Patrol Officer- Certified - City of Copperas Cove

GENERAL PURPOSE: (Certified) 5/3/2019
Performs police patrol, investigations, traffic regulation, and related law enforcement activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:
Receives direct supervision from Police Corporal.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Works on assigned shift performing security patrols, traffic control, investigation, detection, investigation and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.

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

Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedent.

Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.

Patrols City streets, parks, 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 to otherwise serve and protect. Conducts patrol activities including directing traffic, investigation of reported or observed violations of law.

Responds to calls for assistance and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, and other crimes. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.

Interrogates and interviews suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene. Photographs crime scenes.

Renders basic first aid and summons ambulances to scenes.

Conducts investigations of crimes. Seeks out and interviews victims, witnesses and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches crimes scene. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Attends autopsies as assigned or required.

Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings. Obtains court orders as required.

Prepares a variety of detailed and complex reports and records.

Trains new police officers in accordance with State law and Department policy.
Undertakes community oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education, traffic safety, etc.

Maintains communication and coordination with other officers, other City personnel, other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors as needed and assigned. Maintains contact with general public and court officials in the performance of police operating activities.

Searches prisoners and transports suspects to jail and juvenile probation office. Transport prisoners to and from medical facilities and mentally ill persons to and from mental health facilities. Performs jail duties such as booking, arraigning, feeding and overall supervision of prisoners.

Conducts special investigations as assigned by supervisors.

Provides information to victims/survivors on referrals and police report-investigation status.

Locate and neutralize the threat of vicious animals.

Responsible for preparation of various lesson plans, memos, letters and reports.

Attend and conduct classes, training and labs. Counsels students, gives speeches and presentations to students and public meetings. Pass testing for certifications and other applicable training.

Gathers and disseminates information and intelligence.

Responsible for conducting background investigations.

Assists other agencies and divisions of this department in executing search or arrest warrants and conducts surveillance operations as required.

Cleans and maintains departmental equipment, supplies and facilities.

Serves as a member of various employee committees.

Ability to perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Regular and timely attendance is an essential job function.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:
Serves as a member of various employee committees as assigned.

Other duties as assigned.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment;

Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid Texas driver's license without record of suspension or revocation in any State;

No felony convictions or any offense involving family violence. No conviction above the grade of a class C misdemeanor within the last 10 years;

Must have high-school diploma; A high school equivalency certificate and has completed at least 12 hours at an institution of higher education with at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale; Or an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service.

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 mentally, physically fit and must meet City of Copperas Cove response time requirements.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
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 learn the City's geography.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:
Formal application; review of education and experience; testing including written and physical agility test; oral interview; background check; polygraph examination; successful completion of a drug screen, psychological examination.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Fleet vehicles, police radio, radar, handgun and other weapons as required, handcuffs, spike strips, intoxilyzer, evidence and crime scene processing equipment, computer, copy/fax machine, cameras, video equipment, phone, first aid and safety equipment, other specialized tools and equipment as required.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk clearly or hear well. The employee is occasionally 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 run or lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include good visual acuity, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus in both the right and left eye. (20/200 uncorrected in each eye and must be corrected to 20/30 with either glasses or contact lenses).

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 the 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. Is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. Is periodically exposed to persons who represent a danger to health and life.

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.

No one will perform the duties of a higher position without prior authorization from an individual authorized to approve.

The position description does not constitute an employment agreement 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.