Police Officer - Recruit at Town of Mammoth Lakes, CA

About the Department

DEFINITION

To perform law enforcement and crime prevention work; to control traffic flow and enforce state and local traffic regulations; to perform investigative work; to participate in and provide support and assistance to special department crime prevention and enforcement programs; to take an active role in community-based policing and facilitate familiarization between law enforcement and community residents; and to assist the public.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from sworn administrative and supervisory staff.

Position Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Patrol Town in radio-equipped car; answer calls for the protection of life and property, and the enforcement of Town, county, and state laws; conduct both preliminary and follow-up investigations of disturbances, prowlers, burglaries, thefts, hold-ups, vehicle accidents, death, and other criminal incidents.
• Respond to calls related to traffic incidents and any other required emergencies; observe, monitor, and control routine and unusual traffic conditions; assist and advise motorists and enforce traffic safety laws.
• Make arrests as necessary; interview victims, complainants, and witnesses; interrogate suspects; gather and preserve evidence; testify and present evidence in court.
• Contact and cooperate with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses.
• Prepare reports of arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed.
• Stop drivers who are operating vehicles in violation of laws; warn drivers against unlawful practices; issue citations and make arrests as necessary.
• Check buildings for physical security.
• Search, fingerprint, and transport prisoners.
• Direct traffic at fires, special events, and other emergency or congested situations.
• Maintain contact with citizens regarding potential law enforcement problems; preserve good relationships with the general public to promote and participate in proactive policing.
• Attend, participate, and represent the department at a variety of community, public, and school events, building and maintaining relationships with residents of and visitors to the Town.
• Perform special investigative and crime prevention duties as required.
• Administer first aid, as necessary.
• Animal Control - Contact aggressive or wild animals (i.e. bears, deer); contact and capture domesticated animals (i.e. cats, dogs); use of lethal and less lethal weapons against bears; quarantine animals; write reports; issue citations; register animals; work with animal shelters; euthanize animals.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Police methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, investigations, and identification techniques, police records and reports, and first aid techniques.
• Criminal law with reference to the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
• Principles and techniques used in public and community relations as they relate to law enforcement activities.
• Modern office practices, procedures, methods, and equipment.

Ability to:

• Observe accurately and remember faces, numbers, incidents, and places.
• Learn to use and care for firearms.
• Think and act quickly in emergencies and judge situations and people accurately.
• Learn, understand, and interpret laws and regulations.
• Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports.
• Learn standard broadcasting procedures of a police radio system.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Meet the physical requirements established by the Department.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Foster and contribute to a work environment that supports and exhibits honesty, diversity, integrity, trust, and respect. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Use physical force in taking uncooperative suspects into custody.

Experience and Training:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Completion of POST-approved academy including all physical requirements of academy.

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade. An associate of arts degree from an accredited college with major course work in police science, criminal justice, or a related field is highly desirable.

Experience:

One year of continuous law enforcement experience.

Licenses:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California Basic P.O.S.T. certificate.

Possession of, or ability to obtain within the state-required timeframe of ten (10) days, an appropriate, valid California driver’s license.

Other Qualifications

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. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.