Description

This position is that of a MN P.O.S.T. Board Licensed Police Officer. The Police Officer works under the daily and direct supervision of a designated police supervisor or O.I.C. in an assigned patrol district during a specified period of time. The Police Officer is responsible for protection of life and property, neighborhood problem solving, maintenance of order, prevention of crime, enforcement of laws, apprehension of criminals and providing general public service. The position also assists in the investigation of criminal offenses, accidents or other police related problems. Lateral Officer candidates will be considered.

Examples of Duties

Patrols

Patrols assigned areas by a variety of means including, but not limited to motor vehicle, bicycle or foot and makes checks of public facilities, business buildings and private dwellings.

Traffic Law Enforcement

Observes/monitors motor vehicles/pedestrian/bicycle traffic, both visually and with specialized detection equipment such as radar for compliance with state and local laws.
Stops offenders of traffic laws, whether in a motor vehicle, on foot, or on bicycle and takes appropriate enforcement action.
Requests checks on vehicle/bicycle registrations, drivers license status and/or outstanding warrants.
Issues traffic violations citations or makes arrests for violations.
Investigates traffic crashes and prepares required reports.
Interviews witnesses.
Determines if drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and are impaired.
Drives a variety of Police Department vehicles under routine, emergency or pursuit circumstances, in all traffic and weather conditions in compliance with all state statutes and department policy.

Investigates Criminal Offenses

Conducts preliminary/initial investigations.
Locates and searches area for victims, suspects or witnesses.
Interviews and records victims, suspects or witnesses oral or written statements.
Gathers, processes, and/or safeguards physical evidence. Including visual, digital and photographic evidence.
Makes all types of physical arrests including probable causes and warrant arrests, both by warrants and/or as crime has occurred.

May be Assigned as an Investigator

Handles all follow-up investigation in all areas, including juvenile cases.
Prepares evidence/statements to substantiate the issuance of criminal complaints.
Interviews/interrogates victims, witnesses and suspects; takes sworn statements, formal confessions or depositions.
Works plain clothes and possibly in covert, undercover operations.
Presents cases for issuance of Criminal Complaints by prosecutors.

Responds To Emergency Situations

Renders necessary first aid or life saving measures to conscious/unconscious sick and injured people, both in safe and hazardous situations.
Responds to fires, accidents, hazardous material or natural disaster incidents and takes appropriate actions.
Takes necessary and appropriate safeguards to prevent exposure to infectious or other hazardous materials.

Handles Arrest Situations and Procedures Involving Use of Force

Faces situations and is prepared to use deadly force when justified by state statute and police department policy.
Encounters situations and is prepared to use appropriate force where resistance to arrest is displayed and takes appropriate action in compliance with state statute and department policy.
Encounters situations and is prepared to take defensive actions in response to threats or actual infliction of bodily harm or death and takes appropriate action in compliance with state statute and department policy.

Parks

Performs random patrol of city parks.
Performs security checks for Park buildings.
Enforces park ordinances.
Acts as a general public contact for park users.

Parking/Zoning

Enforces parking ordinance, zoning code enforcement, and off-street parking.
Enforces recreation vehicle parking and abandoned junk vehicles and/or litter on residential property.

Bicycle Safety

During summer months conducts bicycle safety programs.
Enforces Bicycle Safety Laws.
Performs public speaking and education on bicycle laws.

Animal Control

In the absence of the animal control officer, handles animal related problems.
Responds to resident complaints of barking dogs and other nuisances created by pets and wild animals.
Enforces of animal control ordinances.
Impounds loose, abandoned, vicious, or rabid animals.
Disposes of dead animal carcasses.
Investigates animal bite cases and prepares animal bite reports and properly quarantines all impounded animals.
Handles dogs and other wild animals safely.

Crime Prevention/Neighborhood and Community Policing

Assists in developing and conducting Community Policing programs.
Assists in conducting; home security surveys, operation I.D., crime free multi-housing, safety camps, and all crime prevention programming.
Educates through public speaking on crime prevention program and techniques.
Works with residents on problem solving and conflict resolution.

General

Prepares for and gives testimony in both criminal and civil courts.
Prepares and submits all required oral and written reports and records victim/witness statements
Serves criminal/civil process, including warrants and subpoenas.
Responds to all types of related complaints or assignments such as prowlers, trespass, fights, domestics, alarms, disturbances, public demonstrations and protests, etc. and takes appropriate actions including arrest, mediation, written or oral reports or referral to other public agencies.
Renders aid and assistance to the general public.
Assists residents with vehicle and home lockouts.
Assists with stalled or disabled vehicles in traffic.
Directs traffic at crash scenes or at intersections where traffic control device problems exist.
Assists public, including answering questions, giving directions, law interpretations, project status, and making referrals to other agencies.
In the absence of the Police Supervisor, may be assigned as the "Officer In Charge".
May be assigned to a staff services or administrative position.
May be assigned as a "Field Training Officer" conducting on the job training of employees.
Performs all job functions in the safest possible manner and in compliance with City Safety Policies.
Maintains skills proficiency through the successful completion of assigned training.
Handles and performs all other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Eligible for licensure under the MN P.O.S.T. selection standards by time of appointment.
Possess a valid Driver's License.
Pass a job related physical examination.
Pass a physical agility test.
Willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions.·

DESIRABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Four year degree in criminal justice/law enforcement or related field.
First Responder certified.
Knowledge of local, state, and Federal Laws.
Knowledge of local geography.
Experience or knowledge of criminal justice system and approved principles, practices and procedures of police work.
Formal training in traffic and pedestrian control.
Experience/training in leadership.
Experience/training in communicating, teaching, demonstrating or directing others.
Work experience with the use of Windows based applications.
Bilingual; able to fluently speak another language(s).
Experience working extensively with people from various ethnic communities, occupations and levels of authority.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Communications: Must have the ability to actively listen to others for understanding of their needs and situations; ability to speak and write English clearly. Must be able to assertively control conversations in order to quickly and accurately gather pertinent information and to be able to communicate this information professionally and precisely to the proper recipient. Be able to read and understand correspondence, memoranda and directives. The ability to write clear and concise reports. Skill in making both oral and demonstrative presentations. The ability to understand and execute instructions both in terms of content and intent.

Decision Making: Must act in a decisive manner, using good judgment. Must be able to assess problems and situations, able to anticipate needs and evaluate alternatives. Must be able to deal with emergency and stress situations, to avoid over reaction, to maintain flexibility in adjusting to situations and procedures; to support and carry out directives. Must have a knowledge of the utilization of appropriate resources and the willingness to initiate use of available resources. Ability to understand and carry out complex directions. The ability to perform the job with a minimum of supervision.

Interpersonal Relationships: Must be consistent in dealing with people; must be sensitive to others' problems without direct involvement. Must exclude personal biases from work performance. Must have the ability to accept criticism and/or discipline. Must have tact and diplomacy. Must have the ability to work varying shifts or times within a 24-hour per day period and be available for emergency or call-in work. The ability to deal tactfully and cooperatively with both individuals and groups.

Professional Attitude: Must have commitment to the organization, and the agencies the center serves; willingness to take initiative; dependability, maturity in relationships with others; and self confidence. Must represent the organization to other agencies and citizens with a courteous, helpful, accurate and business-like attitude in all radio, telephone, and other types of contact.

Technical Knowledge: Must have the ability to learn and apply specific laws, city ordinances, and regulations. Must have the ability and skill to safely operate a motor vehicle. Must maintain certification as a "First Responder" or equivalent level of certification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions, frequently requires walking, sitting and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires standing, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, tasting or smelling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme heat (nonweather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, working with explosives, exposure to vibration, wearing a self contained breathing apparatus and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).