Job Descriptions

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, this position is assigned to perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to enforce State and local traffic regulations and to perform comprehensive criminal investigative work on special assignments and will also perform related duties as assigned.

This classification is assigned to the T.A.P.O. bargaining unit for labor relations purposes and is subject to overtime, standby, call‑back and shift assignments.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Police Officer I – An entry level position that serves an eighteen (18) month probationary period and is expected to promote to the journey level Police Officer II classification after successful completion of probation.

Police Officer II – An entry level Police Officer that has successfully passed probation at the Turlock Police Department or lateral Police Officer that has successfully met prerequisite qualifications.

*Lateral Police Officers – Individuals who possess a California POST Basic Certificate and are currently employed as a police officer with a minimum of eighteen (18) months of patrol experience with a law enforcement agency. New hire lateral Police Officers shall be classified as a Police Officer II and serve a twelve (12) month probationary period.

*Lateral applicants may qualify for up to a $20,000 signing bonus.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Operations:

• Patrols assigned areas in vehicles, on foot, on motorcycle, or on bicycle as assigned.
• Analyzes and solves community/neighborhood problems involving the protection and preservation of life, property, and the enforcement of City, County and State laws.
• Conducts a variety of investigations including neighborhood disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, robberies, juvenile crimes, domestic violence, sexual assaults, vehicle accidents, and deaths.
• Directs traffic/provides regulation of traffic flow at time of emergency or congestion.
• Works shiftwork to include Days, Swings and Graveyard.
• Testifies in court as needed.
• Provides traffic enforcement to include arrests and issuance of citations as required.
• Receives calls from and provides assistance for other law enforcement agencies in emergencies.
• Conducts investigations to include the collection and storage of evidence for court presentation.
• Prepares detailed reports of arrests made, investigations conducted, and illegal incidents observed.
• Proactively patrols business districts and residential neighborhoods at all times of day and night.
• Provides direction and information to the general public.
• Processes and cares for prisoners.
• Establishes and maintains positive contact with citizens pertaining to potential community and neighborhood problems, suspicious people and circumstances.
• Assists with Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch meetings.
• Counsels’ at-risk youth and assists with diversion programs and press relations.
• Provides service and assistance to the public.
• May be assigned to act as School Resource Officer - teaching high school students youth in law classes or Drug Awareness Resistance Education.
• Assists in assigned projects such as licensing of businesses, building maintenance, issuance of permits or other tasks as assigned.
• Works with a team of officers working a specialized street crimes suppression unit (C-Team).
• Participates in and assists with community recreation activities.

Investigations:

• Investigates, collects, and preserves evidence from the scene on a wide variety of crimes, suspected crimes and accident scenes.
• Interviews and interrogates witnesses, victims and suspects.
• Locates suspects, makes arrests and searches for and seizes criminal evidence.
• Prepares detailed reports of investigations and arrests.
• Prepares evidence for trial of cases and testifies in court.
• Interviews merchants and the public to obtain descriptions of possible suspects, and secures written and oral statements from witnesses and victims.
• May serve as an undercover agent for vice and narcotic investigations.
• May conduct background investigations on police officer or civilian applicants.
• Cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in carrying out assigned investigative duties.
• Confers with supervisor on progress and problems concerning assigned cases.
• May work with a team of investigators on the Turlock drug enforcement team.
• May perform duties in other areas of the Police Department or countywide task forces to include
• Stanislaus County Drug Enforcement Unit
• Stanislaus County Gang Intelligence Task Force
• Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force
• Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force, or others.

Ability to:

• Provide high quality customer oriented service.
• Demonstrate keen powers of observation and memory.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action, learn and apply the community oriented policing philosophy.
• Learn laws of arrest and pertinent local and state laws.
• Learn criminal investigative techniques and procedures.
• Learn the safe use and care of firearms and equipment.
• Exercise restraint and good judgment in a variety of emergency situations.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions and directives.
• Prepare accurate case reports.

Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

AGE:

Twenty-one (21) years old at time of appointment as a Police Officer.

Proof of age is a copy of an official United States issued birth certificate or any document accepted for proof of citizenship.

CITIZENSHIP:

Pursuant to California government Code 1031 (a): Must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship. Proof of citizenship requirement is copy of an official United States issued birth certificate or official United States naturalization documentation.

EDUCATION:

Be a high school graduate from a United States public school, an accredited United States Department of Defense high school or an accredited or approved public or nonpublic high school.

Or pass the General Education Development Test indicating high school graduation level.

Or pass the California High School Proficiency Examination.

Or a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or university is desirable.

Proof of education is a copy of one of the following: A high school diploma, a college degree, a high school transcript, a college transcript or, if applicable, GED or Proficiency Exam certificates.

DRIVERS LICENSE:

Possession of a valid California Driver’s License – minimum “Class C” – to be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

A copy of your driver’s license is required.

POLICE OFFICER I/II ACADEMY REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a graduate from a California P.O.S.T. certified police academy at time of application.

Or at time of application, be currently enrolled in a California P.O.S.T. certified full-time police academy.

Or at time of application, be currently enrolled in Module 1 of a California P.O.S.T. certified extended police academy.

If enrolled in an academy, must have graduated from the academy by time of appointment.

Must provide a copy of your academy certificate of completion or proof of academy enrollment.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

EXPERIENCE

Refer to Minimum Qualification Section

EDUCATION

Refer to Minimum Qualification Section

CERTIFICATES

Ability to obtain a P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate within eighteen (18) months of appointment or end of probation.

Possession of an advanced first-aid certificate issued by the American Red Cross within six (6) months of appointment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Maintain physical ability and stamina to meet police and safety standards, to include: See well enough to drive vehicles under emergency conditions, make valid identifications, use firearms, detect hazardous situations, write legible reports; hear and speak well enough to converse on the radio, telephone and in person over incident noise, and be alert to situations of danger; bodily mobility to make rapid transitions from rest to near maximal exertion without warm-up periods, stamina and endurance necessary in the apprehension of combative suspects, use of hands and fingers to write and type reports, utilize safety gear, and drive vehicles under emergency conditions; ability to distinguish hazardous odors; ability to lift equipment as necessary.