Police Officer

This position is responsible for performing a variety of duties related to the protection of life and property and enforcement of laws and ordinances. Work involves proactive patrolling, crime prevention and investigation. Duties include responding to emergency and non-emergency calls for service, conducting preliminary investigations, making arrests, traffic control and enforcement, and carrying out other duties and related tasks.

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Patrols designated areas of the City in car, by foot, or other means to preserve law and order, discover and prevent the commission of crimes, and enforce traffic and other laws and ordinances; maintains awareness of and remains alert for wanted suspects, known criminals, stolen vehicles, missing persons, traffic violators, and crimes in progress; issues warnings and citations.
• Responds to calls for the protection of life and property, the enforcement of laws and ordinances, general public service calls, and complaints including those involving automobile accidents, traffic hazards, misdemeanor and felony incidents, domestic disturbances, property control, civil complaints, animal control, and related incidents; responds to and provides assistance at a variety of public service type calls that are non-criminal in nature.
• Performs a full range of traffic enforcement duties; observes, monitors, and controls routine and unusual traffic conditions, assists and advises motorists; use speed detection devices; issues citations and warnings; investigates traffic accidents; coordinates traffic patterns during special events; conducts special enforcement details including DUI; seatbelt; and child safety seat checkpoints.
• Conducts preliminary investigations at scenes of incidents to which summoned, or incidents observed; determines what, if any crime has been committed; identifies, collects, preserves, processes, photographs, and logs evidence, locates and interviews victims and witnesses; identifies and interrogates suspects.
• Prepares and serves search and arrest warrants; apprehends and arrests offenders for crimes committed under Federal, State, and local laws and codes; controls and effectively processes individuals under the influences of drugs or alcohol or other potentially hostile situations.
• Detains, apprehends, and arrests, criminal suspects and law violators when necessary; follows proper procedures when making arrests. Transports arrestees to detention centers and oversees booking.
• Transports mental patients and detainees to prescribed locations as necessary.
• Serves warrants, summonses, subpoenas, civil, and other official papers. Seizes evidence and contraband uncovered in such duties.
• Directs traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency situations; provides traffic and crowd control at parades, festivals, riots, and other events.
• Provides assistance or backup support to other officers, emergency medical providers, fire department personnel, state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies, other public service agencies, provides emergency response on a twenty-four-hour basis needed.
• Conducts surveillance of known and suspected criminals. May be assigned to work undercover to obtain evidence of criminal activity in furtherance of investigations. May develop reliable informants and provide intelligence information to divisional and/or departmental personnel.
• Investigates complaints, accidents, or hazardous conditions which might endanger the public.
• Processes required paperwork during scheduled tour of duty. Requests and process status reports for driver’s licenses and histories, criminal histories, and other information through NCIC and GCIC database.
• Serves as liaison and public relations officer for the assigned area; establishes and preserves good relationship with the public; addresses concerns, and gives information to the public, civic organizations, neighborhood groups, business groups, the media, and other groups; attends meetings as necessary; attends community meetings and neighborhood association meetings on a regular and ad-hoc basis.
• Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses; may respond to requests for assistance from agencies outside the City for mutual aid in the suppression of civil disturbances, apprehension of criminals or other related requests.
• Participates in continuous training to enhance law enforcement skills including defensive driving skills, apprehension and arrest techniques, investigation skills, and general law enforcement skills.
• Performs a variety of administrative and other types of duties in support of law enforcement services, programs, and activities; and attends meetings.
• Prepares a variety of reports including those on activities, operations, arrests made, unusual incidents observed; prepares investigative report and case information.
• Testifies in juvenile, civil, traffic, municipal and criminal courts, and prepares and presents evidence; responds to mandatory court calls during irregular hours.
• Answers questions from the public concerning local and State laws, procedures, and activities of the department.
• Maintains uniforms, weapons, and other assigned equipment in functional and presentable condition.
• Answers questions asked by the general public; works with juveniles and adults in related matters; refers public to persons or agencies which can provide further assistance as required.
• Responds to complaints and questions related to law enforcement issues and activities; mediates disputes; provides information, researches problems, and initiates problem resolution.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required by the Position

• Knowledge of modern police procedures, methods, techniques, and practices in patrol, crime prevention, investigation, and administration.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of search and seizure and preservation and presentation of evidence.
• Ability to serve in a law enforcement capacity in a responsible and effective manner under difficult, stressful, or life-threatening situations.
• Ability to analyze complex police problems and situations and to adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances.
• Skill in the proper use and care of firearms.
• Ability to safely handle weapons and use force to restrain/subdue combative subjects.
• Skill and ability to drive and operate the department’s vehicles and equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• Ability to maintain all licenses, certifications, and qualifications required by position.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to understand and respond quickly, calmly, decisively, and accurately to written and oral directions, instructions, inquires, and requests in all situations.
• Ability to observe accurately and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents, and places, and record information clearly and completely.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including City and other government officials, community groups, and the general public.
• Ability to foster appropriate intra and interagency communications.
• Ability to handle situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and impartially.
• Ability to facilitate effective conflict resolution.
• Ability to work independently or as a team member effectively within the guidelines of standard operating procedures, department rules and regulations, and within the scope of authority for the position.
• Ability to learn, display, and maintain all skills, knowledge, and abilities for performance of all duties and responsibilities, as outlined in this job description.
• Ability to meet physical, mental, or other job specific requirements.
• Knowledge of geography of City of Stockbridge, preferred.

Physical Demands

Effective audio and visual discrimination and perception needed to make observations; read and write; drive safely and simultaneously operate emergency lights, siren, radio, and computer; speak clearly and concisely, free from speech impediments; hear and understand radio, telephone, and normal range of verbal communications, discern color differences; identify and distinguish smells of different materials; sit or stand for prolonged periods; walk, run, stoop, kneel, crawl and crouch; walk up and down flights of stairs; climb or jump over obstacles such as fences, shrubs and ditches; run fast for short periods of time to apprehend suspects or provide emergency assistance; confront armed and dangerous subjects; make precise and coordinated finger, hand and limb movement; maintain uniform, controlled hand-arm posture or movement; push, pull or drag and adult (averaging 160 pounds); lift, pickup, and/or carry all sort of items of 50 pounds or more; use force to restrain/subdue combative subjects; work efficiently for long periods of time; drive motor vehicles under emergency and non-emergency conditions; fire weapon and/or utilize other non/less-lethal weapons on duty; perform lifesaving procedures; perform prolonged periods of concentrations such as proof reading, figure work, and reading various law enforcement materials; function effectively under stress; ability to deal effectively with the morbid, the repugnant, the abnormal, the morse, the psychotic, the neurotic, and otherwise unpleasant and unusual facets or results of human behavior.

Work Environment

Work is performed either in an office environment or 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; 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 in specific assignments.