POLICE SERGEANT
CITY OF WILLITS
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: POLICE SERGEANT
REPORTS TO: CHIEF OF POLICE
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under direction of the Police Chief, to perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce federal, state, county and city ordinances, codes and laws; perform Community Oriented Policing and supervision of Beat Health areas; investigate crimes and promote peace within the community in which they serve; to supervise Police Officers as first-line management personnel; conduct surveys and research special needs within the community; generate programs that will accomplish organizational goals; exercise budget controls; analyze philosophies, objectives, goals and other programs in an effort to benefit the department and city as a whole; and to perform other duties as required.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
? Sit for long periods at a time in assigned vehicle, behind a desk writing reports on computers, interviewing and taking statements from suspects, victims, witnesses, and during stake-outs or surveillance operations. Walk and stand for long periods doing foot surveillance, doing surveys as required by Community Oriented Policing concept, during stakeouts and the following of known or suspected criminals or drug activities, during parades or other special events, directing traffic at collision scenes, talking to mentally disoriented persons during hostage or suicide situations, taking reports, and standing at podiums for presentations.
? Normal vision in both eyes for day and night; correctable to 20/20 with glasses or contact lenses; must be 20/40 uncorrected in case glasses are knocked off during combat with suspect or during other emergency; vision can not be tunnel or have any obstruction which would not allow for operating a motor vehicle or observation of other activities while patrolling a given area of responsibility; must be able to have good peripheral vision while patrolling and also be able to read penal and other codes and complete citations or other fine print documents; must be able to read license plates or observe criminal activity at a distance; must have normal color vision and be able to distinguish solid colors for descriptive information on vehicles, persons, clothing and other information as required.
? Must have use of both hands and fingers for dexterity in order to complete the following tasks as required: type, write or print, turn pages in books and citations; collect hairs and other fine pieces of evidence at crime scenes; dust and spray for latent prints; turn caps, lids on containers, door knobs and other items to make entry; answer radio communications via radio microphone and depress buttons on shotguns and safety mechanisms on firearms; safely and accurately shoot a firearm; react to combative suspects by pulling, struggling, restraining, holding, handcuffing, spraying, and other physically demanding hands on training or work related activities.
? Must have good hearing without aid in order to hear suspects, victims, sirens, audio radios, firearms, and other police related activities which would place the officer in danger if not able to hear those sounds; must be able to communicate by hearing a portable radio or in a SWAT operation hear a listening device; must be able to take statements and communicate for investigative purposes at crime scenes and traffic accidents as well as other related police work.
? Must be able to have normal smelling abilities in order to distinguish odors such as chemicals used in the manufacturing of narcotics; marijuana smoke and smell for identification of drug use; alcohol use within vehicle; smoke from fires or other related safety oriented functions within police work.
? Must be able to communicate verbally with victims, witnesses, suspects, responsibles and other persons contacted during a law enforcement duty day. Must be able to take verbal taped statements. Must have command presence when directing people during an emergency. Must be able to verbally warn others including officers of immediate or impending danger.
TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
? Acts as Shift Supervisor and is the Police Officer=s first-line supervision and guidance.
? Plans, assigns, schedules, budgets and guides law enforcement needs within the department.
? Ensures that patrol activities are conducted in accordance with departmental rules, policies, and regulations, and ensures that Police Officers are dispatched to the scenes of crimes, accidents, and other emergency situations and assists on these calls as required giving guidance and reacting to the needs of patrol.
? Patrols designated areas of the city on assigned shifts.
? Answers calls for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of federal, state, county, and city laws, ordinances and codes.
? Stops operators of vehicles who violate the law; warns and advises operators of vehicles against unlawful practices and issues citations when applicable.
? Makes observations of suspicious acts and unsafe conditions and arrests violators of the law.
? Regulates vehicle flow at times of emergency or congestion or during special events.
? Conducts surveys within Beat Health areas and completes Community Oriented Policing assignments as required; works with the community in an effort to resolve and assist with concerns and complaints.
? Gives information and directions to the public.
? Writes and serves search warrants, Ramey warrants, arrest warrants and other warrants as issued by the court; testifies and prepares cases for court adjudication.
? Administers first aid and CPR as required.
? Prepares reports for crimes committed, arrests made, investigations conducted, unusual incidents requiring documentation and other reports as required to complete normal job requirements.
? Receives, searches, books, fingerprints, and transports prisoners.
? Performs foot patrol, security checks of buildings and businesses and other security functions within the city.
? Conducts investigations and processing of evidence at crime and accident scenes; collects and preserves all evidence, property and other related duties as required; completes follow-up investigations of crime reports taken or reported.
? Continually maintains contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems and preserves good relationships with the general public.
? Performs animal regulation tasks as assigned.
? Keeps in good physical condition in order to overcome resistive and combative suspects by using approved use of force guidelines.
? Continually qualifies and trains in the areas of use of force, firearms qualification, defensive tactics, crowd control techniques, baton usage, domestic violence and other required mandatory training.
? Keeps current on all federal, state and local laws and case decisions as well as the City of Willits Police Department Policies and Procedures.
? Performs other related duties as required.
MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS:
Vehicle as assigned; uniform as specified in General Orders including duty belt, weapon and other equipment as specified in Departmental Policy and General Order; computers and specified computer software programs; tape recording equipment, and video cassette recorders, cameras, microscopes, photo-imaging equipment, latent print equipment, video cameras, and computer generated imaging equipment; Search Warrant Software programming for writing search warrants; emergency lights, siren, shotgun release, microphone, and emergency vehicle; use pepper spray, mace and other chemicals as required to effect arrests or conduct evidentiary examination; use baton, PR-24, stun-gun or other defensive weapons; assigned firearms.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
? Meet special requirements of police officer position.
? Possession of a POST Intermediate Certificate, upon completion of probationary period.
? Employment as a Police Officer for a period of three years prior to appointment.
? Possession of a Class C or higher California driver=s license.
? Possession of basic/first responder first aid certificate, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) issued by the American Red Cross.
DESIRABLE SKILL, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
? Principles, methods, and techniques of law enforcement work, including patrol, crime prevention, investigation and identification.
? All laws and case laws affecting the proper usage of those laws as depicted by law enforcement agencies throughout California.
? Care and operation of firearms and other law enforcement equipment.
? Principles of supervision and training.
? Collection and analysis of evidence.
Ability to:
? Successfully complete a P.O.S.T. approved supervisory course.
? Read, understand, and know how to research laws through the California Legal Resource book and other sources.
? Write and print legibly so that others can read and understand reports.
? Have good recall ability in order to remember names, numbers, incidents and places and other related law enforcement tasks and case laws.
? Think and act quickly and accurately during emergency situations.
? Carry out oral and written orders and directions.
? Meet physical demands and standards as required by a Police Officer.
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:
High school diploma or equivalent.
Three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a Police Officer.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Frequent walking, running, crawling, twisting, bending, holding, restraining, wrestling, struggling, climbing, sitting, standing, walking on uneven and slippery surfaces, carrying an 80 pound object or dragging a 150 pound object for 80 feet; occasional squatting for hiding, kneeling, laying in a prone position, jumping; must be flexible, have static-explosive-dynamic-trunk strength in order to overcome combative suspects, good coordination and equilibrium; arm and hand steadiness for shooting firearms and doing articulate evidentiary collection; good hand dexterity and coordination for computer and other related duties; good vision both far and near as well as color; good hearing; good physical conditioning for stamina, mobility and effort utilized in the policing duties.