JOB SUMMARY

The Police Officer candidate is responsible for a variety of duties that are necessary to fulfill the Police Department’s mission. The Police Officer candidate must have completed an accredited Police Academy and possess a valid TCOLE Peace Officer License. All duties must be performed in an effective, efficient and safe manner that will foster the public’s confidence and trust. This position demands special qualifications and proficiency in certain skills and abilities of a physical, mental and technical nature. As a condition of employment in the status of this position, all police officer candidates must be able to perform the entire list of duties of a police officer and additional duties as assigned. In addition, you must be motivated to accept new challenges and finding creative solutions, take ownership and pride by demonstrating the Town of Little Elm’s Core Values of Integrity, Customer Service, Efficiency and Innovation. 

DISQUALIFIERS

1. Have never been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years.
2. Have never been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order;
3. Have never been convicted or placed on community supervision in any court of an offense involving family violence as defined under Chapter 71, Texas Family Code;
4. Have never received a dishonorable or other discharge based on misconduct which bars future military service;
5. Have not used marijuana within the last five years.
6. Have not used any drugs defined under Subchapter D Health and Safety Code in Penalty Groups 1. 2. or 3. Within the last ten years.

EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

All police officer candidates must possess, at a minimum, the following qualifications:

1. Must possess a valid TCOLE Peace Officer License
2. Must be a United States citizen.
3. Must be able to read and write the English language.
4. Must possess a valid Texas Class C driver’s License.
5. Must be a Town of Little Elm employee in good standing.
6. Must be eligible for certification by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) as a Peace Officer.
7. Must be 21 years of age.
8. Must have a High School Diploma or GED equivalency certificate.
9. Must be able to proficiently read and write the English language and pass a 12th grade Reading/Writing proficiency and comprehension test.
10. Must have demonstrated a positive work history with a good attendance record.
11. Must possess and maintain a good credit history and financial record.
12. Must meet health standards not to pose a risk to health or safety of others in the workplace, or to persons they come into contact with while in the performance of duty. This risk shall include infections or communicable diseases deemed a medical high threat, and dysfunctional mental or psychological disorders. Assessment of risk to the health and safety of others will be based upon reasonable medical opinion and judgment.
13. Must possess adequate vision and pass the department vision tests. Must possess 20/20 corrected vision and 20/200 uncorrected.

REQUIREMENTS/ABILITIES

REASONING:

A police officer candidate must:

1. Possess the ability to comprehend and carry out verbal and written instructions.
2. Be able to formulate and employ appropriate courses of action when no specific role or procedure has been established.
3. Be able to supply reasoning skills to successfully investigate crimes or events.
4. Be able to supply theory-based instructions/training to actual situations.
5. Possess adequate memory capacity sufficient to remember various types of information that is necessary to carry out their duties successfully.
6. Must be able to assess a person’s intentions, behavior, and emotional state in order to make appropriate reactive and proactive decisions and responses.
7. Must be able to tolerate many types of stress without medication. They must be able to make appropriate decisions regarding the fight or flight psychological response.
8. Must be able to control their emotions in the face of divergent interpersonal or life threatening and traumatic situations.

EMERGENCY ACTIONS:

All police officer candidates must be able to:

1. Adequately maneuver a patrol vehicle at high rates of speed in traffic or confined areas while using all vehicle equipment, day and night, in all weather conditions. They must be able to exit their vehicle quickly (less than 5 seconds) and stand or assume positions wherein the vehicle is used for cover.
2. Engage in physical combat using defensive and offensive tactics; overcome and apprehend violently resistive people, and properly use the baton, handcuffs, mace or spray, and riot gear.
3. Rescue victims from danger, assess victim’s physical condition, and deliver CPR and first aid.
4. Pursue individuals outdoors in all terrains with sudden short durations of 100 yards or longer up to five (5) minutes. Climb stairs, surmount fences or walls.
5. Must also be able to conduct searches or manhunts for three (3) hours or more over distances of at least two (2) miles.
6. Safely operate their duty weapon with accuracy from standing, kneeling, prone positions and while moving on foot.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

A police officer candidates must have the ability to efficiently, effectively, and safely perform all of the essential required duties and tasks of the position. The following outlines the required abilities:

It is imperative that all patrol officers possess and maintain the essential physical abilities to perform their job safely. They must be physically capable to the extent that they are not a liability to themselves or others. They must be able to handle numerous emergency situations that will tax their physical abilities. They must be able to provide protection to themselves and others without the premature or unnecessary use of deadly force. They must maintain a standard of physical fitness in accordance with citizen expectations and department policy.

Range of Motion/Flexibility: 

• Be able to move rapidly from a sedentary to active position in response to emergency conditions or perceived deadly force encounters.
• Have the flexibility to rapidly assume a variety of positions to employ “cover and concealment” during emergency circumstances or perceived deadly force encounters.
• Possess the necessary range of motion to overcome or respond to physical attack or effectively disengage an attacker or escape and summon aid.
• Possess the quickness to be able to run short distances in order to escape danger, retreat from attack or take over or chase suspects on foot for short and long distances.

Manual Dexterity/Motor Skills:

• Have the dexterity to be proficient in the use of their firearms and other defensive tactics equipment such as the baton, handcuffs, pepper spray, etc.
• Possess the ability to operate all the equipment and tools necessary to perform the job tasks such as computers, typewriters, mobile and portable radios, vehicles, fax machines, sirens, tape recorders, mobile data terminals, video and audio equipment.

Aerobic Endurance:

• Possess the ability to engage in foot pursuits of suspects without inordinate endangerment to themselves or others. They must also possess the endurance to overcome physical resistance after foot pursuits.
• Be able to remain on the job performing essential duties for a period up to sixteen (16) consecutive hours without relief.

Strength: 

• Deliver CPR for extended periods of time.
• Carry and use emergency equipment and supplies.
• Overcome resistance or subdue physically violent persons.
• Physically defend oneself or others from violent assault without the use of deadly force.
• Climb fences or walls of at least six (6) feet.
• Carry or drag a 150 lb. person from danger to safety for a distance of at least fifty (50) feet.
• Lift heavy objects such as in the case of emergency situations.

Sight and Visual Activity:

• Be able to discern the various colors and not have any color blindness that could prove a risk to himself or others.
• Possess adequate depth perception in order to judge distances and estimate speed.
• Possess adequate night vision that will permit the safe operation of motor vehicles, use of firearms, and allow identification of dangerous obstacles, or persons in conditions of darkness.
• Possess adequate peripheral vision to allow the safe operation of vehicles, especially in pursuit driving and to detect danger in a variety of environments.

Hearing:

• Possess the ability to hear adequately over the mobile and handheld radios as well as the telephone.
• Be able to determine the point of origin of noises or sounds as during building or area searches for example.
• Be able to identify different types of sound.

Smell: 

• smell smoke, electrical hazards, and different types of fumes, toxic or otherwise.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

1. Routine work indoors 80% of the job.
2. Routine work outdoors 20% of the job.
3. Working all shifts and days of the week.
4. Emergency work call-out at a moment’s notice.
5. Close physical contact with people.
6. Work in all weather conditions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Town of Little Elm does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or military service in employment or the provision of services.