Police Officer

Job Details: Job Location: City. Works Building

• Belmont, NC, Salary Range: $57337.00 - $80539.00Hourly, GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: Performs responsible police work in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances; performs related duties as required. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Work involves patrol work and responding to accident and crime scene investigations, collection and preservation of physical evidence, follow-up investigations, and special assignments for the purpose of the prevention of crime, apprehension of criminals, community policing, problem solving, and enforcement of laws and ordinances. This employee must be able to act without direct supervision using independent judgment and discretion in meeting emergency and non-emergency situations. Duties are performed in accordance with departmental rules and directives. Work involves extensive public contacts and situations of personal danger. Work is performed under the regular supervision of a Patrol Sergeant. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Patrols the City in uniform and marked car to provide a visible deterrent, enforcement of laws and ordinances, and protection of life and property; monitors commercial and residential areas for signs of criminal activity; patrols for suspicious persons or vehicles.
• Enforces traffic and parking laws through the issuance of citations and warnings; routinely inspects roadways, bridges, and traffic signals and signs to find and report any hazardous conditions.
• Engages suspicious person to ensure the safety of the community.
• Uses proactive police activity, based on departmental data, to prevent crime.
• Performs business and residential security checks; checks building doors, windows, gates, and fences to ensure building/home is secured; reports buildings, homes, vehicles, or equipment that is not secured; ensures the safety and well-being of all residents/employees on duty; learns employees' work patterns and alerts them to possible suspects and crime prevention.
• Responds to calls for assistance, disturbance calls, and complaints of crimes; enforces federal, state, and local laws by performing warrant, felony, or misdemeanor arrests; implements physical confrontation when necessary; protects the civil rights of persons in custody. •Investigates traffic accidents by establishing point of impact, interviewing witnesses, and collecting, preserving, and packaging evidence; detects drunk drivers and performs sobriety evaluations; books DWI suspects.
• Participates in community relations projects as required; to include community policing activities and problem solving.
• Participates in departmental training programs.
• Serves as first-responder to provide aid and assistance to victims of traffic and other accidents; assists fire and emergency medical services in treating and transporting victims.
• Secures and protects crime scenes by establishing boundaries, detaining victims, suspects, and witnesses, locating, and identifying evidence, and briefing supervisors and investigators on their arrival.
• Prepares and maintains a wide variety of departmental records and reports in compliance with departmental and legal policies and procedures; prepares and files thorough written case reports.
• Gives advice on laws, ordinances, and general information to the public; renders advice on domestic disturbances; assists citizens in need.
• Maintains assigned uniform, vehicle, and equipment in accordance with departmental policy and procedures.
• Presents evidence and testimony in courts of law; assists in prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases.
• Assists stranded motorists; directs traffic when necessary; escorts special processions; transports prisoners to jail.
• Serves and executes criminal and traffic warrants on felony and misdemeanor suspects.
• Prepares investigative and other reports, including sketches, using appropriate grammar, symbols, and mathematical computations;
• Exercises independent judgment in determining when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exists to search and arrest, and when force may be used and to what degree.
• Operates a law enforcement vehicle during both the day and night, in emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits, in congested traffic and in unsafe road conditions caused by factors such as fog, smoke, rain, ice, and snow.
• Engages law enforcement patrol functions that include such things as working rotating shifts, walking on foot patrol, and physically checking doors and windows of buildings to ensure they are secure.
• Reads and comprehends legal and non-legal documents, including the preparation and processing of such documents as citations, affidavits, and warrants.
• Processes arrested persons to include the taking of photographs and obtaining a legible set of inked fingerprint impressions.
• Performs related work as required. When Assigned as a Police Detective:
• Investigates crimes and related law enforcement problems; performs crime scene searches by photographing and/or diagramming scene and evidence, checking for latent fingerprints, and collecting any physical evidence present.
• Identifies possible witnesses and suspects through observation at scene or reports of other officers or witnesses; conducts interviews to gather information regarding incidents and records statements made.
• Maintains control over physical evidence gathered; records and stores evidence in department; processes evidence for identification information; transports evidence to state crime lab for further processing.
• Determines probable cause to search, obtains search warrant from appropriate court, and personally conducts searches authorized; describes reason for arrest and obtains arrest warrant from appropriate court, and either personally makes arrest or turns warrant over to the uniform patrol division or other police agency for service.
• Detains and arrests suspects; protects the rights of individuals in custody; processes arrested persons by obtaining identification and prior arrest record information, recording all property confiscated, and transporting suspects to jail.
• Gathers all information related to a case; determines, either personally or with assistance of supervisor, when case is complete and submits information assembled to court system for prosecution; assists court system with any additional investigation required; appears as witness in local, state, and federal courts to provide testimony regarding cases investigated.
• Prepares a variety of records and reports including supplemental reports of investigations, reports of background investigations, and statistical reports.
• Completes and maintains a wide variety of departmental records and reports in compliance with departmental and legal policies and procedures.
• Reviews incident reports and arrest records to determine patterns of criminal activity.
• Maintains contacts with community members who may be able to provide information regarding possible criminal activities.
• Communicates in person, by telephone, or by mail with other police and security agencies to gather information regarding cases.
• Assists Juvenile Court in handling cases involving juveniles, neglected children, abandoned children, abused children, and domestic-related problems.
• Presents programs on narcotics, drug abuse, and juvenile matters to civic organizations and educational establishments.
• Works with community groups to encourage crime prevention techniques in residential and business areas; conducts on-site security checks for residential and commercial property when requested. Conducts stakeouts and undercover operations, as necessary.
• Maintains assigned uniform, vehicle, and equipment in accordance with departmental policy and procedures.
• Participates in departmental training programs.
• Performs related work as required.
• When assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division the officer will receive 5% assignment pay in lieu of standby when assigned to investigations.
• Ensures information is shared to patrol officers in regard to known offenders or known criminal activity. When Assigned to School Resource Officer: Reports to SRO Supervisor When a Police Officer is assigned to the School Resource Officer position, they will assume the responsibility for acting as the law enforcement liaison between the Police Department and their assigned school. They are responsible to assist school administration in the development of a positive school climate and a safe school environment for both students and faculty. They serve as a visible and active law enforcement figure on campus and take enforcement action when necessary. They make presentations to classes, clubs, PTO, civic and/or community groups, to enhance positive public, student, and police relations. School Resource Officer:
• Acts as a positive role model and develops good rapport with students, faculty, and parents, promoting respect for the legal system and law enforcement officers.
• Makes presentations to classes concerning law enforcement’s role in society.
• Acts as a resource with respect to delinquency prevention, citizenship, and other law enforcement related topics.
• Develops plans and strategies for providing a safe environment for the students and school staff.
• Provides for conferences and/or counseling with students, parents, and staff members, when necessary on an individual basis.
• Remains updated on juvenile court codes and legal issues.
• Responds in a timely manner to special orders and/or assignments from the School Resource Officer supervisor and ensures that such assignments are implemented in an efficient and quality manner.
• Monitors and patrols the school campus, and acts as an extension of the principal’s office in supporting and reporting violations of the school’s policies. Works individually, and with school personnel, in the detection and elimination of harmful conditions, traffic hazards, or trouble areas that might endanger the safety and welfare of students and staff.
• Takes the law enforcement action necessary to protect against unwanted intruders at the school or at school related functions.
• Investigates crimes and any other illegal or unauthorized activity which may occur on school grounds or during school sponsored events.
• Acts as the law enforcement liaison between the school and Juvenile Court Solicitors.
• Maintains close communication with administrators, appropriate school personnel, and counselors about cases involving juvenile offenders.
• Assumes related responsibilities as jointly established by the Board of Education and the Police Department in the Memorandum of Understanding.
• Develops programs that are geared toward improving relationships between the police department, students, faculty, and parents.
• The School Resource Officer (SRO) may be temporarily reassigned during school holidays, vacations or during periods of police emergencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

Desirable Qualifications for SRO:

• Have at least at least two years’ experience as a sworn law enforcement officer.
• Have earned at least an Associate (two-year) degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.
• Have demonstrated effective communication/teaching skills.
• Have demonstrated a commitment to youth related actives.
• Have demonstrated an attention to neatness in their personal appearance.
• Have demonstrated effective writing and organization skills.
• Have demonstrated a desire to participate in the SRO Program and understands the importance of being a positive role model to students and the youth of the community.
• No tobacco use of any kind.
• Have demonstrated familiarization of the budget process and adhere to budget policies that would normally apply to sworn members of the department.
• Have been certified as a School Resource Officer or has the ability to be certified within one year of appointment. JOB RELATED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS: This position requires the employee to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and less force frequently. Physical activity related to this position may include climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing and repetitive motions. Sufficient visual acuity is required to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer terminal, visually inspect, and detect small defects in equipment, use measuring devices, and do extensive reading. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This employee is subject indoor and outdoor environmental conditions throughout the year and may be required to wear a respirator. An employee in this position could be “reasonably anticipated” as a result of performing their job duties to face contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials. The incumbent may be exposed to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, smoke, temperature and noise extremes, hazardous materials, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, firearms, explosives, violence, disease, or rude/irate customers. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and legal procedures.
• Knowledge of or the ability to learn the department’s rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of or the ability to learn law enforcement investigation methods, procedures, and techniques and the ability to apply such knowledge to specific situations.
• Knowledge of or the ability to learn modern methods and practices of criminal investigation, gathering evidence, preservation of evidence, and identification.
• Knowledge of or the ability to learn the geography of the City and the location of important buildings and areas.
• Skill in the use of firearms.
• Ability to deal courteously and fairly with the public.
• Ability to analyze situations and to take quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to the surrounding hazards and circumstances of each situation.
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to obtain information through interviews, interrogations, and observation.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly under emergency conditions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally, and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, City officials, other agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to drive and operate the department’s assigned vehicles and equipment in a safe and efficient manner. Ability to qualify annually or semi-annually with firearms.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment physical examination, including drug screen.
• Must be free of any physical, emotional, or mental condition which will adversely affect the ability to perform the duties or exercise the powers of a Police Officer.
• Ability to work routinely under highly stressful conditions including life threatening situations. ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of state-mandated basic police officer training (BLET).
• Completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours approved in-service training annually.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience is acceptable. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT: Must possess and maintain a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate issued by the North Carolina Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. Must possess or be able to obtain by the time of hire, a valid North Carolina driver’s license. Equal Opportunity Employer