POLICE OFFICER
This person in this position is responsible for performing a full range of law enforcement duties in the patrol, community policing, crime prevention, and transportation functions of the City of Douglasville Police Department. The incumbent may be assigned temporarily to a specialty area within the department based on needs.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Maintains law and order and protects life and property to include: Patrols assigned geographic area;
• Receives and responds to dispatched calls;
• Investigates and takes appropriate action on assigned calls;
• Conducts security checks of businesses, parks, public buildings, industrial areas and residences; Serves as a counselor for domestic disputes; Issues citations and/or makes arrests for violations of laws including traffic violations and local ordinances;
• Prepares incident and accident reports;
• Attends and testifies in various levels of court, including Superior, State, Juvenile, Administrative and Municipal, on cases investigated or reports written;
• Responds to natural and man-made disasters;
• Locates defendants and serves criminal warrants;
• Assists with crowd control and security assignments at various public gatherings or incident scenes;
• Reports hazardous conditions on public roadways and bridges;
• Conducts surveillance;
• Provides assistance to the public as needed;
• Provides information and guidance regarding victims’ rights;
• Assesses victims, rendering aid to the injured prior to EMS arrival;
• Requests assistance of other agencies including emergency and towing services;
• Processes arrested persons following established procedures;
• Renders aid to other law enforcement personnel;
• Attends/participates in daily roll call including inspection and training prior to going on duty;
• Participates in training programs to improve knowledge and skills; May serve on the SWAT team;
• Performs a minimum of twenty training hours to include firearms and legal updates;
• Transports inmates to and from medical facilities;
• Works with public, civic organizations, etc. in conducting community activities;
· Performs specialized short or long term assignments including administrative, technical and investigative duties as required;
MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Requires Two (2) years of college coursework or an Associates’ degree; or 1) have at least three (3) years of experience as a Certified Police Officer by the hire date or an equivalent combination of college credit hours and experience as a Certified Police Officer, or certain Military occupational Specialties; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge of law enforcement concepts and terminology, including criminal investigation, law enforcement and crime prevention; first-aid principles and techniques; report preparation and record keeping; and human behavior theories related to criminology, crisis intervention and crowd control;
• Knowledge of laws and court decisions pertaining to law enforcement, including search and seizure, suspect and
prisoners’ rights, and custody and protection of evidence; operational principles and practices of criminal investigation, law enforcement and crime prevention; court and trial procedures;
• Knowledge of the use and effects of law enforcement weapons; methods of self-defense and physical restraint;
• Knowledge of City of Douglasville Police Department policies and procedures and geographic layout of City;
• Knowledge of vocabulary of technical/specialized fields of law enforcement such as identification,
detention and pathology;
• Skilled in learning, interpreting, applying and explaining complex laws and regulations;
• Skilled in reading and interpreting documents such as maps, diagrams and textbooks;
• Skilled in performing accurate mathematical calculations; comprehending and retaining factual information and applying what is learned;
• Skilled in observing and remembering details of events, names, faces, numbers and physical descriptions; preparing and maintaining clear, accurate and concise reports and files;
• Skilled in communicating effectively in both oral and written form;
• Skilled in exercising tact, self-restraint, judgment and strategy in dealing with people of all races, ethnicities and
socio-economic groups and who may have emotional or physical difficulties;
• Skilled in exercising sound independent judgment in emergency or stressful situations; correctly interpreting a given situation and taking appropriate action under a variety of conditions;
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies;
• Ability to operate a computer and various programs;
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Ability to obtain higher education requirements, as necessary;
• Ability to complete a 40-hour police motorcycle school and attend recertification training twice a year and complete 120 hours of accident investigation schooling within the first year of assignment to the unit, as required if assigned to Motor duty;
• Ability to become certified to operate radar and laser speed detection devices;
• Ability to complete K9 school, as required if assigned to K-9;
• Ability to gather, assemble, analyze and evaluate facts and evidence and to draw sound conclusions; working ability to obtain valid information by interview and interrogation;
• Ability to work rotating shifts, varying hours and be on call 24/7.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The employee is regularly required to: Have visual acuity in both eyes, normal color vision, good accommodation and no field deficits; Hear in-person, radio and telephone conversations; Recognize differences or changes in sound patterns, loudness or pitch; Speak audibly and clearly; identify and distinguish smells of different materials; Sit or stand for prolonged periods; Walk, run, kneel, stoop, crawl and crouch; Make precise and coordinated finger,
hand and limb movements; Maintain uniform, controlled hand-arm posture or movement; Push, pull or drag an adult (averaging 160 pounds); Lift and carry boxes of evidence (average 50 pounds); Use force to restrain/subdue others; Work efficiently for long periods of time.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a variety of field and office settings and may require exposure to dangerous and life-threatening situations. Must be willing to carry a firearm on and off the job; mentally and physically capable of taking the life of another, if justified; willing to work any hour of the day or night (shift work), overtime, weekends, on call and holidays; work at any location in the City and travel on specific assignments.