Police Officer Trainee

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, performs general duties of law enforcement including enforcing federal, state, and local laws, as well as working to protect the lives, property, and rights of the citizen. Reports to the Sergeant.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Patrols an assigned area of the city; monitors radio calls; inspects troublesome areas and checks security of business establishments; answers complaint calls and assists in investigating crimes and disturbances; and advises citizens of proper steps in crime prevention.

Investigates crimes committed; makes preliminary investigations and interrogates suspects and witnesses; secures and executes arrest and search warrants; apprehends criminal suspects; conducts interrogation of suspects to determine appropriate charges; books suspects according to charge; writes preliminary reports on each case after initial investigation; and prepares supplemental reports as necessary; and appears in court as witness to give testimony in court concerning investigation results and evidence obtained.

Assists senior officers at crime scenes; makes detailed search, analysis, and gathers evidence of crime scene using various technical procedures, including photography, fingerprint detection and identification, casting of footprints, etc.; and examines crime scenes to determine violations of law.

Maintains surveillance over individuals and groups suspected of criminal activity; and interviews informants and witnesses concerning the criminal activity of others.

Investigates accidents; secures and clears accident scenes; directs traffic, assists disabled motorists; enforces parking regulations; monitors vehicle speeds with radar; conducts criminal and driving checks; and issues summons or warnings.

Prepares various reports and forms such as case files, accident reports, evidence vouchers, vehicle maintenance reports, tow sheets, fingerprint cards, etc.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions.”

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards, and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human, and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant, and self-starting approach to meeting job responsibilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with City policy or procedures, etc.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers, and managers in other departments, to project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Sergeant, professionals, and the general public.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Graduation from high school or GED or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Selected applicants must be available to work all assigned shifts. This will include day shift or night shift.

Shall have reached his/her 21st birthday by the time of their Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Certification.

Must pass an initial written test and physical agility.

Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; sex offender registry and credit check.

Requires satisfactory results from a medical, psychological evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.

A valid Virginia’s driver’s license prior to employment with an acceptable driving record to include a zero or positive point balance.

Must obtain and maintain for continued employment U.S. Citizenship prior to appointment as a Police Officer; all State requirements for Police Officers as specified in Virginia Code; all federal and state requirements to carry a firearm; and may require certifications such as Breathalyzer certification.

Must be able to wear a standard issued duty belt with all applicable instrumentation.

Must successfully complete a certified Basic Law Enforcement Academy and associated field training within one year of employment.

Additional training may be necessary to meet the requirements of some division assignments.

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a motor vehicle, a variety of firearms and defense devices, a two-way radio, typewriter, calculator, copier, etc. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical requirements of the job are those rated for Heavy Work.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions and/or directions to the general public. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, records, and memorandums. Requires the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, clarity, voice control, and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid and coherent conclusions. Requires the ability to access critical situations and establish methods to resolve such situations in absence of direct supervision.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal and medical terminology, and emergency response codes.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages, as well as interpret graphs.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated weaponry. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, weapons, etc. Must have high levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.