POLICE OFFICER

School Resource Officer (SRO)

PLEASE NOTE: There are minimum requirements in order to be considered for this role:

• BLET certified
• Minimum of one year of sworn law enforcement officer
• Preferred (not required) SRO certification

General Statement of Duties

The School Resource Officer's main duty is to perform general duty law enforcement work to protect life and property at their assigned school during the time that school is in session. Specialized law enforcement work requires additional training and journey level experience. Performs general duty law enforcement work to protect life and property in the City when school is not in session.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this field must exercise judgement, initiative and calm control when performing duties; frequent public contact, which requires tact, firmness and decisiveness. Work involves significant independence of action and judgement. When not assigned to the school as SRO (during school breaks and summer breaks), that employee performs a full range of general law enforcement duties. Work includes patrolling the City during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot; preventing, detecting, and investigating disturbances and crime; performing traffic control work; apprehending suspects; and executing related assignments. Employee must exercise judgement, initiative and calm control when performing duties. Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from superior officers. Employee may be subject to hazards associated with law enforcement work including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as dangerous persons, loud noises, and hazardous spills with fumes, oils, gases, or flammable liquids. As School Resource Officer, work is performed under general supervision of the Patrol Captain; and when working regular patrol duties, employee would be under direct supervision of the shift Sergeant. Employee is evaluated through observation, discussion and review of reports for adherence to laws, department procedures, community feedback and acceptance, and proper judgement. School Resource Officer is also evaluated by the Principal of assigned school periodically.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Tasks

• Participating in school activities, including some classroom instruction and establishing rapport with staff and school students to prevent drugs and other juvenile crimes.
• Patrols streets in a police car, on bicycle, or on foot; responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted; investigates traffic accidents; issues traffic citations; directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities.
• Performs investigations of accidents or possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, and gathering physical evidence; performs investigative tasks, arrests and processes criminal suspects; presents findings in court.
• Operates a two-way radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information to police headquarters; maintains vehicle, weapons, and other equipment in standard working order.
• Monitors adherence to parking ordinance and issues tickets for violations.
• Prepares records and reports of activities.
• Advises the public on laws and local ordinances; serves papers as needed.
• May act as a telecommunicator in receiving emergency and routine calls from citizens needing police and fire assistance and operating a two-way radio to dispatch other officers on the shift to the call.

Additional Job Duties

• Assist stranded motorists; gives information and directions to visitors and the general public.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of specialized assignment as School Resource Officer.
• Considerable knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances and policies of the police department, especially relating to search and seizure, traffic control, pursuit, and arrest.
• Considerable knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods and equipment.
• Some knowledge of scientific crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures.
• Skill in the use of firearms and other police equipment and in the application of self-defense tactics.
• Ability to plan school lessons and make effective school or public presentations, Ability to act with sound judgement in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
• Ability to present effective court testimony.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise activity reports,
• Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with the citizens.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, school students, and other public officials.

Physical Requirements