Police Chief/Police Officer
Police Chief/Police Officer
Purpose of Position
Under administrative direction of the Police Chief, adheres to the public safety functions set forth by local, State and federal authorities. Officers are generally assigned to patrol duties throughout the City of Preston, Miles and Spragueville. Primary duties include the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Functions performed by the patrol officer include conducting presence and detection patrols designed to detect and deter crime, arrest violators as appropriate, note suspicious activity in the area and take action as necessary. The officer responds to the scene of crimes and motor vehicle accidents and files reports as required by departmental procedures and/or rules and regulations. Other duties are to render first aid, when necessary, directs traffic, question witnesses and suspects, makes court appearances as required. Officers maintain order in crowds and assist other law enforcement agencies when requested. Performs other duties as required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
• Assists the Police Chief to ensure the Police Department services and activities are achieved; adhere to departmental goals, objectives, and priorities for each assigned service area and follow the policies and procedures put forth by the Police Chief.
• Provide general law enforcement, criminal investigation, nuisance abatement, and code enforcement.
• Represents the Police Department to other departments, elected officials, and outside agencies; coordinates assigned activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations as required.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints; explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues.
• Participates on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; serves as the City's representatives to committees and community organizations concerned with improvements in law enforcement, and departmental public relations as directed by the Police Chief.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of law enforcement, crime prevention, and related support services; incorporates new developments as appropriate.
• Responds to and may command police emergencies or community disasters.
• Performs related duties as required.
Additional Tasks and Responsibilities
While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this position and may also be performed by other unit members.
• Keeps the City Administrator informed of Departmental operations and developments that he/she will need to know to effectively coordinate the management of the City.
• Performs other duties and assumes other responsibilities as apparent or assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• Administers police, code enforcement, and public information programs.
• Performs organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Law enforcement theory, principles, and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs including investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, records management, care and custody of persons and property, and crime prevention.
• Principles and practices of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
• General Operational characteristics of police equipment.
• General knowledge of hazardous materials mitigation management.
• Court decisions and how they affect department operations.
• Methods and techniques of public relations.
• Pertinent federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Maintain records management system in accordance with ILEA and ICrime Standards.
• Effectively works with the City Administrator, Mayor, City Council, department supervisors, citizens and other persons on the telephone and in person; ability to work amicably as a team to accomplish individual and group assignments and goals.
• Identifies and responds to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
• Meets the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
• Operates modern office equipment and computers including applicable software applications.
• Effectively presents information and responds to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Communicates clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to pass drug screening and background check.
• Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties.
Equipment and Materials Used
Firearms, handheld baton, ASP, handcuffs, mobile radio, telephone, police vehicle and attachments, computer hardware and software, radar gun, first aid equipment, City of Preston Code of Ordinances, Code of Iowa, Federal Register, photographic equipment, video recorder, still photo camera, video camera, body bug, dictionary, calculator, dictation equipment, and fax machine.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk, use hands to finger, grasp, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; run; climb, balance and stoop, squat, bend, twist, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Lifting, moving, pushing or pulling up to 10 pounds generally occurs, and In emergencies, may be necessary to lift, move, push, or pull up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. Ability to move heavy objects or persons, give chase on foot, and restrain persons within the course of proper police procedures; work in confined areas; walk, sit or stand for long periods of time; possess the physical strength and agility to defend self and others in a hostile or combative situation.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is exposed less than one third of the time to conditions such as moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals, and outside weather conditions. The employee may also be exposed to high, precarious places, and vibration. The employee may also be exposed to risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. This position is exposed to very stressful situations where things may seem chaotic. This position may be exposed to blood borne pathogens or bodily fluids, communicable diseases, and dangerous situations. This position may be called out 24 hours a day to include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. This position may have very long hours.