Patrol Officer - Non-Certified

Under immediate supervision, actively participates in the Police Academy training program.  Performs all related learning and testing activities at a training level for preparation as a Police Officer.  Patrol Officer performs a variety of routine police work for the Ruidoso Police Department, on an assigned shift.  Non-exempt FLSA
 
This position patrols the Village on an assigned shift in a radio-equipped vehicle to preserve law and order, including checking businesses and residences, discovering and preventing the commission of crimes, and enforcing state and municipal laws and ordinances.The essential functions or duties listed below 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.

• Performs tasks employing patrol methods, community relations, courtroom procedures, fingerprinting, report preparation, physical agility and strength formulation, and other patrol officer-related duties commensurate with attained skills
• May assist an Officer in patrolling assigned areas of the Village in a car, bicycle, or on foot.
• Perform all work duties and activities in accordance with Village and Department policies, procedures, and safety practices.
• Learns criminal law, arrest and control techniques, use of firearms, report writing, vehicle operation, First Aid, CPR, narcotics, crowd control, court room demeanor, public relations, patrol procedures, physical conditioning and training.
• Checks for traffic hazards and illegal or unsafe activities.
• Responds to calls for assistance, including traffic accidents, assaults, fights, alarms, domestic disturbances, thefts, and other criminal or civil complaints.
• Works to strengthen police/community relations and as assigned accomplishes this by using avenues such as foot or bike patrol.
• Searches for missing persons and lost and stolen property.
• Intervenes in disputes, apprehends suspects, makes arrests, issues citations, identifies witnesses, conducts initial investigations, collects evidence, assists injured persons, and re-establishes law and order at the scene. 
• Books arrested persons in accordance with state, federal, and departmental procedures.
• Types complaints, writes reports, processes evidence, and distributes copies to courts and superiors, issues warrants and subpoenas. 
• Presents routine cases and testifies in court.  Responds to questions and requests from the public. 
• Responsible for maintenance of assigned vehicle.

Other Responsibilities or Job Requirements

• Some positions may assist with criminal investigations, intelligence gathering, and undercover work. 
• Transports suspects and persons with outstanding arrest warrants to jail facilities. 
• May serve on special assignments, such as special response team, DWI roadblocks, or narcotics task force. 
• The above statements are not a complete list of all responsibilities and duties performed by employees in this job.  As a condition of employment, employees are required to perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

Physical Demands

• Physical demands in field operations are substantial involving bending, stooping, crawling, balancing, and reaching below, at, or above shoulder height.
• Hand coordination and motor skills required when operating a baton, mace, hand-held radio, firearm, and handcuffs and performing First Aid/CPR.
• Requires clarity of speech, hearing and visual acuity sufficient to perform essential job functions.
• Occasional pushing, pulling, and/or moving up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional running and jogging

Work Environment 

• Position functions ninety percent outdoors and is exposed to all types of weather conditions; traffic noises; mechanical hazards; biohazards such as bodily fluids; debris, fumes, odors, and dusts associated with crime and accident scenes.
• Protective clothing, equipment, and devices are required.
• Position is subject to extended work hours when necessary; multiple takes; strict deadlines; and exposure to serious bodily harm.
• May work a fairly irregular schedule, weekends, and holidays.
• May be called when needed.
• Noise level could be moderate to loud in work environment.

Travel Requirements
Normal travel - ability to travel for activities such as meetings, classes, and workshops in and out of the area.
Must be able to travel by air as needed to attend training, conferences, and related activities.
Overnight travel as required.

• Must have High School Education or equivalent
• Must become a Certified Patrol Officer within twelve months of date of hire required
• Must be Twenty (20) years of age at time of academy, but must be 21 years of age by graduation time.
• Must be able to pass regular criminal history checks.
• Must possess and maintain valid New Mexico motor vehicle operator's permit of appropriate classification and endorsement as required.  Must agree to maintain a satisfactory MVR and minimum requirement of insurability as required by law.  MVR background checks will be conducted by the Village.    
• Must have a valid New Mexico driver’s license or be able to obtain one by date of hire,
• Must be a United States citizen.
• Marijuana use within the last three years will be evaluated, among other background information, to determine whether a candidate will proceed in the hiring process. All candidates must have a clean drug screen before hiring.
• Positions within the Ruidoso Police Department, Ruidoso Area Dispatch, or Animal Control/Code Enforcement are considered Safety Sensitive positions. As such, all safety sensitive positions are subject to random testing 
• No use in the last five (5) years of any illegal drug that would amount to a felony crime if found in possession. This includes felony prescription drugs, cocaine, methamphetamine, mushrooms, LSD, hallucinogens, spice, bath salts, or inhalants,
• Any sale, manufacture, or distribution of any controlled substance as an adult (>17) will be a lifetime disqualifier. If the crime was committed as a juvenile the following factors should be considered: the frequency of the behavior, the quantity of the drugs involved, and the type of drug.
• Have no felony convictions. Criminal activity in which applicant has been convicted of, pled guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) to any felony charge, been involved in any pre-prosecution diversion program (PPD) as adjudicated for a felony crime committed will be permanently disqualified. Any person whose conviction has been set aside, deferred, or dismissed as a part of a conditional discharge shall be considered to have been convicted.
• Have no misdemeanor convictions within the last three (3) years preceding their initial date of application. Any convictions within that time frame where the candidate has been convicted, pled guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) will be reviewed on an individual basis and may be cause for disqualification. This does not include traffic offenses.
• Crimes of perjury, filing a false report, impersonating an officer, or domestic violence will be permanent disqualifiers. Any person whose conviction has been set aside, deferred, or dismissed as a part of a conditional discharge shall be considered to have been convicted.
• Must not have been discharged from the United States Armed Forces under Dishonorable conditions.
• Is of good moral character.
• Shall not falsify or omit any information from the application.
• Within a three (3) year period, has not been convicted or pled guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any violation of any federal, state, or local ordinance relating to aggravated assault, theft, or other crime involving moral turpitude.
• No DWI convictions within the last three (3) years, or two or more DWI’s in the most recent ten (10) year period.
• After examination by a licensed physician, is free of any physical condition that might adversely affect his performance as a police officer or prohibit him from successfully completing a prescribed basic law enforcement training required by the Law Enforcement Training Act.
• After examination by a certified psychologist, is free of any emotional or mental condition that might adversely affect their performance as a police officer or prohibit them from successfully completing a prescribed basic law enforcement training required by the Law Enforcement Training Act.
• Must be able to successfully attend and pass the NMDPS Basic Law Enforcement Academy within one (1) year from the date of hire.

• Knowledge of:  the Ruidoso Municipal Code pertaining to police service and public safety, Police Standard Operating Procedures Manual and other recognized manuals on police operations and standards, policies, goals, and procedures of the Ruidoso Police Department, the principles and practices of employee supervision and training, law enforcement principles, methods, techniques, and practices including patrol, investigations, court procedures, community relations, special weapons and tactics, traffic control, report preparation, custody of persons and property, and crime prevention, equipment used in law enforcement, including weaponry, communications, personal computers, and automotive equipment.
• Ability to: supervise the day-to-day operations of an assigned function or shift, such as training, investigations, traffic enforcement, or patrol, understand and interpret complex statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and guidelines, communicate in person, in writing, and on two-way radio, establish and maintain routine working relationships with citizens, public officials, outside agencies, businesses, and employees, maintain physical condition and stamina appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include sitting, standing, or walking for extended periods of time, driving or riding in vehicles, perform duties and adapt to flexible work schedules as established by management, work in stressful environment and deal effectively with stress, drive, occasionally long distances, to lift and carry up to 150 pounds when performing apprehending, restraining, and/or rescuing duties.

Salary : $39,520 - $45,760