Special Police Officer

1.  Nature of Work:  The purpose of this position is to perform police work including public service civil stand-bys, vehicle inspections, emergency notifications and other related duties as directed, patrols the Town being observant for likely targets of crime and attempting to eliminate opportunities for the commission of crimes, issues citations, warnings and when appropriate makes arrests and transports prisoners and performs follow-up investigations when needed, and performs other related tasks as required to fulfill the position of patrol officer.

2.  Supervision Required:  Reports directly to his/her Patrol Sergeant.  Performs all duties assigned by the Shift Supervisor.  Under the general supervision of the Lieutenants and Chief of Police.

3.  Supervisory Responsibility:  The police officer does not have supervisory responsibility over other personnel.

4.  Confidentiality:  Employee has regular access at the departmental to a wide variety of confidential information including citizen records, criminal investigations, and court records.  Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy, State and Federal Laws, and the Public Records Act.

5.  Accountability:  Consequences of errors or poor judgment could severely jeopardize department operations and the delivery of public safety services, have adverse public relations and/or have extensive financial and legal repercussions to the town, property damage, personal injury and/or loss of life.

6.  Judgment:  Guidelines may be in the form of administrative or organizational policies, general principles, legislation or directives that pertain to a specific department or functional area.  Extensive judgment is required to development new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies.

7.  Complexity:  The work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices, and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field.  Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions, and unusual circumstances; evaluating compliance with established policies or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts, evidence, or data using specialized fact finding techniques; and determining the methods to accomplish the work.

8.  Nature and Purpose of Public Contact:  Employee interacts constantly with co-workers, the public and groups or individuals who have conflicting opinions or objectives, diverse points of view or differences where skillful negotiating and achieving compromise is required to secure support, concurrence and acceptance or compliance; one on one relationships with a person(s) who may be under severe stress, where gaining a high degree of persuasion may be required to obtain the desired effect.  Excellent communication and customer service skills are required involving courtesy, tact, and diplomacy in resolving complaints or concerns of the public and in carrying out the required functions of the position.

9.  Essential Functions:  The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logical assignment to the position.

1.  Drive, operate, and maintain departmental vehicles.

2.  Perform patrol function.

3.  Communicate orally and in writing.

4.  Conduct investigations and interviews.

5.  Conduct searches and seizures.

6.  Make custodial arrests.

7.  Perform public safety operations.

8.  Use force.

9.  Provides care and treatment to citizens and prisoners.

10.Perform rescue operations and render citizen assistance.

11.Prepares a variety of records and reports in an accurate and timely manner.

12.Receives inquiries and complaints from the public and takes appropriate action to respond.

11.  Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:

Knowledge:  Comprehensive knowledge of current principles, practices, laws, statutes, codes, ordinances and department rules and regulations relating to police services.

Abilities:  Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with governmental agencies, coworkers, other town employees and the general public, often in highly stressful situations.  Ability to carry out required duties and responsibilities firmly, professionally, and impartially.  Basic computer skills.  Ability to operate vehicles in hazardous and severe weather conditions.

Skill:  Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent organizational skills and delivery of services skills.

12.  Work Environment:  Work environment requires a high degree of individual tolerance to combinations of extremely unpleasant elements or mental stress from urgent time and attention demands of the utmost priority.  The nature of the physical environment may be such that the employee’s personal well being and/or safety are constantly compromised.

13.  Occupational Risk:  Duties regularly involve present frequent, recurring exposure to hazardous conditions and to extreme weather conditions.  Job frequently entails the possibility for serious injury or exposure to conditions that could result in total permanent disability or loss of life; work is performed in emergency situations.  Extreme care and safety precautions are required at all times.

14.  Physical and Mental Requirements:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, walk, run, use hands to handle or feel objects; and reach with hands and arms.  Regularly climbs, stoops, crouches, kneels, and climbs.  Specific vision abilities required include, medium, and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus and distinguish colors; employee is required to detect odors.  Frequently lifts up to 100 pounds.  Strenuous physical effort is required when needed to defend, apprehend, suppress, and control suspects.

15.  Motor Skills:  Duties involve close hand and eye coordination and physical dexterity.  Manipulation and motor control under conditions that may require extreme accuracy including firing a gun, or operating motor vehicles at high speed.

16.  Visual Demands:  Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, routinely reviewing non-written materials for analytical purposes and with a need for color vision.