Police Detective (Promotional)

City of El Paso•Various Locations within the City of El Paso, TX

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Police Detective performs technical police services as an investigator, first-level identification officer, or community relations officer, as required. The role investigates alleged criminal cases and crimes against people or property in compliance with applicable federal, state, county, and city laws and ordinances. Investigations may take place in the office or field and may be conducted in uniform, non-uniform, or undercover settings, on the employee’s initiative or as assigned. The position may also involve collecting and processing evidence, providing crime-prevention and community-relations services, and performing qualified backup uniformed police duties. The detective prepares cases for prosecution, supports witnesses and victims, keeps commanding officers informed of investigative progress, and maintains availability for consultation on open cases or emergency call-outs. The position includes maintaining equipment and facilities, participating in training, and explaining investigative techniques to less experienced employees as requested. This recruitment is limited to uniformed City employees working within the El Paso Police Department. Applicants must provide their relevant education, experience, knowledge, and skills in the application; resumes or other documents are not accepted in place of a completed application.

Requirements

For police officers who graduated with or after the 125th Academy Class: complete four years of service as a commissioned police officer with the El Paso Police Department.
For police officers hired through the Lateral Training Academy after calendar year 2021: have four years of experience as a commissioned police officer with the El Paso Police Department.
Commissioned employees completing Police Academy Training after October 1, 1992, must complete at least 45 accredited college hours within three years; accreditation is as defined in section 211.1 of the regulations of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
Hold a Basic Peace Officer License issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), in compliance with state statute, by appointment.
Hold a valid Texas Class C driver’s license or an equivalent license from another state by appointment.
This recruitment is limited to uniformed City employees working within the El Paso Police Department.
Clearly state required education, experience, knowledge, and skills in the application’s employment history. A résumé or other document will not be accepted in place of a completed application; “See résumé” responses and applications that fail to detail experience and duties may be considered incomplete or eliminated from consideration.

Responsibilities

Conduct criminal investigations in compliance with applicable federal, state, county, and city laws and ordinances, in the office or field and, when required, in non-uniformed or undercover capacities.
Examine crime scenes and gather evidence related to crimes including homicides, thefts, forgery, fraud, white-collar offenses, narcotics violations, and special inquiry court cases.
Seek missing persons; conduct specialized vice investigations and raids; investigate allegations of official misconduct or law violations by public officials; and conduct criminal or administrative internal-affairs investigations of police officers as required.
Conduct detailed background checks of prospective department employees.
Obtain confidential information by questioning or interrogating suspects, prisoners, complainants, and witnesses, and by taking written or recorded statements, depositions, or admissions.
Contact other agencies and law-enforcement jurisdictions to exchange information, including military, NCIC, FBI, DEA, ATF, and other criminal-history or intelligence resources.
Conduct surveillance of suspected criminals or locations they frequent, and learn about subjects’ habits, associates, characteristics, aliases, and other personal facts.
Analyze case facts to identify planned criminal activity or investigative clues; arrest or assist in arresting suspects or violators; and return fugitives from outside the city or state.
Check pawnshops, second-hand stores, and junk shops for stolen property; receive and document civil complaints; and prepare and serve search warrants.
Prepare, submit, and follow up on crime-laboratory requests.
Confer with the Medical Examiner on officer-involved death investigations and attend autopsies as required.
Analyze criminal cases after arrest and charging, address specific legal defenses, and assist with case reviews or plea-bargaining negotiations as requested by the prosecuting attorney, including locating and interviewing defense-listed witnesses.
Prepare cases for trial in consultation with prosecutors, identify evidentiary and legal issues, assist in obtaining or preparing exhibits and other evidence, and present or assist with evidence in court as required.
Prepare and manage witnesses and victims, including arranging transportation as necessary.
Advise the commanding officer of investigation progress.
As an identification officer, collect evidence, take photographs, process fingerprints, and check prisoner dockets against docket files to determine whether subjects are wanted by law-enforcement agencies.
Receive and maintain records of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia; assess latent fingerprints for legibility and identifying characteristics; discard unsuitable prints; and classify legible prints using accepted methods.
As a community relations officer, arrange crime-prevention programs, lectures, group meetings, and contacts with citizens, local agencies, schools, and department representatives; check related follow-up; and refer citizens to appropriate agencies.
As a qualified backup uniformed police officer, enforce municipal laws and ordinances, help prevent crime, maintain a recognizable community presence, preserve peace and order, protect people and property, and provide allied police services.
Patrol assigned streets, parks, commercial areas, and residential areas on foot, by motorcycle, or by car; investigate law violations and other misconduct; regulate traffic; and respond to calls for police assistance.
Document and prepare felony and misdemeanor cases for filing charges, court testimony, or other appropriate law-enforcement action.
Perform related duties as required, including acting for superior officers in their absence if assigned and remaining normally available by radio or telephone for open-case consultations or emergency call-outs.
Keep equipment, supplies, and facilities clean, orderly, and safe; perform preventive servicing and minor repairs, such as changing tires on an assigned service vehicle when needed.
Participate in in-service training for professional development, explain and demonstrate criminal-investigation techniques to less knowledgeable employees as requested, and serve on designated ad hoc committees.