Police Officer - Lateral

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Patrols unincorporated area of Kenton County or other designated areas to enforce local and state criminal laws.

• Enforces Kentucky traffic laws and ensure safe roadways.

• Responds to a wide variety of calls for service, including property crimes, drug violations, traffic collisions, dispute calls and any other citizen complainants.

• Responds with fire departments and EMS to calls that necessitate police assistance and may render CPR or first aid.

• Interviews complainants, witnesses, victims and suspects at calls for service to determine if a crime has been committed and the nature of crime committed.

• Completes investigations that may require collecting evidence and filing appropriate criminal charges against those responsible.

• Conducts vacation and business checks to observe for any suspicious activity.

• Completes crime and collision reports and may testify in court as to the nature of these reports.

• Fosters and maintains a positive relationship with the community.

• Works in cooperation with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

• Performs other related law enforcement and civic duties that contributes to the most effective and efficient operations of the department.

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to meet and deal tactfully and courteously with the public and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials and other employees.

• Ability to patrol county to maintain law and order, to prevent and discover commission of crimes, and to enforce motor vehicle laws.

• Skill in answering calls and complaints about fire, automobile accidents, and robberies.

• Ability to assume control of evidence at the scene of an accident or crime, pending further investigation.

• Ability to conduct preliminary investigations; gather evidence; obtain witnesses; make arrests take prisoners into custody and when necessary, testify in court for traffic, criminal, and civil matters.

• Thorough knowledge of state and local laws and ordinances, particularly those pertaining to arrest and evidence.

• Skills in interviewing complainants, witnesses, suspects, and prisoners to obtain information about crime.

• Ability to maintain records and to prepare reports in a neat, concise, and accurate manner; ability to perform other necessary clerical or administrative duties.

• Considerable knowledge of modern police practices, techniques, and methods.

• Ability to analyze and solve complex police problems.

• Thorough knowledge of applicable local, state and federal laws.

• Ability to write and speak effectively.

• Thorough knowledge of county geography.

• Ability to operate standard police equipment such as breathalyzer, radar, radio, and photographic equipment.

• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.

• Ability to handle and maintain firearms safely.

• Ability to work under standard to general supervision.

DESIRABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Candidates must have a minimum of two (2) years of law enforcement experience and be KLEC certified or have equivalent training that is transferrable under KLEC regulations.

• Lateral transfer applicants must be currently employed in law enforcement, or have left service in good standing in the prior two (2) year period.

• Candidates selected to enter the lateral eligibility process must successfully complete a Police Officer Professional Standards (POPS) physical agility test. Upon successful passing of the POPS test, candidates will then be scheduled for a Merit Board and possibly a Command Staff interview.

BENEFITS

A full-time employee is one who works more than thirty (30) hours per week on a regularly scheduled basis. Full-time employment with the County, enjoys an excellent health benefits plan (including hospitalization, dental, prescription, and optical plans), competitive wages, participation in the County Employees Retirement System (CERS), Life Insurance coverage, Long term Disability coverage, optional participation in state administered 401(k) program, and paid sick days, vacation and holidays.

The starting salary for lateral transfer officers employed by the Kenton County Police Department will be determined by a combination of experience, training, and years of service. All sworn officers are also eligible for KLEFP funds of $4,300.00 per year. The Kenton County Police Department offers annual incentives for officers trained as medical first responders ($1,000 per year), and for educational achievements ($500 per year for officers who have earned a bachelor's degree, and $250 per year for officers who have received an associate's degree).

This is skilled and responsible work in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. An employee in this class is responsible in maintaining law and order, for protecting life and property, and for performing other police related activities including patrol, criminal investigation, and crime prevention. Duties are performed under standard to general supervision.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of, or ability to obtain promptly, a motor vehicle operator's license.

• Meet all requirements set forth by the Kenton County Merit Board and satisfactorily complete all annual state required in-service training.

• On call 24 hours a day.

K.R.S. 70.540 requires that any person in this classification be a:

• Citizen of the United States;

• Resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky;

• At least 21 years of age; and

• Discreet and sober person.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to lift/carry 150 pounds or more.

• Must be able to bend, squat, climb, twist, crawl, reach above shoulder level, kneel, grip, push, pull, and drive for extended periods of time.

• Must be able to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.

• Eyesight must be correctable to 20/20 vision.

• Hearing must be within normal acceptable range of 20-25 with or without hearing aid.

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.