Police Trainee

The City of South Lake Tahoe is seeking individuals interested in being in law enforcement. The hired candidate is paid as a Police Trainee while attending the POST Academy. All academy expenses, including lodging, is covered by the City. After satisfactory completion of the POST Academy, candidates will be converted to a sworn Police Officer.
OFFICIAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Under general supervision of supervisory or management staff, the Police Officer is a designated peace officer position who performs a variety of duties in the enforcement of law and order; performs a variety of community service duties; and carries out special assignments in the protection of life and property.

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS
The Police Officer is the journey level sworn position in the Police Unit and possess a significant level of specialized, technical, or functional expertise. Positions at this level require highly specialized knowledge, abilities, skills, and experience and often exercises independent judgment in the performance of their 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 streetlamps 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.

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.
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.

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 driver's license.

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: Work is performed primarily in an office and field environment; travel to different sites; exposure to inclement weather conditions; exposure to irate and abusive individuals; exposure to mechanical hazards and to hazardous traffic conditions; limited exposure to hazardous materials; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office and field setting; to walk or sit for prolonged periods of time; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to operate assigned equipment and vehicle; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

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

FLSA DESIGNATION: NON-EXEMPT