Located along the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, the City of South Haven is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time patrol officer to provide law enforcement services to citizens residing in and visiting South Haven and South Haven Township. Come work in a community that supports our officers, has an outstanding school and healthcare system, and provides the enjoyable balance of a quant small town in the spring, fall and winter, and a bustling destination in the summer.
Compensation: Starting salary as of July 1st is $29.40/hr and lateral transfers are available. Shift differential, call back pay, holiday premiums, overtime, compensatory time, and an annual educational incentive for those who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be available as well.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Investigate reports of crimes, accidents, and other incidents.
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Gather, protect, and process evidence.
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Enforce ordinances and statutes, making arrests where appropriate; processing and protecting prisoners as required.
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Providing traffic and parking enforcement and traffic control.
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Responding to other calls for service, such as motorist’s assists, etc.
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Complete all necessary reports, tickets, forms, and in-house paper work as required.
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Check out suspicious subjects, vehicles, and situations.
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Serve subpoenas and other paperwork as required.
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Do court work as required, including obtaining warrants, and doing arraignments.
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As appropriate, conduct property checks of businesses, public buildings and areas, and private homes.
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Provide preventive patrol.
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Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Applicants must have high school diploma or equivalent and have completed training at an accredited police academy. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or related field is preferred.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of the court system and presentation of evidence in court proceedings
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Knowledge of City ordinances, State and Federal laws, and supreme court rulings that affect law enforcement
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Knowledge of effective methods of investigating
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Knowledge of geographic area of the City
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Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions
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Knowledge of modern police practices and methods used in crime investigation and the identification and presentation of physical evidence
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Ability to ascertain facts by personal contact, observation, and the examination of records
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Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations and to determine proper course of action
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Ability to explain and interpret pertinent provisions of laws, ordinances, and regulations
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Ability to enforce laws firmly, tactfully, and with respect for the rights of others
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Ability to learn to operate all law enforcement equipment required in the performance of required duties
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Ability to maintain a high level of discipline and morale
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Ability to qualify for use of firearms and other defensive equipment
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Ability to defend self and others without the use of deadly force
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Ability to keep accurate records and make reports
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Ability to tolerate high levels of stress and react quickly and calmly in emergency situations and to determine proper course of action
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Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and written
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Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the other city officials, county, state and federal authorities, the public, and other employees
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION
MCOLES Certification is required. Valid State of Michigan driver’s license and good driving record.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Requires frequent use of a motor vehicle, personal computer, including word processing programs, calculator, telephone, copier, fax machine, two-way radio, and weaponry.
Residency Requirement
All full-time employees with jobs that require being on call or emergency response are required to establish a bona fide residence and their primary domicile within a fifty-mile radius of the city limits within six months after completion of their probationary period and to maintain residency as a condition of continued employment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, walk, see and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands, arms and fingers, handle, feel objects, tools, keyboards, telephones or controls. The employee is occasionally required to run, jump and climb. Because this is a small department, the fact that these physical demands may only be occasional does not mean that the inability to perform them can be accommodated by shifting those duties to others.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds and may occasionally be required to engage in physical confrontation with unruly and uncooperative human subjects equal to or greater in weight than the employee. The employee may encounter driving hazards, highspeed chases, animals, gunfire and other weapons and the remote possibility of hazardous material spills. The employee may be exposed to temperature extremes depending on weather conditions.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. (Read books, memos, ledgers, computer screens, and use weapons.) The employee must drive a motor vehicle.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The City of South Haven is a drug-free workplace. When on the scene of emergency operations, incumbent can be exposed to definite health or accident hazards. The noise level in the work environment in the office is usually moderately quiet. Out on patrol the noise level maybe moderate.
The Police Officer will have an office in the Police Department, but the job requirement requires long periods of patrolling in a police vehicle, and occasionally driving to events on behalf of the Town. The Police Officer will have a police cruiser available for their use.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types 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 a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION (DEI)
The City of South Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer who places a high value on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City of South Haven comprises a diversity of individuals from varying gender identities, racial/ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, abilities, and more. The diversity of our community is one of our key strengths, and the City is committed to continuing to grow our commitment to DEI/ Employees are expected to interact with one another and with citizens in a manner that demonstrates respect and appreciation for each person and the diverse groups they identify with.
