamic and rapidly changing critical incidents (e.g., in-progress crimes, active shooters); problem solve law enforcement and/or related situations; make sound, independent decisions in emergency/critical situations.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed; monitor changes in laws and court decisions and apply them in work situations.
• Coordinate activities of law enforcement and/or public safety personnel at crime scenes.
• Establish Incident Command System at scenes until relieved by superior officer.
• Lawfully possess, use, and care for firearms and other modern police equipment/technology in the course of employment; qualify and/or engage in required practice with weapons (e.g., firearms, impact weapons, chemical agents, conducted electric devices).
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system; transmit, receive, and monitor messages over police radio (e.g., patrol car radio, hand-held radio, scanners); transmit, receive, and monitor messages over car computer terminals (e.g., MDT); operate body-worn technology according to agency policy (e.g., uniform cameras, sensors, audio recorders).
• Observe accurately; recall faces, names, descriptive characteristics, and facts of incidents and places; remember accounts given by witnesses; identify crime suspects; observe while conducting surveillance.
• Conduct effective interviews and interrogations; summarize and document interviews and interrogations.
• Effectively communicate with hostile and/or aggressive individuals in attempts to or to de-escalate people/situations.