City of Cameron
Position Description
Department: Police
Position Title: Officer I
Reports To: Sergeant – Chief of Police
Pay Grade: 6
FLSA: Non-exempt
Date: October 1, 2020
Purpose of Position
The Police Officer protects life and property, prevents of crime, apprehends and transports criminals and provides general enforcement of laws and ordinances. Duties mainly consist of patrol, preliminary investigation, traffic regulation, response to calls for service, booking and processing of arrestees, and reporting. Police Officers may also be assigned to duties as detective, court security, Department Training Officer, School Resource Officer, homeless liaison, Firearms/Range Instructor, DARE program Officer, Hostage Negotiators, K9 or SWAT. Work involves an element of personal danger. Police Officers must be able to exercise sound independent judgement under stress. Work assignments can be general or specific and may include instructions from a supervisor. Officers must be able to work flexible schedules to include nights, weekends, holidays, court, etc. Patrol Officers are the foundation of the Cameron Police Department on which the department builds upon. The work is performed under the supervision of the Sergeant.
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.
- Performs police officer duties to ensure enforcement of laws and ordinances, provide law enforcement service and public safety.
- Responds to emergencies, complaints and calls for police assistance such as domestic disputes, civil disturbances, assaults, missing children, rescues, disorderly behavior, and public safety hazards.
- Performs traffic stops, assists motorists, provides directions, investigates traffic accidents, removes hazards, directs traffic, enforces parking laws, and issues warnings and citations.
- Conducts building checks, residential checks, and welfare checks of individuals.
- Arrests criminal suspects, investigates suspicious activities, aids victims, interviews witnesses/victims/suspects, and performs other sworn police officer duties.
- Participates in and conducts investigations, searches crime scene, searches vehicles and buildings, and gathers, preserves and processes evidence.
- Fingerprints, processes, and transports prisoners.
- Performs routine vehicle and equipment maintenance; monitors equipment operations and reports malfunctions and repair needs.
- Participates in ongoing training to maintain professional certifications; develops and maintains required skills and licenses/certifications associated with area of special instruction, expertise, etc. (Firearms qualification, juvenile law, criminal law, investigations).
- Testifies in court as needed.
- Prepares Probable Cause statements and contacts appropriate jurisdiction, facility, and Prosecuting Attorney.
- Handles complaints and concerns brought forth by the public.
- Seeks and serves arrest warrants and search warrants.
- Renders first aid to include CPR, Narcan, bleeding control, C-Spine, AED, etc.
- Assists person(s) in distress to include, suicidal/homicidal persons, disgruntled employees, and intoxicated or impaired persons.
- Maintains safe working knowledge of drug identification, detection methods, and testing.
- Prepares clear, accurate and complete reports in a timely manner.
- De-escalates situations and uses only a minimum amount of force necessary to affect an arrest or control the situation.
- Serves court documents.
- Receives bond payments.
- Performs court bailiff duties.
- Supervises community service workers.
- Escorts funerals and provide security services at community events.
Performs the following as assigned or as volunteers according to qualifications:
- Teaches Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) to elementary students; organizes curriculum, materials and supplies; conducts educational classes, special events and program graduations; prepares and gives presentations to school staff and parents; coordinates program with school activities.
- Maintains department training records.
- Performs K-9 duties; trains and provides animal care for K-9; responds to requests for searches and other K-9 assignments; handles K-9 on crime, search, and rescue scenes.
- Reviews, classifies, and approves accident reports prepared by other officers.
- Participates in special weapons or other tactical teams, and participates in special weapons, tactics or related training.
- Conducts field training for other officers and assists with testing applicants.
- Maintains evidence under department custody, documenting receipt of evidence and maintaining evidence inventory records; releases evidence on case disposition.
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.
- Performs dispatch duties.
- Performs animal control tasks.
- Directs traffic.
- Answers and screens telephone calls, and provides information to callers.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education or Experience Required
High school education or G.E.D.; three to six months related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Education or Experience Required
High school education or G.E.D.; six months to twelve months related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Other Requirements – Certificates/Licensures
- Valid Missouri Driver’s License.
- Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification from the state.
- 21 years of age.
- United States citizen.
- No felony convictions or unfavorable police record.
- Pass physical fitness test.
- Coursework sample: Annual firearms requirements and testing, Taser, Defensive Tactics, Defensive Driving, CPR, First Aid.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality of information and documents.
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
- Ability requires physically fit for duty; able to operate motor vehicle under normal and emergency conditions; physically subdue and restrain individual(s); sitting for extended periods of time; requires extensive walking, standing, running and frequent heavy lifting and pushing; requires working in adverse weather and stressful and sometimes life threatening conditions; must carry a firearm and qualify at least annually with weapon.
- Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, recognizing actual or potential dangers, and determine proper course of action.
- Ability to quickly respond, and maintain composure, self-restraint and emotional control in stressful, difficult, dangerous, or criminal situations.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals in very emotional and difficult situations and in situations where individuals may be hostile or aggressive.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals to assist them in solving physical, mental, and social problems.
- Knowledge of court rules and procedures and ability to render credible testimony in a court of law.
- Knowledge of municipal police administration and organization, contemporary management/supervision principles, City and Departmental Policies and Procedures, all appropriate criminal laws, including City ordinances, and appropriate administrative laws relative to public employment including City ordinances, crime prevention activities, use and care of City equipment, and contemporary police, technologies, methods, and practices recognized in the police community.
- Knowledge of patrol procedures, criminal investigation techniques, criminal identification, records maintenance, police schooling techniques, and radio procedures.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of modern police work and the laws governing arrest, custody of prisoners, search and seizure, and rules of evidence.
- Skill in the use and care of various firearms and law enforcement equipment, including skill in safe and effective use of self-defense weapons and methods.
- Ability to analyze data and information using established criteria to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, copy, record and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute, tabulate, and categorize data.
- Ability to persuade, convince, and/or train others, including the ability to act in a lead worker capacity. Ability to advise and interpret how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
- Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as police reports, department forms, time sheets, court documents, warrants, victim/witness statements, lab reports, summons, property records, code book, equipment operating manuals, state statutes, ordinances, training materials, educational curriculum, investigation manuals, drawings, procedures, guidelines and non-routine correspondence.
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing with the general public, department personnel, other emergency response personnel, victims, suspects, witnesses, utility crews, other law enforcement agencies, school personnel, news media representatives, various government officials, civic organizations and other city departments.
- Ability to use functional reasoning in performing influence functions such as supervising, managing, leading, teaching, directing and controlling.
- Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in critical and/or unexpected situations involving moderate risk to the organization.
- Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring complex and rapid adjustments, such as firearms, restraint devices, baton, emergency communications equipment, recording devices, squad car, TV/VCR, camera, evidence kits, common hand tools, rescue equipment, surveillance equipment, body armor, measuring devices, drug test kits, animal control equipment, computer terminal, typewriter, telephone and calculator.
- Ability to pass drug screening and background check.
- Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties.
Supervision
None.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
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 or balance and stoop, squat, bend, twist, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Lifting, moving, pushing or pulling up to 10 pounds does generally occur, 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. 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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is exposed less than one third of the time to conditions such 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, 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.
The City of Cameron is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
I have read and understand the duties of this job description and, by signing below, I agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Employee Date
________________________________ __________________
Department Head Date
________________________________ __________________
City Manager Date
________________________________ __________________
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- 457(b)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
License/Certification:
- Missouri P.O.S.T. Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
