Police Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective

The police officer primarily protects people and property. Primary duties include controlling traffic, patrolling neighborhoods, responding to emergency calls, writing citations, delivering warrants, arresting violators and submitting incident reports in a timely manner.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Protects citizens by preventing crime, enforcing laws, apprehending suspects, and monitoring traffic.
• Prevents crime by explaining and enforcing applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances; teaching preventive, protective, and defensive tactics; mediating disputes; patrolling assigned area; responding to notices of disturbances; conducting searches; observing suspicious activities; and detaining suspects.
• Apprehends suspects by responding to complaints and calls for help, observing violations, and making arrests.
• Conducts criminal investigations by gathering evidence, interviewing victims and witnesses, and interrogating suspects.
• Documents observations and actions by radioing information and completing reports.
• Reports observations and actions by testifying in court.
• Fulfills court orders by serving warrants and commitments.
• Maintains safe traffic conditions by monitoring and directing traffic, enforcing laws and ordinances, investigating accidents, providing escort, and reporting unsafe streets and facilities.
• Minimizes personal injury by rescuing and reviving victims and radioing for medical assistance.
• Maintains operations by following department policies and procedures and recommending changes.
• Ensures operation of equipment by practicing responsible use, completing preventive maintenance requirements, following manufacturer’s instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, notifying supervisor of needed repairs, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by studying applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances; attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; practicing skills; and participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Competencies

• Ethical Conduct.
• Stress Management/Composure.
• Problem Solving/Analysis.
• Communication Proficiency.
• Strategic Thinking.
• Teamwork Orientation.
• Diversity and Inclusion.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the officer regularly works in outside weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts. Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. Officer may be exposed to hazards such as being attacked, wounded or even killed by criminals.

Police work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous. Officers must be alert and ready to react throughout their entire shift. Officers regularly work at crime and accident scenes and encounter situations of violence.

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.

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

The employee must frequently lift or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 130 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This position regularly requires long hours and weekend work. The City of Bluefield Police Department’s current schedule is 12 hour shifts with 36 hours worked Week 1 and 44 hours worked Week 2. This schedule benefits the officer with a three-day weekend every other week. (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area travel and overnight may be expected.

Required Education and Experience

• High school graduation or GED equivalent.
• Current Driver’s License
• Probationary officers will be required to attend, complete, and pass 16 weeks of training at the West Virginia State Police Academy.

Additional Qualifications and Expectations

• Decision-making
• Legal compliance
• Handles pressure
• Deals with uncertainty
• Lifting
• Physical fitness
• Judgment
• Objectivity
• Dependability
• Emotional control
• Integrity

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

For more information visit our Public Safety Career page.

Benefits

Benefits package includes: health insurance, life insurance, retirement, vacation and sick pay, as well as supplemental options, including dental, vision and disability insurance. Visit our Employee Benefits page.

To Apply

To complete an application, please visit the City of Bluefield Municipal Complex at 200 Rogers Street, Bluefield WV 24701.

You may also request an application by email at aheltzel@bluewv.org or kwoody@bluewv.org .

THE CITY OF BLUEFIELD IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER