Police Officer

Closing: Friday, September 13th, 2024, at 9:00 PM

Position: Police Officer

Hourly Range: $50.87 - $64.93

FLSA: Non – Exempt

EEO Category: (9) Service Worker

Benefits: 5100 Series – Overtime Eligible

Position Overview:

The Police Officer will play a critical role in maintaining public safety through extensive community engagement and partnering with other civil service entities and community-based organizations to solve problems and enforce laws and ordinances; protects life and property; issues citations, makes arrests, prepares reports; meets with community members; works as a team member; and provides information to the public and departmental units. Working under the supervision of a Sergeant within the Police Department, work assignments and schedules may vary depending on the needs of the department.

Distinguishing Features:

A Police Officer is responsible for enforcing all the laws and ordinances within the jurisdiction of the Police Department. When engaged in enforcement activity, a Police Officer may work alone or as a team member. A Police Officer may be assigned based on various factors, including community input, to concentrate on controlling certain types of crime. In felony cases, a Police Officer's responsibility is normally limited to making arrests, preliminary investigations, and reports, with subsequent follow-up investigation being made by Police Detectives. The class of Police Officer is distinguished from the class of Police Sergeant and Police Detective in that a Police Sergeant is typically a first-line supervisor of several Police Officers and a Police Detective is engaged in surveillance or follow-up investigation work. A Police Officer receives general assignments and special instructions with their work being checked in the field or through activity reports. Officers may also independently initiate actions designed to respond to long term or continuing crime problems as well as respond to individual criminal activity. Often the work is performed under hazardous conditions without direct supervision, and decisions affecting life and property are often made under stress. The duties of a Police Officer require considerable public and community contact and cooperation. As a result, employees of this class must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, including being open minded, fair, unbiased, and sensitive when dealing with people of diverse backgrounds.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance and mentorship to members of the community, serving as a role model and sharing expertise gained from years of service.
• Assist in training programs and provide input for improving departmental policies and procedures.
• Provide law enforcement expertise to civilian code and parking enforcement personnel.
• Enforce federal, state, and local laws with a focus on maintaining public safety and order. Respond to emergency calls, investigate criminal activities, conduct interviews, gather evidence, and prepare comprehensive reports.
• Foster positive relationships with the community through community policing initiatives, outreach events, and proactive efforts to address community concerns.
• Collaborate with local organizations and residents to build trust and promote community well-being.
• Positively engage the community with a desire to partner with our community to develop new law enforcement strategies. Community engagement will play a key role in building the future model of law enforcement.
• Offer guidance during critical incidents, ensuring proper protocols are followed and maintaining effective communication with command staff. Step in to resolve issues when necessary. Maintain departmental accountability and integrity.
• Assist in facilitating support to LASD partners and other responder agencies.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of training programs for new and existing personnel.

• Share practical insights and experiences to enhance officer preparedness and skills with others.
• Facilitate discussions on various topics to enhance and improve the skills of sworn and civilian personnel. Seek opportunities for knowledge growth and process improvements.
• Apply extensive experience to assess complex situations, make decisions, and de-escalate conflict.
• Act as a resource for resolving challenging incidents.
• Actively seek out opportunities for resolutions through community engagement and solutions.
• Respond effectively to emergencies, crises, and disasters, working collaboratively with other emergency response agencies to ensure public safety and coordination of efforts.
• Contribute to and participate in disaster efforts, which may include following the direction of City Emergency Managers.

Examples of Duties:

• Patrols the streets on foot or in a radio car
• Answers calls and complaints requesting police assistance
• Conducts patrols in specific areas in response to problems identified by community residents
• Conducts preliminary investigations; Interviews witnesses and suspects to obtain information for reports
• Determines the facts from information available at the scene of a crime and writes reports containing the facts for use in follow-up investigations
• Issues citations and warnings to violators
• Makes arrests
• Attends court and testifies as a witness
• Patrols streets in a radio car or on a motorcycle to control and regulate traffic in conformance with State and local traffic regulations and to reduce traffic accidents
• Gathers pertinent evidence from the scene of a crime or collision
• Takes pictures and measurements of physical factors
• Advises persons on proper driving practices while operating motor vehicles

• Acts as a desk officer in geographic divisions answering incoming telephone calls and receiving all persons entering the station in order to give information or advice
• Takes reports and seeks information from the public on police-related problems such as crimes, traffic accidents and missing juveniles, and continuing crime problems
• Keeps records of the activities of the station and of officers in the field
• Attempts to identify patterns and ongoing problems from crime data
• Relays orders and complaints to other Police Officers and makes records of their disposition
• Researches and prepares special reports on police-related activities and programs
• Answers correspondence
• Makes oral presentations to schools and community groups
• Seeks input from community groups on their problems and concerns
• Acts as an instructor in recruit, in-service, or on-the-job training programs to assist police personnel in becoming more proficient in their duties
• Investigates complaints against juveniles involving misdemeanors, felonies, delinquency, or contributions to delinquency, using own initiative and community input
• Plans programs and activities for juveniles to encourage respect for the law
• Patrols school grounds and other public places which juveniles frequent
• Investigates vice activities; Takes complaints and reports and seeks input from community members in order to attempt to apprehend those engaged in vice activities
• Prepares evidence for issuance of complaints and assists attorneys in the prosecution of vice cases
• Serves criminal processing documents, including warrants and subpoenas
• Visits pawn shops and secondhand stores for the purpose of checking records, identifying and recovering stolen property, and seeking information about possible criminal activity
• Attends roll call and receives orders and assignments
• Makes note of persons and motor vehicles wanted by the police and keeps on the alert to locate them when on patrol
• Keeps records and makes reports on daily activities and disposition of cases;

• Analyzes recorded information in order to evaluate patterns and formulate potential solutions to crime problems
• May act as a lead officer; May conduct community relations activities
• May assist the Police Department in support functions
• May be assigned to an investigative unit to broaden training and develop investigative skills
• May be assigned to emergency preparedness activities
• May occasionally be assigned to other duties for training purposes or to meet technological changes or emergencies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) years of continuous law enforcement experience with a reputable agency.
• Valid California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification. Possession of California POST Basic Certificate or higher required. Possession of California POST Intermediate Certificate preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with a history of successfully mentoring junior officers.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving capabilities, especially in high-pressure and/or adverse situations.
• In-depth knowledge of California state laws, codes, and regulations.
• Proficiency in using modern law enforcement technology and software.
• Ability to work various shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• Possess a valid California class “C” Driver’s License.
• Track record of collaborative approaches to community problem-solving.
• Must meet all POST requirements to be a Peace Officer, to include SB2 requirements.
• Must not be under any active investigation with any Law Enforcement agency or with CA POST regarding misconduct outlined in SB2.

Core Competencies:

• Problem Solving – Analytically and logically evaluating information.
• Learning Agility – Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to work.
• Handling Stress – Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Professional Integrity & Ethics – Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability.
• Safety Focus – Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards.
• Customer Focus – Attending to the needs and expectations of customers.
• Informing – Proactively obtaining and sharing information.
• Teamwork – Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals.
• Valuing Diversity – Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace.
• Allocating Resources – Prioritizing the use of fiscal and material resources to maximize organizational effectiveness.

Guiding Principles:

• Put people first.
• Be visionary.
• Be an ambassador for Lancaster.
• Be fiscally responsible.
• Be creative.
• Always improving.
• Be adaptable and resilient.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Summary:

• Work is performed in a field environment, with some travel from site to site; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, noxious odors, gases, and all types of weather and temperature conditions; exposure to hazardous traffic conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain; incumbents may be required to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends.

Physical:

• Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to stand, sit in a patrol car for long periods, walk; lift, carry, push, and pull a grown adult; climb walls, fences, stairs and ladders, stoop, twist, squat/kneel, crawl run grasp, repeatedly bend and move wrists, use both hands, legs and feet; speak, hear and understand radio communications, touch/feel, see at a distance and up close and have depth perception and normal color vision.

• Must be physically fit to perform the job including corrected or uncorrected vision of 20/20 or better; physical strength and agility to perform foot pursuit and physical restraint of suspects.

• Applicants must be in good physical condition, subject to determination by the City Medical Examiner.

Environmental Factors:

• Work under time pressure (moderate to frequent)
• Interruptions (frequent)

Essential Cognitive Functions:

• Analyze (continuous)
• Computations (frequent)
• Generate Written Work Product (moderate)
• Independent Problem Solving (continuous)
• Interruptions (frequent)
• Maintain Positive Public Relations (continuous)
• Organize (frequent)

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Police Officer position and is not exhaustive. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on the needs of the department and the community.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time;

The City of Lancaster will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if the City of Lancaster is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting www.dfeh.ca.gov/fair-chance-act/.