Police Officer

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:

            None

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Works 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.

Works an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding a course of action, being expected to handle complex and emergency situations without assistance.

Maintains expected availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedents. 

Carries out duties conforming to Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.

Patrols City streets, parks, and 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, and otherwise serve and protect.

Responds to emergency radio calls and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.

Interrogates suspects, witnesses, and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests violators. Investigate and render assistance at the scene of vehicular accidents. Summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of the scenes.

Conducts follow‑up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shifts. Seeks out and questions victims, witnesses, and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches scenes of crimes for clues. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings.

Prepares various reports and records, including officer's daily logs, reports of investigation, field interrogation reports, alcohol reports, influence reports, breathalyzer checklist, bad check forms, vehicle impoundment forms, traffic hazard reports, etc.

Undertakes community-oriented police work and assists citizens with matters such as locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, traffic safety, etc.

Participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the City limits, obtaining evidence and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing of charges, testifying in court, and related activities.

Conducts patrol activities, including directing traffic, investigating reported or observed violations of law, and conducting patrol activities.

Coordinates activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney, Court Administrator, and Municipal Prosecutor's Office regarding cases, policies, and procedures, as needed and assigned.

Maintains contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities, provide mutual assistance during emergency situations, and provide general information about Department activities.

Any other duties as assigned.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Maintains departmental equipment, supplies, and facilities.

Maintains contact with the general public, court officials, and other city officials regarding the performance of police operating activities.

Serves as a member of various employee committees.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

General: 

• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment;
• Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid State driver's license without record of suspension or revocation in any State;
• Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal histories within the past seven years are not allowed;
• U.S. citizen;
• Must be able to read and write the English language;
• Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits;
• Must be M-Coles Certified or Certifiable.

Education and Experience:

• Associate degree in police science, law enforcement, criminal justice, police administration, public administration, or a related field;
• Completion of the State of Michigan-certified police academy;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

             (A) Some knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment;

             (B) Some skill in operating the tools and equipment listed below;

• • • Ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations;
    • Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition;
    • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing;
    • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers, and supervisors;
    • Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions;
    • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions;
    • Ability to meet the special requirements listed below;
    • Ability to learn the City's geography.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid State Driver's License without record of suspension or revocation in any state;
• Must be M-Coles certified or certifiable;
• Ability to meet the Department's physical standards;
• Must pass pre-employment psychological and physical exam to include drug screening.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Formal application; review of education and experience; appropriate testing, including written and physical agility test; oral interview; background check; psychological examination; physical exam to include drug screening; final selection.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Police car, police radio, radar gun, handgun and other weapons as required, taser, handcuffs, breathalyzer, pager, first aid equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is also frequently 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.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 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.

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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement or contract between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Salary : $26 - $37