Patrol Officer

Purpose of Position

The purpose of this position is to perform those tasks inherent to the position of a police officer. This job description is applicable to every member of the department.

Essential Job Functions

• Prepares for daily duty by: attending roll call on time, receiving direction from supervisors, reviewing relevant criminal information provided, checking email and voicemail correspondence every work day.

• Performs routine patrol assignment by motor vehicle, foot, bicycle, boat, personal transporter; monitors radio traffic from Communication and other officers; responds to dispatched calls for service (lights and emergency siren when appropriate); performs directed patrol assignments; investigates all suspicious activity; conducts routine business checks; directs vehicle/pedestrian traffic; assists stranded motorists; reports traffic, roadway, engineering and utility problems; conducts vehicle lockouts; makes emergency notifications; performs crowd control.

• Observes for and enforces motor vehicle law and ordinance violations; enforces parking laws and ordinances; conducts field sobriety investigations including Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, portable breath tests, and chemical tests (breath and/or blood).

• Investigates vehicles accidents; provides first aid when needed; performs traffic direction to prevent further

• accidents; photographs accident scenes; secures and processes evidence; interviews and takes written statements from participants/witnesses; completes reports and other required paperwork.

• Enforces State criminal laws and City ordinances.

• Takes written reports on criminal and non-criminal incidents; conducts investigations for misdemeanors and felonies; interviews and takes statements (both written and/or recorded) from victims, suspects, witnesses; interrogates suspects; collects evidence; conducts surveillance.

• Searches persons and crime scenes; packages, transports and submits evidence; protects integrity of crime scenes.

• Recovers and inventories stolen property.

• Prepares probable cause affidavits and search warrants; serves civil process papers, juvenile petitions, subpoenas and mental health commitment papers.

• Enforces court orders including writs and restraining orders.

• Apprehends and arrests violent and non-violent misdemeanor and felony suspects; advises persons of

• constitutional rights; conducts field searches of arrested persons; handcuffs, fingerprints, photographs and books prisoners; explains arrest or nature of complaint to offenders; guards prisoners to prevent escape or suicide attempts; informs prisoners of bail system; inventories prisoner's belongings; transports prisoners; completes arrest report, written supplement narratives, PC affidavits and other required paperwork; takes field notes and statements (both written and/or recorded) from witnesses.

• Attempts to resolve domestic disturbances; completes domestic disturbance reports and required paperwork; provides aid and recommends social service agencies to victims; makes arrests on domestic battery incidents; investigates abuse/neglect complaints.

• Explains civil process to citizens and recommends appropriate advice, options, and social services when applicable.

• Discusses cases with prosecutor; testifies in court; presents physical evidence in court.

• Confronts groups of agitated or hostile persons; calms volatile situations by negotiation or conversation; breaks up large parties.

• Handles animal complaints including vicious animals; locates rehabilitation services for wounded animals; scans stray animals for identification chips for owner information; transports stray animals to the animal control facility.

• Evaluates the nature of common medical emergencies; administers first aid and CPR; assists in initial responses to natural deaths.

• Provides security of incident scenes during emergency medical and fire responses.

• Assists in ensuring personal safety and welfare of persons suffering from mental and/or emotional illness or instability; provides access to appropriate care or evaluation.

• Evaluates potentially hazardous weather conditions; conducts inspections of areas for hazards caused by flooding/weather damage; ensures safety of motorists in affected areas.

• Coordinates evacuation from facilities/areas affected by natural disaster, major accidents or other incidents threatening life and property.

• Provides security escorts for movements of funds and other valuables for at-risk persons.

• Assists citizens in crime prevention programs; conducts home and business security surveys.

• Attends and speaks to children and community groups on safety and law enforcement topics during various community events/meetings; provides tours of the Police Department.

• Conducts motor vehicle inspections for BMV registration and titling purposes.

• Maintains uniform, weapons, vehicle, and department-issued equipment as directed by General Orders, Departmental Directives, and as trained by instructors.

• Attends and successfully completes all required training sessions.

Job Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.

• Previous law enforcement experience preferred, or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.

• · Must be able to meet all standards contained within the 1977 Police Officers and Firefighters Pension and Disability Fund.

• · Completion of Noblesville Police Department's probationary period and field training program.

• · Must possess and maintain a valid Indiana driver's license, and must remain insurable through the insurance carrier that the City of Noblesville enters contract with.

• · Must be able to obtain an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Certificate.

• · Must be able to successfully complete other training programs as required.

Work Environment

• Ability to meet all department standards, rules, and regulations as described by General Orders, Departmental Directives, and operating procedure.

• Ability to collect, classify, prioritize, analyze and record data.

• Ability to utilize a variety of reference, descriptive and advisory data and information.

• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks or activities simultaneously.

• Ability to exercise discretion in identifying and selecting from alternative courses of action.

• Ability to exercise discretion in the use of force and law enforcement powers.

• Ability to provide guidance, assistance and interpretation regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.

• Ability to communicate effectively with persons of various ethnic, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds; includes ability to speak and write clearly.

• Ability to perform tasks in changing and stressful circumstances; includes ability to maintain control of emotions and actions and to make rapid decisions.

• Ability to calm and comfort individuals who are distraught, ill or injured.

• Ability to operate a personal computer and utilize the various computer software programs deemed necessary to perform essential job functions--including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheets, database management, departmental case reporting programs, and State driver/vehicle/criminal records programs.

• Ability to operate police vehicle and specialized equipment, including radio and in-car computer; ability to operate vehicle at high speeds during emergency responses or pursuits.

• Ability to utilize a variety of tools, equipment and supplies associated with law enforcement activities, including any or all of the following: pistol, shotgun, patrol rifle, less lethal shotgun, taser, baton, pepper spray, radio, defibrillator, camera, window tint meter, sound meter, portable breath test, radar, fingerprint kit, lockout tool.

• Ability to effectively employ and maintain proficiency with a variety of Department-issued firearms and less lethal weapon systems.

• Ability to establish a working knowledge of the geography of the City of Noblesville and surrounding area, and be able to calculate the quickest routes to dispatched calls in a timely manner.

• Ability to work various shifts, hours, holidays, and extended hours beyond the normal shift assignment; adjust schedules for court, call-outs, training and other department required activities.

• Ability to exert heavy to extremely heavy, though not constant, physical effort, typically involving some combination of running, subduing and restraining individuals, physical tactics, crouching and crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials up to 100 pounds; sit and/or stand for long periods of time; defend oneself or others from physical attack; make forcible arrests.

• Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as snow, rain, severe weather, temperature and noise extremes, traffic hazards, violence, toxic agents, disease or pathogenic substances.

• Performance of essential functions may require life-or-death decisions based on circumstances beyond incumbent's control; decisions may affect the general public and coworkers as well as incumbent.