Police Officer Trainee

DEFINITION
The Police Officer Trainee position is a temporary position designed for the training of civilians in the field of police services.  Trainees are hired by the City with the intent that they are to complete a California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) accredited police academy for basic training.  Upon successful completion of the academy training, the trainee will be reassigned as a police officer.
 
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direction from Police Sergeants and general supervision from Police Administrators.EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reliable and dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Successful completion of academy training, field training and other assigned training.
• Book, search, release, care for and feed inmates; conduct jail security checks.
• Respond to questions from the public regarding law enforcement activities.
• Respond to, investigate and document a variety of criminal, non-criminal, and traffic related incidents, not requiring a sworn officer.
• Prepare and complete a variety of investigative and incident reports; assist with telephone and public counter inquiries.
• Assist with the cleaning and maintenance of police facilities
• Assist with dispatch duties including, but not limited to, receiving emergency and non-emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, or other related services; determine nature and location of emergency; determine priority and dispatch emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures; provide emergency medical pre-arrival instructions; coordinate emergency calls and relaying information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement agencies.
• Perform a variety of administrative support and data entry duties.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF OTHER RELATED DUTIES

• Assist with special events; direct traffic.
• Assist with Animal Control operations, including feeding and maintenance of animals.
• Coordinate and provide various public education presentations; develop outreach materials.

 
Knowledge of:

• Legal statutes related to police work.
• Police tactics, procedures and policies.
• Principles and practices of law enforcement organization, methods and techniques.
• Use of firearms and other modern police equipment and communications and information systems related to law enforcement.
• The appropriate use of force.
• Standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Pertinent local, State, and federal rules, regulations, codes and laws.
• Principles and practices of good customer service.
• Principles and practices of safety management.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Basic principles of business letter writing and report preparation, including English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Basic arithmetic, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and calculation of percentages.

 
Ability to:

• Understand and follow both oral and written instructions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work using principles of good customer service.
• Remain calm and focused during emergency situations.
• Competently use self-defense tactics and weaponry.
• Comprehend and apply complex laws and policies and procedures.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both, orally and in writing.
• Be free from any physical, emotional, or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer.
• Maintain a physical condition and endurance equal to the needs of this position.  This includes a full range of motion and physical abilities, including running, lifting, carrying, driving, armed and unarmed combat, etc.
• On an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in patrol vehicle; walk and stand during patrol activities; bend, squat and kneel during inspection of crime scene or conducting building searches; climb stairs and/or ladders while in the field; twist while making arrests; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; continuously wear utility belt and other police equipment of thirty (30) pounds; and intermittently carry weight of seventy-five (75) pounds or less.
• Establish and maintain a high level of integrity and trust.
• Work rotating shift assignments.
• Perform sworn law enforcement duties in actual law enforcement and crime prevention activities.
• Interpret and apply City law enforcement policies and procedures including Police Department General Orders and related State and federal laws.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of a sworn Police Officer's job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; remember accounts given by witnesses; identify crime suspects; interpret and apply the law to field situations; observe while conducting surveillance; problem solve crime situations; and explain law to public.
• Express himself/herself in English in a clear, distinct, and understandable manner when speaking to individuals, to people of different socio-economic levels; before various public and community groups, and when testifying in court.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be age twenty-one (21) by date of application.
• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver license.
• Must obtain a T-score of 45 or higher on the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) POST Entry Level Law Enforcement Test Battery (PELLETB).

Salary : $45,036 - $57,480