Police Officer - Certified Law Enforcement

City of Lakeland, Civil Service•Employment Services, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is for certified Law Enforcement Officers only and involves protecting life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. The work includes the prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes, and maintaining law and order. Duties involve patrolling assigned areas, traffic regulation, and involvement in various investigations. Assignments are received from superior officers and carried out in accordance with established policies and procedures. Employees must exercise considerable judgment and skill in handling emergencies. Performance is reviewed through conferences, reports, inspections, and observations by superiors.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age on hire date.
Must possess a high school diploma or GED from an accredited school or training facility.
Already hold an ACTIVE Florida Law Enforcement Certification from a Commission approved Basic Law Enforcement Academy, Correctional Officer Cross-Over Training to Florida Law Enforcement Academy or Commission Comparable Compliance Equivalency of Training Program.
ENROLLED and ACCEPTED into or currently attending a Florida Commission approved Basic Law Enforcement Academy or Correctional Officer Cross-Over Training to Florida Law Enforcement Academy with an academy start date no later than 60 days from the date of application.
Has met the requirements for the Commission Comparable Compliance Equivalency of Training Program or has been ENROLLED and ACCEPTED into or currently attending the Commission Comparable Compliance, Equivalency of Training Program with an academy start date no later than 60 days from the date of application.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license or have the ability to obtain one prior to hiring.
Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.
Applicants will be required to pass an extensive background investigation, which includes, but is not limited to, a polygraph exam, physical agility test, drug screening examination, physical exam, psychological testing, credit checks, and be of good moral character, etc., prior to being offered employment as a Lakeland Police Officer.
Extensive knowledge of First Responder First Aid.
Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, rules of evidence, and laws regarding search and seizure.
Knowledge of departmental policies, rules, and regulations.
Knowledge of principles, practices, and equipment used in police work.
Knowledge of the City's geography.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, other public agencies, the media, City officials, and between bureaus, divisions, and units of the Police Department.
Ability to chase on foot in the course of law enforcement/criminal apprehension activities.
Ability to physically restrain persons in the course of law enforcement activities.
Ability to lift and/or move heavy objects or persons in the course of rescue activities.
Ability to work in conditions that are disagreeable with respect to exposure to the elements, exposure to hazardous materials or equipment, and the threat of bodily harm.
Ability to use various communication skills to interact formally and informally with various community and ethnic groups.
Ability to read, write, and speak the English language fluently.
Ability to use special techniques to establish and maintain professional contact with the public.
Ability to give talks before school and community groups on topics related to law enforcement.
Ability to maintain a state of awareness and vigilance commensurate with officer safety responsibilities.
Speaking ability sufficient to communicate effectively with others in person, by telephone, and on the radio.
Hearing ability sufficient to understand radio transmissions and conversations with other individuals in person and over the telephone.
Ability to operate a vehicle in normal and emergency conditions, during the day and at night, and in adverse weather.
Active work that involves walking, running, and/or standing most of the time, exerting up to 150 pounds of force intermittently, and routine keyboard operations.
Ability to wear/carry up to 30 lbs. of equipment continuously.
Dexterity and grip strength to operate law enforcement equipment such as firearms, handcuffs, radios, batons, and personal protective equipment (PPE), including an air-purifying respirator.
Ability to wear and/or operate personal protective equipment as required, including, but not limited to, belts, ballistic vests, ballistic shields, and ballistic helmets.
Ability to sit and stand for prolonged periods of more than six hours.
Normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.
Must be a citizen of the United States.
Not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement, or have received a dishonorable discharge from any of the Armed Forces of the United States.
Have documentation of his or her processed fingerprints on file with the employing agency or, if a private correctional officer, have documentation of his or her processed fingerprints on file with the Department of Corrections or the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse, based on specifications established by the commission.
Have a good moral character as determined by a background investigation under procedures established by the commission.
Execute and submit to the employing agency or, if a private correctional officer, submit to the appropriate governmental entity an affidavit-of-applicant form, adopted by the commission, attesting to his or her compliance with subsections (1)-(7).
Complete a commission-approved basic recruit training program for the applicable criminal justice discipline, unless exempt under this subsection.
Achieve an acceptable score on the officer certification examination for the applicable criminal justice discipline.
Comply with the continuing training or education requirements of s. 943.135.

Nice To Haves

Consideration for exception will only be given to recruits who display exemplary law enforcement experience or other circumstances.

Responsibilities

Patrols a designated area of the City to preserve law and order, to prevent and detect the commission of crime, and to enforce traffic regulations.
Responds to calls and complaints involving traffic accidents, misdemeanors, felonies, property crimes, crimes against persons, and disputes, and takes necessary police action.
Serves warrants and makes arrests.
Conducts investigations at crime scenes, gathers evidence, locates and questions witnesses, takes detailed statements from witnesses and suspects, and testifies as a witness in court proceedings.
Investigates traffic accidents and administers first aid.
Investigates crimes and incidents and files cases with the State Attorney's Office.
Demonstrates proficiency in using and caring for firearms and other police equipment.
Supports and implements the community-oriented policing concept.
Prepares written police reports, memorandums, and other correspondence.
Enforces state, federal, and local laws and ordinances.
Makes decisions and takes actions in stressful and dangerous situations, taking into account legal, policy, and safety factors.
Meets Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) requirements, including moral character (Florida Rule 11B-27.0011).
Must be able to pass mandated psychological testing to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Visual ability sufficient to operate a police vehicle both day and night, observe criminal actions and traffic violations, read and write reports and correspondence, etc.
May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.
Required to work overtime, or alternate hours, as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
May serve as Acting Police Sergeant when assigned.
This role has emergency response responsibilities, though it may not be considered essential during an emergency event.
This position is subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than normal work locations, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description.
Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions.