Police Officer

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under general supervision, performs a wide variety of police and law enforcement activities. Tasks are service and protection oriented, and includes collecting and dispensing information, arbitrating disputes, providing assistance, protecting and recovering property, preventing crime, investigating and providing other public protection services. Incumbents perform duties in accordance with state statutes and established Departmental policies, procedures and guidelines. Performs related work as required.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

EXAMPLES:

• Conducts routine patrol in designated areas by vehicle and on foot; establishes open communications and the presence of law enforcement within the community.
• Responds to calls for police service and takes action upon observing a circumstance or situation requiring police attention.
• Interviews witnesses, victims, suspects and arrested persons to obtain pertinent information concerning accidents/crimes.
• Responds to burglary and fire alarms, and robbery-in-progress calls, and performs security checks of buildings and homes.
• Provides emergency first aid; assists emergency medical and fire personnel as needed.
• Conducts crime scene investigations, i.e., identifies and collects crucial evidence to be secured for processing, and handles evidence in a manner to protect chain of custody.
• Enforces state and local traffic laws to ensure safety, investigates motor vehicle accidents and protects lives and property at motor vehicle accident scenes.
• Identifies and issues citations to violators of misdemeanor offenses.
• Enforces laws and apprehends misdemeanor and felony violators and fugitives; arrests and transports persons found to have committed a criminal act.
• Testifies in courtroom proceedings.
• Performs report and record maintenance duties, i.e., offense reports, crime reports, statements, arrest reports, warrants, mileage sheets, impound records, fingerprint cards.
• Attends in-service training to maintain current knowledge of changes in laws, new methods of enforcement, and other trends and developments in law enforcement.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS

• While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other unit members.
• May be assigned to a primary functional area, such as community services, with secondary patrol responsibilities, whereby incumbent conducts DARE classes, community crime prevention meetings, law enforcement training and related community service programs.May provide language translation or interpretation as related to essential job functions.
• May be assigned to a specific functional area, such as K-9 patrol duties.
• Cleans and maintains assigned vehicle and work areas.
• Assists with animal control issues.
• Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

High school diploma or GED; supplemented by Basic Peace Officer License; CPR training; supplemented by completion of in-service training, as directed, for assignment to other primary functional areas. Possession of a valid state driver’s license.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce and/or assess data and/or information using established criteria. Includes exercise of discretion in determining actual or probable consequences, and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to exchange information for the purpose of obtaining information or clarifying details. Performs such within well-established policies, procedures and standards.
• Equipment, Machinery, Tools and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to start, stop, operate and monitor the functioning of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and/or rapid adjustments.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of descriptive data and information, such as offense and arrest reports, identification cards and mileage sheets.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires ability to apply principles of rational systems. Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form. Ability to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

ADA COMPLIANCE

• Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert heavy physical effort in heavy work, with greater emphasis on climbing and balancing, but typically also involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50 pounds); may occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 100 pounds).
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate depths. Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Some tasks require oral communications ability.
• Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions such as dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, toxic agents/chemicals, temperature and noise extremes, traffic hazards, disease, violence and/or pathogenic substances.

The City of Kaufman, Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.