POSITION DESCRIPTION

Class Title:     Police Officer

Department:  Police

GENERAL PURPOSE

Performs police patrol, investigation, traffic regulation, and related law enforcement activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of a Police Sergeant.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision is not a normal responsibility of this position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following list is not intended to be all inclusive. Generally, an employee in this position is at times required to:

• Work 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;
• Work an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance;
• Maintain normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or incidents;
• Carry out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances;
• Patrol City streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies and other law violations;
• Perform community caretaking functions;
• Respond to emergency radio calls and investigate traffic crashes, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, and to take appropriate law enforcement action;
• Interrogate suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserve evidence, arrest violators. Investigate and render assistance at crash scenes. Summon ambulances and other law enforcement assistance. Take measurements and draw diagrams of scenes;
• Conduct follow up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift. Seek out and question victims, witnesses and suspects. Develop leads and tips. Search scenes of crimes for clues. Analyze and evaluate evidence. Prepare cases for giving testimony and testify in court proceedings;
• Prepare a variety of reports and records including reports of investigations, field interview reports, alcohol influence reports, breathalyzer check lists, bad check forms, vehicle impoundment forms, traffic hazard reports, and other law enforcement reports and forms;
• Undertake community oriented police work, and assist citizens with such matters as crime prevention, drug abuse education, traffic safety, and other related functions;
• Conduct patrol activities including directing traffic, investigation of reported or observed violations of law, and conducting patrol activities;
• Coordinate activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchange information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtain advice from the City Attorney, District Attorney, Municipal Prosecutor, and Municipal and Circuit Court Administrators, regarding cases, policies and procedures, as needed and assigned;
• Maintain contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities, provide mutual assistance during emergency situations and provide general information about Department activities.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• Maintains departmental equipment, supplies and facilities;
• Serves as a member of various employee committees.

QUALIFICATIONS

ENTRY LEVEL:

An employee in this position must: Be 21 years or older at time of employment; Not have any felony convictions or other disqualifying criminal history; be a U.S. citizen, or be able to attain citizenship within 12 months of hire; be able to read and write the English language meeting the minimum standard as set by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST); be of good moral character, having temperate and industrious habits; be able to learn the applicable laws, ordinances, and departmental rules and regulations; be able to communicate both orally and in writing; be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, police department personnel, and personnel from other City departments and other agencies; be able to follow verbal and written instructions; be able to learn the City’s geography; be able to exercise sound judgment in evaluating emergency and non-emergency situations and in making decisions; be able to perform duties on self-initiating basis without constant and/or direct supervision.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent. An Associates or Bachelor’s degree or vocational school training in police science, law enforcement, criminal justice administration, public administration, or a related field is preferred;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Some knowledge of, or ability to learn, modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment;
• Some skill in operating the tools and equipment listed below;

LATERAL ENTRY:

• Must be able to meet all Entry Level requirements listed above;
• Must have at least 12 months of full time paid service as a sworn police officer in a civilian governmental jurisdiction prior to application;
• Successful completion of Department of Public Safety Standards and Training requirements and hold a Basic Police Officer certification.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

The employee must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver's license, must attain and maintain basic first aid and CPR certifications, and must have the ability to pass the DPSST standard ORPAT physical agility test at time of hire or prior to completing DPSST police academy after hire;

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Police vehicles, police radio, radar and lidar, tint meters, digital cameras, audio and video recording devices, handgun and other weapons as required, electronic control devices, side handle or ASP baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, first aid equipment, computers and related records management and word processing software, and other law enforcement tools and equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.