Patrol Officer - Certified - City of Copperas Cove

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Performs police patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement and regulation, and related law enforcement activities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Receives direct supervision from Police Sergeant/Lieutenant.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Must be able to pass testing and obtain certifications with the ASP baton, firearms, Taser, emergency vehicle operations, and pepper spray if not certified at the time of employment with the Copperas Cove Police Department.

Works a uniformed shift in the performance of security patrols, traffic control, investigation and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation, restraint and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.

Works an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency and non-emergency situations without assistance.

Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedent.

Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.

Patrols City streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies, and other law violations and to otherwise serve and protect. Conducts patrol activities including directing traffic and investigation of reported or observed violations of law.

Responds to calls for assistance and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, and other crimes. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.

Conducts traffic stops to ensure driver safety and enforcement of Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.

Interrogates and interviews suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons other law enforcement officers and vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene.

Conducts investigations of crimes. Seeks out and interviews victims, witnesses and suspects, searches crimes scene, develops leads and tips. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Attends autopsies as assigned or required.

Renders basic first aid and summons ambulances or other emergency services to scenes.

Conducts investigations of crimes. Seeks out and interviews victims, witnesses, and suspects. Searches crime scenes and develops leads. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Photographs crime scenes. Attends autopsies as assigned or required. Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings. Obtains court orders as required. Prepares a variety of detailed and complex reports and records.

Completes police case reports and provides all exculpatory or impeaching information and evidence to the prosecuting entity as required by Brady v. Maryland (1963).

Undertakes community-oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education, traffic safety, etc.

Trains new police officers in accordance with State law and Department policy.

Maintains communication and coordination with other officers, other City personnel, other law enforcement agencies and prosecutors as needed and assigned. Maintains contact with general public and court officials in the performance of police operating activities.

Works in partnership with the District and County Attorney's office to file criminal complaints on arrested subjects.

Searches prisoners and transports suspects to jail and juvenile probation office and detention centers; transport prisoners to and from medical facilities and mentally ill persons to and from mental health facilities; performs jail duties such as booking, arraigning, feeding and overall supervision of prisoners.

Participates in continuous training to enhance law enforcement skills including firearms proficiency, defensive driving skills, apprehension and arrest techniques, investigative skills, and general law enforcement skills.

Participates in special assignments including but not limited to, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT), Traffic Enforcement Officer, Mental Health Officer, School Resource Officer (SRO), Field Training Officer (FTO), Honor Guard Team, Intoxilyzer Operator, Detective, and related assignments; provides guidance and training to Law Enforcement Explorer Program (LEEP) participants.

Conducts special investigations as assigned by supervisors. Provides information to victims/survivors on referrals and police report-investigation status.

Locate and neutralize the threat of vicious animals. Responsible for preparation of various lesson plans, memos, letters, and reports.

Participates in continuous training to enhance law enforcement skills including firearms proficiency, defensive driving skills, apprehension and arrest techniques, investigative skills, and general law enforcement skills. Attend and conduct classes, training, and labs. Mentors students, gives speeches and presentations to students and public meetings. Pass testing for certifications and other applicable training.

Gathers and disseminates information and intelligence. Responsible for conducting background investigations. Assists other agencies and divisions of this Department in executing search or arrest warrants and conducts surveillance operations as required.

Cleans and maintains Departmental equipment, supplies, and facilities. Ability to perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Regular and timely attendance is an essential job function.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Serves as a member of various employee committees as assigned.

Other duties as assigned.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.

Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid Texas driver's license without record of suspension or revocation in any State.

No felony convictions or any offense involving family violence. No conviction above of a class C misdemeanor within the last 10 years.

U.S. citizen, must be able to read and write the English language.

High school diploma or G.E.D. with twelve (12) hours of college courses or two (2) years active duty with honorable discharge.

Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits.

Must be mentally, physically fit, and must meet City and Department response time requirements.

Visual acuity must be at least 20/200 uncorrected in each eye and must be corrected to 20/30 with either glasses or contact lenses. Color blindness is an automatic disqualification.

Must possess a valid TCOLE State Peace Officer License.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.

Knowledge of Federal, State, and local criminal, juvenile and traffic laws and statutes.

Ability to perform a full range of physical efforts as needed to perform in a police officer capacity and successfully pass standards established in the Physical Readiness Testing Program.

Ability to demonstrate firearms proficiency.

Knowledge of management practices and techniques.

Skilled in organization, time management, and critical thinking.

Ability to use modern office equipment and software.

Ability to train, supervise, and mentor subordinate personnel.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and to give verbal and written instructions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers, and supervisors.

Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.

Ability to exercise confidentiality.

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

Knowledge of the City's geography.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Formal application; review of education and experience; testing including written and physical readiness test; oral interview; background check; polygraph examination; successful completion of a medical examination with a drug screen, psychological examination and complete the Copperas Cove Field Training and physical readiness test.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Fleet vehicles, police radio, radar, handgun and other weapons as required, handcuffs, tire deflation devices, intoxilyzer, evidence and crime scene processing equipment, computer, copy/fax machine, cameras, video equipment, phone, first aid and safety equipment, other specialized tools and equipment as required.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here 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 functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk clearly or hear well. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally run or lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include good visual acuity, close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus in both the right and left eye. (20/200 uncorrected in each eye and must be corrected to 20/30 with either glasses or contact lenses).

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and with explosives. Is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration. Is periodically exposed to persons who represent a danger to health and life. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.