PATROL OFFICER

SUMMARY:

The Police Officer protects life and property of citizens through coordinated and directed activity. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drive a patrol vehicle and operate all emergency equipment, safely and within state statutes and guidelines
• Communicate clearly with citizens, by both listening to information and disseminating accurate information (i.e. statutory and municipal citations)
• Walk around, through, and on top of buildings that require security checks or searches for criminal violators
• Enforce laws of the State of Mississippi and the City of Tupelo Ordinances
• Physically control and arrests violent and aggressive criminal violators
• Write reports that are legible, concise, and accurate
• Articulate, clearly and accurately, events and recollected facts for presentation in criminal and civil court hearings and grand jury proceedings
• Perform other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Candidates for Police Officer must meet the minimum requirements prior to filling out a City of Tupelo application as mandated by state and federal statute

A. Twenty-one (21) years of age

B. No prior felony record 

C. Acceptable driving, and criminal history 

 D. Possess one (1) of the following: 

• Two (2) years of accredited college credit in any field – sixty (60) semester hours, or
• High school graduate (or equivalent) plus (2) years active duty in U.S. Military Service, or
• High school graduate (or equivalent) plus certification as an officer and satisfactory employment with another law enforcement agency as sworn law enforcement officer for minimum of one (1) year, or 
• High school graduate (or equivalent) plus graduation from North Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Center with certification as an officer, or
• High school graduate (or equivalent) plus two (2) years satisfactory service with Tupelo Police Department Reserve Program

 E.  Candidates must pass the following examination prior to employment:

• Physical Efficiency Battery (P.E.B)
• MMPI (Psychological Evaluation)
• Drug and alcohol screening tests, and 
• Oral interview 
• Medical exam
• Work Keys Assessment *(waivers for assessment are giving to applicants who possess an Associate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher learning.)

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS: 

Valid driver’s license from the State of Mississippi.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described 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.

The Police Officer will be required, at variable frequency to:

• Sprint distances of up to 100 yards
• Tackle aggressive/combative violators of all sizes and great strengths
• Control resistive and aggressive/combative violators intent on harming officer or others
• Fight to protect self or others from physical harm for two minutes or more
• Lift, carry, or drag items and people of weights up to and exceeding 150 pounds without assistance
• Visually identify people, places, or objects for purposes of rescue, arrest, or defensive tactics
• Quickly and accurately adjust the focus of vision and peripheral vision, including varying degrees of depth perception
• Speak clearly and calmly, especially in times of great stress
• Operate a law enforcement vehicle precisely, while at the same time, operating a two-way radio, bar light, siren, and other emergency equipment
• Bend or flex at the waist and knees to retrieve items on the ground or floorboard of vehicle
• Grip and accurately strike a designated target with a police impact weapon using force sufficient for control
• Grip, control, and fire a department issued semiautomatic handgun
• Physically and accurately manipulate all functions of a semiautomatic handgun, including loading, unloading, and malfunction clearing
• Physically control weapon in and out of prescribed holster for weapon retention defense against attack
• Manipulate and control handcuffs when applying them to a detainee/arrestee
• Wear tight fitting protective body armor in all weather and climates
• Climb over fences, walls, and obstacles of heights up to six feet
• Apply chest compressions and breathing on rescue victims for sustained periods of time
• Calculate figures for determination of speed, time, distance, quantity, and amounts
• Wear latex protective gloves for protection against blood borne pathogens
• Be exposed to chemical irritants and inflammatory agents (i.e. Oleoresin Capsicum, SC gas, CN gas)
• Balance while standing to support self when in contact with violators
• Write reports, tickets, and assorted paperwork in a legible coherent manner
• Read and comprehend legal documents
• Use flashlight or other illuminated equipment in both hands to direct traffic
• Enter and exit patrol vehicle in a safe timely manner
• Bend, squat, or lie down quickly to get behind items of protective cover and return to a standing position

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Police Officers work in weather environments ranging from extreme heat and humidity to extreme cold and wet conditions.  Additionally, these officers work in a social environment that includes vermin, insects, infectious diseases, human and animal excrement, body fluids, extreme filth and germs, contact with fumes and residue from alcoholic beverages and illegal narcotics, and dangerous substances and chemicals.

DISCLAIMER:

Must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately without causing a significant safety threat to self or others; the above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skill required of all personnel so classified. The job description is not an employment agreement and/or expressed or implied employment contract.

Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. 

To comply with the Americans Disability Act (ADA), the City may make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential job functions.