Police Officer (Lateral)

Under general supervision, performs a variety of law enforcement work associated with patrol, traffic enforcement, and investigations.

• Enforce laws and ordinances, maintains order, protects life and property, investigates crimes, and assists in crime prevention activities.
• Patrol assigned areas, responds to calls for assistance, and takes appropriate action.
• Control and restrain potentially violent persons.
• Investigate suspicious conditions, activities, or persons.
• Assist other law enforcement agencies and provides needed backup when requested.
• Participate in rescue activities for sick and injured persons.
• Arrest, transport, and book violators and escort prisoners to jail or court.
• Serve warrants, subpoenas, and other court orders.
• Prepare detailed reports of felony and misdemeanor crimes as well as criminal and civil traffic complaints.
• Conduct investigations of criminal cases and gathers, preserves, and analyzes facts and evidence.
• Conduct interviews and interrogations and records statements and testimony.
• Collect, prepare, and submit evidence for analysis, processing, or retention.
• Prepare material evidence and documentation for courtroom presentations and testifies in court as required.
• Provide information to attorneys and other authorized personnel.
• Participate in special enforcement details or special operations.
• Promote crime prevention programs at local schools and within the community.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Will possess knowledge of:

• The roads and routes within the County.
• Methods and techniques of interrogation.
• Modern law enforcement methods and procedures, including case laws governing arrest, rules of evidence, probable cause, use of force, custody of evidence and property, and search and seizure.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Local community issues and regional community resources available to citizens.
• Duties, powers, authorities, and limitations of a Police Officer.
• Federal, State and City criminal and traffic laws and related court decisions, department policies, General Operations Orders, Police Management Regulations, City of San Luis Management Procedures, Administrative Regulations, Memorandums of Understanding and Personnel Rules/Policies.
• City organization, operations, policies, and procedures.
• State of Arizona criminal justice and court procedures and records management requirements.
• Methods and techniques of interrogation.
• Preservation of evidence and admission into court.
• Computers and specialized hardware and software for preparing reports and maintaining records.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Investigative methods and analysis techniques.

Will possess the ability to:

• Perform defensive tactics in which require quick reflexes, agility, coordination, and strength.
• Gather, analyze, and evaluate facts and evidence.
• Prepare and maintain records and reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others and interacting with the public.
• Recognize and control sources of personal stress in order to perform class requirements effectively.
• Effectively communicate verbal and written instructions by phone, police radio system, or in person in a group or one-to-one setting.
• Think and act quickly and effectively in emergencies and under stressful situations.
• Observe or monitor objects or people’s behavior to determine compliance with prescribed operating or safety standards and accurately recall details.
• Maintain moral integrity.
• Maintain an acceptable level of physical fitness to meet department standards.
• Interpret and explain legal standards and procedures, applicable Federal and state rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures.
• Care for, maintain, and safely operate of a variety of law enforcement tools and equipment.
• Investigate and resolve conflicts, personnel issues, citizen inquiries, and complaints.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions in English.
• To serve our community with courtesy and respect.

Education, Training and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Depending upon the needs of the City, some incumbents of the class may be required to demonstrate fluency in both Spanish and English as a condition of employment. 
• Successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation including credit check, polygraph, and psychological examination and meet the minimum POST standards for medical examination and physical ability.

Licenses and Certifications: 
All required licenses and certifications must be maintained throughout employment.

• A valid Arizona driver's license at the time of appointment 
• Certification as a Law Enforcement Officer with Arizona POST.

Special Requirements:

• Residency in the United States and within 25 miles from the City of San Luis.

Desired/Preferred:

• Availability to work flexible schedule.
• San Luis residency
• Bilingual in Spanish

• Non-Certified may be eligible for up to $1,000 sign-on incentive. To be eligible, the applicant must:

• Successfully complete the Police Academy; and Field Training (FTO) or On-the-Job Training.

• Lateral Hire may be eligible for up to $10,000 sign-on incentive. To be eligible, the applicant must meet one of the following:

• •  AZ applicants - Possess current Arizona Peace Officer Standards & Training Board (AZPOST) Certification, OR

  • Out-of-state applicants - Meet the Arizona eligibility requirements to undergo an AZPOST Waiver process to be certified as an Arizona Full-Authority Peace Officer Certification; AND have previously worked in the position of Police Officer in a non-training capacity during the last 5 years.

The incentive amount will be determined by the applicant’s years of experience:

• Certified with 3 years of experience - eligible for up to $10,000 sign-on incentive.

• Certified with 1-3 years of experience - eligible for up to $5,000 sign-on incentive.

• Certified applicants with no experience - eligible for up to $1,000 sign-on incentive.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and stand; walk long distances; drive a vehicle; talk and hear, both in person and by radio; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate equipment; engage in repetitive movements of hands and wrists; reach with hands and arms; stoop, bend, kneel and crouch and occasionally lift or move up to twenty-five pounds. Employees must be physically capable of operating City vehicles, for job-related purposes, safely. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, the use of both eyes, depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and stand; walk long distances; drive a vehicle; talk and hear, both in person and by radio; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate equipment; engage in repetitive movements of hands and wrists; reach with hands and arms; stoop, bend, kneel and crouch and occasionally lift or move up to twenty-five pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, the use of both eyes, depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: 
Work is performed in a standard office environment, and in the field on tactical assignments; may be exposed to physical attacks, hazardous chemicals, infectious and communicable diseases; may be required to physically restrain persons; must maintain a level of physical fitness to meet department standards. This job is classified as Safety Sensitive, and subject to Federal and state regulations.