POLICE OFFICER - Police
JOB SUMMARY:
Under supervision, patrol and provide enforcement, detection and prevention under the laws of the City, State, and United States. Carry out special assignments in the field of police work. Provide reports of assignments and/or related work as needed. Perform other related work as required.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Enforce appropriate City Ordinances, State and Federal laws, all Written Directives.
• Make ethical decisions that conform to applicable laws, Department Policy, Regulations, etc., without supervision when appropriate.
• Work well with the public and coworkers daily, communicating effectively, maintaining alertness, composure, helpful attitude and professionalism in all circumstances, including stress, verbal abuse, criticism, and/or other adverse conditions.
• Provide police services and assistance.
• Follow a chain of command and instructions, receptive to supervision.
• Immediately comprehend and execute orders from a supervisor in emergency situations.
• Adapt toward procedures, programs, regular and special assignments.
• Begin and seek out work without supervision.
• Recognize the need for supervisory intervention and seek it when needed; keep supervisors informed of relevant activity.
• Recognize, identify, and preserve crime scenes.
• Conduct accurate, thorough, and complete investigations.
• Load and unload police equipment from a vehicle, including lifting objects weighing 50 pounds or less from trunk, back seat, etc.
• Raise a pistol, rifle, or shotgun to aim at a subject for an extended period of time without firing.
• Shoot a pistol, rifle, or shotgun; discharge tear gas canisters.
• Demonstrate competent weapons proficiency. Clean and maintain duty weapons.
• Use a baton to control hostile subjects.
• Perform defensive and/or other hand-to-hand combat tactics.
• Display proficiency in officer survival and safety tactics.
• Physically restrain individuals in the following circumstances: mutual combat, pushing or shoving (crowd control), those under the influence of hallucinogens or other behavior-altering drugs, those suffering from psychosis or other violent mental disorder.
• Use armlock/wristlock/neck restraint on an individual when necessary.
• Wrestle with hostile subjects when necessary.
• Physically hold unwilling subjects until help arrives.
• Apply handcuffs to unwilling subjects.
• Physically take away knives, guns, clubs, or other weapons from aggressive subjects.
• Physically assist drunks in walking, entering police car.
• Forcefully grab subjects by the arm to lead them away.
• Search persons/vehicles for weapons, evidence, contraband.
• Search buildings in dark or low-light conditions.
• Search storm sewers, tunnels for suspects/missing persons.
• Use forced entry techniques such as breaking down doors.
• Conduct foot patrol.
• Chase suspects for extended distances (over 100 yards) over adverse terrain e.g., rugged fields, alley ways, over fences, etc.
• Run up and down flights of stairs/steps to assist other officers or apprehend subjects.
• Break up fights between/among: prisoners in jail; citizens at bars, restaurants, athletic events, other public places and events.
• Carry or drag: injured persons; reluctant protesters and sit-down strikers from protest area.
• Climb buildings, crawl through windows, climb ladders, walk on rooftops to search for criminal entry, evidence, or suspects.
• Walk door to door seeking information about a crime or subject.
• Walk long distances (over 1/4 mile) to search for missing persons/suspects/evidence; may include searching difficult areas e.g., woods, creeks, construction sites, etc.
• Participate in stakeouts in confining or uncomfortable areas e.g., in trees, bushes, on ledges, etc.
• Physically assist seizure victims to prevent injury.
• Administer CPR/first aid in emergency medical situations.
• Assist ambulance attendants in carrying victims under adverse conditions, e.g., up/down stairs, over rough terrain, out of creeks, etc.
• Direct or control traffic with a flashlight or hand signals for more than one hour at a time.
• Stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time (over 1 hour) performing guard/security duties.
• Enter and exit a police vehicle quickly.
• Operate speed detection radar, video camera, mobile radio.
• Type on a mobile data terminal or computer.
• Drive safely under adverse conditions, e.g., rain, snow, sleet, ice, dark, etc. even at high speeds.
• Engage in safe high-speed driving while pursuing suspects or responding to calls.
• Operate a motor vehicle for extended periods of time (several hours).
• Work in congested traffic in and out of a police vehicle.
• Set up roadblocks using traffic barriers other than cars e.g., cones, sawhorses, signs, etc.
• Search the area of an accident to determine the cause.
• Examine vehicles for Accident Reports.
• Physically push vehicles off roadways, out of ditches and mudholes, etc., using bodily force.
• Use force to open jammed vehicle doors, free fenders from tires.
• Remove from roadway objects posing traffic hazards, e.g., debris, tree limbs, loose livestock, dead animals.
• Change car tires.
• Fight vehicle fires.
• Observe gruesome sights, e.g., deceased persons, battered children, etc. without losing composure.
• Perform duties acceptably after long hours (over 24) without sleep during emergency situations.
• Attend all courts as scheduled or requested.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, DEGREES, CERTIFICATES, AND/OR LICENSES:
High School diploma required; GED acceptable if augmented with 60 college credit hours. College degree preferred. Texas Driver’s License, Class C, without restriction (except "A") required. Texas Basic Certificate of Law Enforcement Officer Training required (may be waived temporarily by the Chief of Police). Must be U.S. citizen to be sworn Texas officer.
EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS:
Two years' work experience required. When the department recruits for the lateral entry police officer program, candidates must have a minimum of two years’ experience as a peace officer in a municipal police department, with a break in service of no more than 12 months prior to date of application and possess valid Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Peace Officer license. Must have: aptitude for law enforcement work; ability to think clearly and act effectively in emergency situations, making sound and logical decisions quickly; good prioritizing and problem-solving abilities; ability to observe and remember details of incidents, names, and faces; physical agility and good cognitive abilities are required for successful performance of Essential Functions.

Lateral Entry Officers. For officers interested in the lateral entry program, the following additional requirements apply:

• At most recent agency, minimum of two years continuous law enforcement experience as a peace officer relevant to municipal policing
• Break in service of no more than 12 months prior to the date of application
• The Chief of Police will review training and experience on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility for the Lateral Entry Program