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Police Sergeant

Sitka, City and Borough of (AK) | Sitka, AK

Posted Date 2/28/2025
Description

Primary Purpose of Job

The primary purpose of this position is to supervise and coordinate police operations relating to patrol, traffic, investigations, and special assignments but also perform sworn police duties in the prevention of crimes and general law enforcement. As a supervisor, the Police Sergeant conducts training, evaluates, directs the work, and makes recommendations regarding evaluations and other personnel matters for the employees supervised.

Under the direct supervision of a Lieutenant, the employee works independently on assigned duties and responsibilities within the chain of command and consistent with federal, state, and local laws, department policies and procedures, and the Sitka Police Department Operating Procedures Manual (“OPM”).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assigns, trains, directs, monitors, and evaluates work performed by police officers and
• Will direct the work of other non-sworn employees in the absence of the Lieutenant
• Responsible for insuring adequate staffing during patrol shifts
• Coordinates and conducts inspections of police officers and vehicles on a regular basis
• Instructs, coaches, and mentors police officers about SPD goals, objectives, and policies and procedures and directs their implementation into daily duties
• Instructs police officers, in a variety of law enforcement subjects individually or as a group and participates in training courses and programs
• Maintains training schedules and training logs for all sworn
• Maintain employee management logs and progress reports
• Conducts and participates in daily briefing training of all duty employees
• Identifies staffing operational problems and recommend solutions to the Lieutenant
• Serve as the Field Training Officer (“FTO”) and supervises Police Officers who also perform FTO duties
• Maintains the SPD’s Field Training and Evaluation program manual to ensure the manual is up-to-date
• Schedules officers for the field training program
• Review Daily Observation reports and recommends officers advancement due to the completion of their FTO Program
• Providing on scene supervision in all patrol related activities
• Responds to police calls to oversee and instruct as necessary the work performed by police officers to ensure the proper handling of criminal and non-criminal incidents
• Oversees or handles critical incidents and provides guidance or assistance
• Investigates complaints, prepare case histories, field training reports, activity reports, staff reports, and incident reports
• Researches best law enforcement equipment, recommends updating or replacement of SPD equipment, and maintains existing SPD equipment
• Assists the Lieutenant with Administrative or Professional Standards investigations
• Coordinates SPD and multi-jurisdictional training within the department as well as with other agencies
• Ensures all hardcopies or electronic versions of the department’s Standard Operation Procedures are up to date for all SPD sections
• Identifies law enforcement issues and works with resident groups to develop and recommend programs or strategies for advancing partnerships with citizens and businesses
• Performs other duties as assigned
Knowledge of:
• Principles, practices, and procedures of police work performed in a department with a community policing philosophy
• Federal, state, or local public safety laws, ordinances, and up-to-date case law
• Operating Procedures Manual, Standard Operating Procedures, and other department directives to ensure operational compliance
• Court procedures, rules of evidence, and report-writing techniques
• Supervision and management principles
• Policies and procedures for conducting criminal investigations, including interviewing techniques and procedures
• Police equipment, firearms, and vehicles and their proper use in law enforcement
• First aid and CPR

Skills in:
• Operating a personal computer and Microsoft software such as Word, Excel, and Outlook and any specialized software for public safety operation
• Operating a variety of tools and equipment specific to law enforcement duties to include a police radio, baton, handcuffs, handgun, various firearms and other weapons
• De-escalating conflict when dealing with difficult individuals who are sometimes physically or verbally threatening
• Leading, supervising, and motivating others
• Multi-tasking with a strong attention to detail
• Performing computer entry duties with speed, efficiency, and accuracy
• Reading, writing, and mathematics, such as would have been obtained at a high school level
• Writing reports, completing forms, and preparing correspondence which is readable and compliant with legal requirements

Ability to:
• Recognize and maintain confidential information
• Interact tactfully, firmly, and courteously with the public to obtain information through effective interviews and interrogation
• Work under extremely stressful situations which result from responding to emergency situations, including the responsibility for remaining calm and carrying out all duties with the recognition of the threat to life and property
• Work within a command structure requiring strict adherence to the following of orders
• Dealing with a variety of people calmly and professionally in a customer service situation, including times when the situation may be stressful
• Use good judgment within the department’s OPM requirements and other department directives
• Make decisions, sometimes quickly, as to the best course of action for responding to emergency situations
• Demonstrate proper use of applicable weapons, proper patrol and investigative procedures
• Interpret, analyze, and apply laws, ordinances, and case law
• Communicate well with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language
• Understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures, and instructions
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and oral instructions
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines
• Quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age; and

• United States citizen at time of appointment; and
• High school diploma or GED; and
• Seven years of law enforcement experience with SPD or with another law enforcement agency experience with SPD or within Alaska preferred; and
• Supervisory or military experience, preferred; and
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire, an advanced certificate from the APSC or an equivalent certificate from another state which meets the training standards required by the ASPC

Other Job Requirements or Expectations

• Possession of, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire, a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Alaska
• Will be required to pass a background check and drug screen
• If law enforcement experience is not within Alaska, will be expected to attend and complete the Department of Public Safety Lateral Police Academy within 12 months of hire
• Must wear uniform within specified standards
• Employees will be required to work different shifts, including early mornings, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays and be on-call for 24 hours when necessary

Working Conditions:

• Works indoors about 30% of the time
• Works in vehicle on patrol and outdoors on foot, often in inclement weather, about 70% of the time
• May work in situations in which there are dangerous or deadly weapons or deadly physical force
• May work near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places
• May be exposed to various hazards such as blood, other bodily fluids/products, communicable diseases, grease or oil, a variety of fumes or airborne particles, extreme temperatures, solvents or chemicals, electrical hazards, and vehicular traffic and smoke

Specific Physical Requirements:
• Daily wears a uniform which requires carrying an equipment belt weighing up to 30 pounds
• Visual acuity required to:

o See both near and far acuity to operate vehicles and equipment, monitor traffic and observe people and objects
o Have the required depth perception to operate vehicles and shoot firearms
o Detect color of vehicles and clothing
o Ensure a field of vision for driving, shooting and self-defense

• Frequently sits or rides in vehicle for long periods of time in a vehicle
• Frequently reaches, handles, and feels in order to operate vehicles and equipment
• Frequently talks and hears in order to communicate in-person and by radio
• Frequently lifts and carries objects weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without the assistance of proper equipment or another
• Occasionally moves, pushes or pulls objects weighing up to 200 pounds, with or without assistance of proper equipment or another
• Occasionally climbs of 6'-8' fences or walls, stairs, or steep outdoor terrain
• Occasionally runs spontaneously for short distances
• Occasionally stands for long periods of time
• Occasionally balances, stoops, kneels, crouches, and crawls
• Occasionally smells to detect the presence of gases or controlled substances

General Physical Requirements:
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities which permits the employee to communicate laws and ordinances, provide both directions, and general information effectively
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation which permits the employee to identify criminal activity and to be aware of any potential safety issues
• Sufficient manual dexterity which permits the employee to operate a vehicle and law enforcement equipment and a keyboard
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical strength, stamina, agility and reflexes which permits the employee to patrol assigned areas and to capture, control, or arrest subjects
Salary45.24 - 52.46 Hour
Field
Police
Highest Educational Degree Required
High school diploma

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