Reserve Police Officer

GENERAL PURPOSE

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, supplements full time Police Officers in a variety of duties throughout the Police Department; patrols an assigned area in the prevention of crime and enforcement of law and order; carries out special assignments related to departmental operations or law enforcement in general; prepares various police reports and discusses problems, complaints, and violations with citizens; enforces state vehicle and traffic laws; makes presentations related to public safety; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Incumbents perform a full range of duties with only occasional instruction or assistance. Employees receive general instructions regarding the scope of and approach to assignments, but procedures and techniques are often left to the discretion of the employee. Work is normally reviewed only upon completion and for overall results; performance is measured by completion of work accurately and adherence to policies.

A Reserve Officer must work a minimum of 40 hours per month during the field training program. Once they have completed the field training program, they work a minimum of 16 hours on patrol and must attend a 4-hour training meeting each month. Level I Reserve Officers may be certified to work alone or with another Reserve Officer after successfully passing the department's field training program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Patrols an assigned area either by vehicle or by foot during an assigned shift and looks for indicators of possible criminal activity or threats to life and property.

• Answers calls for police services; enforces City, county, and state laws; makes field contacts and completes forms.

• Conducts both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, robberies, vehicle accidents, suspected homicides, and other criminal incidents, as assigned; makes arrests, as necessary.

• Serves warrants and subpoenas; interviews victims, complainants, and witnesses; interrogates suspects; gathers and preserves evidence; receives, searches, and books prisoners; fingerprints and transports prisoners.

• Testifies and presents evidence in court; contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the investigation of crimes and the apprehension of offenders.

• Authors reports and field notes.

• Participates in staff development; attends briefings and training sessions.

• Performs routine maintenance on firearms and other equipment.

• Makes traffic stops and issues warnings, citations, or makes arrests as necessary; checks vehicles and observes vehicle occupants; investigates vehicle accident scenes.

• Provides emergency medical care as necessary; administers first aid and responds to calls for medical assistance; arranges for clearing of roadways; directs traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations.

• Interviews drivers and witnesses and prepares reports.

• Assists the public and answers questions; establishes and maintains good relationships with the general public.

• Observes and complies with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES

Knowledge of:

• Operations and services of a comprehensive municipal law enforcement department.

• Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of modern law enforcement including patrol, investigations, interrogation, crime prevention, and special operations functions.

• Criminal law and criminal procedure with particular reference to the apprehension and arrest of suspects committing misdemeanors and felonies.

• Operational characteristics of vehicles and equipment used in law enforcement.

• Criminal court system processes and regulations.

• Methods and techniques of interviewing and eliciting information from victims and witnesses.

• Traffic control, enforcement, and education methods.

• Police records, communications, property, jails, and custody system operations.

• Use of police records and identification methods and their applications.

• Laws and constitutional guarantees governing the custody of persons, search, seizure, and evidence.

• Laws and procedures relating to juvenile welfare, traffic control, and safety.

• Laws and policies concerning police authority.

• Procedures in handling warrants, filing complaints, court appearances, and testifying.

• Investigation and identification techniques and equipment.

• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.

• Safety practices and equipment related to the work, including the safe use and proper care of firearms, chemical agents, and impact weapons.

• Methods and techniques of preparing police reports and related documentation.

• Self-defense tactics.

• Techniques of first aid and CPR.

• Principles and procedures of recordkeeping

• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols

• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Perform law enforcement duties within an assigned program area to ensure the protection and safety of citizens and property.

• Observe accurately; recall faces, names, descriptive characteristics, and facts of incidents and places; remember accounts given by witnesses.

• Identify crime suspects; interpret and apply the law to field situations; observe while conducting surveillance; and problem solve crime situations.

• Effectively use and care for firearms.

• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.

• Learn, understand, interpret, apply, and explain complex laws, codes, regulations, departmental policies, and ordinances.

• Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective, and responsible course of action.

• Conduct effective interviews with victims and witnesses; interrogate suspects; summarize and document interviews and interrogations.

• Pursue, apprehend, and subdue suspects in accordance with mandated procedures.

• Process crime scenes and maintain chain of custody of evidence.

• Make sound, independent decisions in emergency situations.

• Explain a variety of parking and traffic regulations when required.

• Draft reports clearly and accurately.

• Follow oral and written instructions.

• Use written and oral communication skills.

• Read and interpret data, information, and documents.

• Use math and mathematical reasoning.

• Observe and interpret situations.

• Learn and apply new information or new skills.

• Operate the equipment and vehicles of the department in a safe and responsible manner.

• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.

• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.

• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.

• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.

• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.

Experience:

• None

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid California Driver's License, to be maintained throughout employment.

• Possession of a valid Basic Certificate issued by the California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) within the last three (3) years, to be maintained throughout employment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work primarily in a patrol and field environment and to maintain P.O.S.T. physical standards, including mobility, physical strength, and stamina to respond to emergency situations and apprehend suspects; vision to operate vehicles in all conditions, frequently at a high rate of speed, to maintain firearms qualification and to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone or radio.

The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking, running, or standing on uneven terrain and climbing and descending structures to access crime scenes and to identify problems or hazards; vision and manual dexterity to operate an emergency response vehicle at high rates of speed in emergency situations. Finger and manual dexterity is needed to operate police services equipment and firearms, and to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work. Employees must possess the ability to apprehend, lift, carry, push, and pull victims, suspects, and equipment as determined within P.O.S.T physical standards, which may include the use of proper equipment.

Positions also work in a secondary office or station environment, and use standard office equipment, including a computer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees work in outdoor conditions, and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, moving vehicles, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees also work in an office or station environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. The principal duties of this class are performed in a field or police station environment with exposure to criminal offenders, mentally ill individuals, and persons potentially infected with communicable diseases.

WORKING CONDITIONS

May be required to be on-call and to work various shifts or emergencies on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.