Police Officer - Lateral

About the role

To perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce state and local traffic regulations; to participate in and provide support and assistance to special department crime prevention and enforcement programs; to take an active role in community-based policing and facilitate familiarization between law enforcement and community residents; and to assist the public.

Responsibilities

• Patrol Town in radio-equipped car
• Answer calls for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of Town, county, and state laws
• Conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, hold-ups, vehicle accidents, death, and other criminal incidents
• Respond to calls related to traffic incidents and any other required emergencies
• Observe, monitor, and control routine and unusual traffic conditions
• Assist and advise motorists and enforce traffic safety laws
• Take arrests as necessary
• Interview victims, complainants, and witnesses
• Interrogate suspects
• Gather and preserve evidence
• Testify and present evidence in court
• Prepare reports of arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed
• Stop drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws
• Warn drivers against unlawful practices
• Issue citations and make arrests as necessary
• Check buildings for physical security
• Search, fingerprint, and transport prisoners
• Direct traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations
• Maintain contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems
• Preserve good relationships with the general public to promote and participate in proactive policing
• Perform special investigative and crime prevention duties as required
• Administer first aid, as necessary
• Animal Control - Contact aggressive or wild animals (i.e. bears, deer); contact and capture domesticated animals (i.e. cats, dogs); use of lethal and less lethal weapons against bears; quarantine animals; write reports; issue citations; register animals; work with animal shelters; euthanize animals
• Perform related duties as assigned

Requirements

A Police Officer is considered Lateral if they possess a California Basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Certificate and have successfully completed the probationary period at a California law enforcement agency. Law enforcement officers from other states are invited to apply if they possess equivalent qualifications, have completed the California POST Regular Basic Course Waiver application and training process, and have a letter from the California POST Basic Course Waiver Unit to attend the 161-hour Requalification Course in person in California, which must be attached at the time of application. If these criteria are not met, an application may be rejected as incomplete.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of: Police methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigations, and identification techniques, police records and reports, and first aid techniques.
• Criminal law with reference to the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
• Principles and techniques used in public and community relations as they relate to law enforcement activities.
• Modern office practices, procedures, methods, and equipment.
• Ability to: Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places; learn to use and care for firearms; think and act quickly in emergencies and judge situations and people accurately; learn, understand, and interpret laws and regulations; prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports; learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system; understand and carry out oral and written directions; meet the physical requirements established by the Department; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; foster and contribute to a work environment that supports and exhibits honesty, diversity, integrity, trust, and respect; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; use physical force in taking uncooperative suspects into custody.