Police Officer

Description

The City of South Lake Tahoe Police Department is committed to providing excellent customer service by utilizing community-oriented policing. We encourage our employees to build trusteed relationships with our community members and visitors. These relationships allow us to have a collaborative problem-solving approach and open communication within our community.

• POST Certificate (Int/Adv) to a max of 5%
• Degree pay to a max of 7%
• Longevity up to 10%
• Detective Pay 5%
• ICI Certificate 5%

• Patrol works a compressed work week of 3/12
• CalPERS varies with Classic or PEPRA member
• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Significant Tuition reimbursement

For additional information on benefits and compensation, please refer to the Police Officers’ Association MOU

The City of South Lake Tahoe is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity. To continue to provide the best service to our community, we are looking for candidates who are compassionate, professional, accountable, and possess a passion for Public Service. Candidates who are fluent in Spanish are also desired.

Copies of the following applicable required documents must be attached online to your online application before submission of your online application (failure to attach applicable required listed documents will result in disqualification):

1) Proof of current enrollment in a full time or extended CA basic POST Police Academy with an anticipated graduation date within 6 months of the date of your application.

2) CA Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate OR a Graduation Certificate from a P.O.S.T accredited Peace Officer Basic Law Enforcement Academy, that will still be "Active" at the time of hire.

3) Basic P.O.S.T. Certificate from another State and proof of current enrollment in the CA Basic P.O.S.T. Academy Course Waiver Process (email/letter from CA POST will suffice).

Minimum qualifications for current openings include the following-

California Lateral Police Officers- Candidates who are, or who have been, employed as a full time law enforcement officer for at least one (1) year with a California law enforcement agency and who still possess a valid, active P.O.S.T Basic Certificate.

Out-Of-State Lateral Police Officers- Candidates who are currently employed as a full time law enforcement officer having at least one (1) year tenure with an out-of-state law enforcement agency (agency other than a California agency), and having successfully completed an out-of-state P.O.S.T basic academy or a California P.O.S.T basic academy, and, have completed or at the time of application for this recruitment have enrolled in a California P.O.S.T Waiver Course Process.

California Pre-Trained - Candidates who have successfully completed and graduated from a P.O.S.T. certified Basic Course and possess a valid CA POST Academy Certificate. Persons currently attending a full time or extended California Basic POST Police Academy scheduled to graduate within 6 months of the date of application may apply. Applicants attending an academy at time of application will only be eligible for hire as a "Lateral/Pre-trained" Police Officer after successful completion of the Police academy and award of Basic Academy training certificate.

Selection Process

The minimum qualifications as stated in this job description represent only the basic requirements of the position. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee that a candidate will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. The recruitment process involves multiple steps including but not limited to:

• 
  Law Enforcement Officer and Community Policing Written Examination

Source List

• Department Interviews

• Criminal Background Check
• Reference Check
• Substance Screening
• Medical and Psychological Evaluation

Examples of Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

1. Patrols an assigned area by motor vehicle, on foot, or by other designated means to answer calls for the protection of life and property and the enforcement of city, county, and state laws as well as to pro-actively seek out criminal behavior when not engaged in reactive assignments; conducts both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, robberies, death and other criminal incidents.
2. Makes arrests as necessary; interviews victims, complainants and witnesses; interrogates suspects; gathers and preserves evidence; testifies and presents evidence in court.
3. Investigates crimes against property, persons, and narcotics and vice-related crimes; performs non-criminal investigations or duties including those related to missing persons, suspicious circumstances, and civil standbys.
4. Gathers evidence using a variety of methods and techniques, including taking photographs, lifting fingerprints, tracing movements and talking with informants.
5. Presents information upon completion of investigations to the District Attorney's office for filing charges; appears in court, as directed.
6. Serves warrants and subpoenas; files complaints; performs other work related to the processing of misdemeanor and felony complaints.
7. May be assigned the duties of a detective; conducts extensive follow-up investigation at the scene of crime and accidents; gathers evidence, locates and questions witnesses and takes statements from witnesses.
8. May be assigned the duties of a school resource officer; patrols school zones and areas of high activity for youth; spends time interacting with staff, teachers, and students on school grounds; and teaches public safety and awareness classes in classrooms.
9. Investigates complaints involving juveniles; investigates reports of child neglect and persons reported to be contributing to the delinquency of minors; periodically checks business establishments and public places known to be frequented by juveniles; discusses problems with children and parents to determine effective courses of action; refers juveniles to appropriate authorities, if after investigation, it appears that home or related conditions are unsatisfactory.
10. Assists motorists, especially during snow conditions.
11. May be assigned to canine patrol duty.
12. Conducts a variety of duties in snow and other inclement weather conditions.
13. Checks buildings for physical security; reports street lamps or traffic signals that are not working; reports or removes traffic hazards and reports and takes corrective action on other conditions detrimental to the general public.
14. Detains drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; warns drivers against unlawful practices; issues citations and makes arrests as necessary.
15. Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
16. Conducts surveillance of known suspected criminal activity.
17. Prepares reports that articulately and accurately document details in writing.
18. Attends meetings with civic groups; participates in and conducts public awareness/education programs at schools.
19. Performs a variety of community oriented policing duties; maintains contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserves good relationships with the general public.
20. Directs and controls pedestrian and vehicular traffic at emergency or other congested traffic situations.
21. Performs first aid, CPR, and associated duties required of a first responder.
22. May assist in training new officers in all aspects of the job including traffic enforcement, safety, report writing and policy procedures.
23. Attends meetings, seminars and training sessions as assigned.
24. Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Police methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigation, and identification techniques.

• Criminal law and criminal procedure with particular reference to the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies.

• Community related problem-solving techniques

• Rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence.

• Offensive and defensive weapons nomenclature and theory.

• Principles and practices of self defense.

• Use and care of firearms, chemical agents, baton and other related paraphernalia.

• Interviewing and interrogation techniques.

• Pertinent laws, codes, regulations and statutes.

• City geography, noting streets and building locations.

• First aid and CPR techniques.

Ability to:

• Know and understand all aspects of a sworn Police Officer's job.

• Analyze work papers, reports and special projects.

• Remember accounts given by witnesses.

• Identify crime suspects.

• Interpret and apply the law to field situations.

• Conduct surveillance.

• Problem solve crime situations.

• Assist the public in understanding the law.

• Undertake and satisfactorily complete required and assigned in-service training programs as well as other mandated training requirements.

• Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places.

• Think logically and act quickly in emergencies, and judge situations and people accurately.

• Continually learn, understand and interpret laws and regulations.

• Meet and maintain required peace officer employment standards.

• Meet and maintain the departmental firearms qualifications standards.

• Drive and handle a police vehicle under routine and emergency situations and in snow conditions.

• Prepare and make presentations related to law enforcement efforts in the community.

• Be sensitive to various cultural and ethnic groups present in the community.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training/Experience/P.O.S.T.:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

UNTRAINED - Persons selected from this group will be appointed as a Police Trainee. Upon satisfactory completion of a P.O.S.T. required Police Basic Course, the police trainee will be appointed to the position of Police Officer while on probation for 18 months.

PRE-TRAINED - Successful completion and graduation from a P.O.S.T. certified Basic Course or be deemed by P.O.S.T. to have satisfactorily completed a California P.O.S.T. equivalent training course and must be appointed as a peace officer within three (3) years from the completion date of the basic course. Should the applicant have a three (3) year or longer break from the basic course completion date, the applicant must successfully complete the basic course waiver process as defined by P.O.S.T.

LATERAL - Current or previous employment within the past three (3) years as a full-time California peace officer and satisfactory completion of P.O.S.T. Basic Course requirements.

Should the applicant have a three (3) year or longer employment break as a California peace officer, the applicant must successfully complete the basic course waiver process as defined by P.O. S. T.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid California or Nevada driver's license.

Supplemental Information

The conditions herein 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 job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting with some travel to various locations to attend meetings or respond to emergency scenes, disasters, or critical incidents; the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions and wet and/or humid conditions; occasionally works in high, precarious places; occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, risk of radiation, and vibration; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, the noise level is occasionally very loud due to sirens, etc; wear protective apparel including goggles, face protector, aprons, safety shoes, and self contained breathing apparatus; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; walk, stand, or sit for prolonged periods of time; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; occasionally climb and balance; regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry light to moderate weights; frequently lift and/or move moderate to heavy weights; occasionally lift and/or move heavy weights; operate office equipment including use of computer keyboard; requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and gripping with hands and fingers; ability to speak and hear to exchange information; ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations; ability to operate and use specialized vehicles and equipment.

Vision: See within the normal range of vision with or without correction; specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

FLSA Designation: Exempt