Employment Opportunities

Police Officer

UNIT: Police Department
WORKING TITLE: Police Officer
STAFF POSITIONS SUPERVISED: None
SUPERVISOR: Police Sergeant
TYPE OF SUPERVISION: General
SALARY RANGE: $5,006-$6,047/mo. + $725/yr. uniform allowance & POST certificate pay

Under general supervision, working rotating shifts, a Police Officer patrols the campus in a patrol car, on foot, or by bicycle, enforcing University rules and regulations, California laws, and City and County ordinances; protects life and property; keeps the peace at campus events; investigates criminal complaints and incidents; responds to emergency situations; and handles other related work as required.

Major Duties and Tasks

Patrol/Investigation: 75%

Drive a motor vehicle safely and legally while on patrol and for general transportation.

Respond to radio calls and requests for assistance from other officers and citizens.

Investigate complaints, crimes, accidents, and campus conditions.

Initiate vehicle, foot, and bicycle patrol activities for the prevention of crime, the enforcement of laws and regulations, and to provide public services.

Initiate traffic stops and write citations for law violations.

Direct traffic, provide information, and provide related services to ensure the safe flow of traffic and pedestrians.

Appear at scenes of disorder, disaster, or crime and enforce laws and provide needed services related to safety and security.

Arrest, search, and book prisoners, and testify in court.

Write reports, parking citations, daily activity logs, and related legal and administrative reports.

Collect, preserve, transport, and document chain of custody for physical evidence.

Subdue violent, dangerous or disruptive persons and take appropriate action such as arresting them, taking them to the mental health unit on a 72 hour hold, removing them from campus, or referring them for administrative action.

Develop ideas and recommend solutions to campus safety and security related problems utilizing "Directed Patrol" and "Community Oriented Policing" concepts.

Utilize and develop crime prevention strategies and integrate them into daily patrol and investigative duties.

Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Non-Enforcement Services: 15%

Jump start vehicle batteries.

Unlock vehicle and building doors for individuals locked out of same.

Pick up stray or injured animals. Euthanize seriously injured wild animals.

Give rides to members of the campus community.

Provide information and direction to visitors and affiliates.

Provide crime prevention literature and information to individuals and groups.

Report lights out, security deficiencies, and hazardous conditions.

Determine security needs of facilities and campus areas.

Administer First Aid and/or CPR.

Serve warrants and civil papers as assigned.

Provide "civil stand-bys" to keep the peace.

Determine need for and provide security and safety related services at special events or fixed post assignments.

Independently develop proposals for streamlining Department processes wherever possible to conserve staff time and monetary expense, and to improve service within and outside the Department.

Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Administrative Duties: 10%

Complete daily, monthly, overtime, and special event logs and time and attendance records.

Write event evaluations.

Research and write reports regarding legal issues, police procedures, technical equipment, radar surveys, and related law enforcement matters.

Investigate and report violations of the campus "Rule Book" to Student Affairs and college officials.

Attend meetings and successfully complete training sessions.

Perform other duties as may be assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Applicable California and United States codes (Penal, Vehicle, Health & Safety, Business & Professions, Government Codes, etc.), criminal case law and court decisions, and related civil case law.

Proper and effective detection, collection, preservation, and chain of custody documentation of physical evidence.

"Community Oriented Policing" philosophy, "Directed Patrol" concepts, and crime prevention techniques.

Modern police report writing methods (e.g. active voice, first person, proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling).

The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.

Ability to:

Analyze situations and take quick, effective, and reasonable action to prevent injury, loss of life, or destruction of property.

Use appropriate defensive tactics techniques, and firearms, police baton, chemical agents, and restraint devices (e.g. handcuffs) effectively and in accordance with policy and the law.

Operate a motor vehicle safely and legally.

Remain alert on duty.

Work effectively and professionally with or without direct supervision or close back-up from other officers.

Provide a "command presence" when appropriate.

Present a positive service-oriented public image.

Maintain a courteous and harmonious working relationship with the campus community, other Department staff, and members of the public.

Accept constructive criticism and take direction from supervisors, and accept management decisions.

Conduct oneself, on and off duty, in accordance with the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.

Work tactfully and effectively with a diverse community of various racial, ethnic, and economic groups, and diverse lifestyles, and refrain from expressing prejudices toward any group of people.

Demonstrate sensitivity toward victims and witnesses and respect the rights of all individuals.

Communicate clearly, calmly, courteously, logically and effectively in non-stressful situations, as well as with people who are angry, frustrated, frightened, confused, or hurt.

Work effectively with others as a member of a team.

Maintain University equipment in clean and workable order.

Keep work area (including locker and mail box) neat and clean.

Remember and document accurate details concerning crimes, accidents, and critical incidents (e.g. names, faces, vehicles, sequence of events, etc.).

Write clear, accurate, thorough, and grammatically correct reports, memos, and letters using a PC computer.

Print clear, accurate, thorough, legible, and grammatically correct forms and citations.

Read, understand, interpret and follow Departmental policies, rules, and instructions, laws and ordinances, court decisions, and professional literature.

Learn, apply, and stay knowledgeable about all applicable laws, codes, and regulations, as well as rules of search and seizure and evidence, and officer safety techniques.

Learn and effectively use First Aid, CPR, defensive driving skills, and defensive tactics.

Learn campus locations, procedures, and personnel.

Apply crime prevention and community oriented policing techniques.

Collect and preserve physical evidence for analysis and to preserve the chain of custody for prosecution.

Testify and present complete case documentation in court and in other legal or administrative proceedings.

Set and achieve goals and objectives consistent with Department, BAS, and University Vision Statements and goals.

Complete assignments on time.

Meet the rigorous mental and physical requirements of police work and work effectively under pressure in potentially hazardous or ambiguous situations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Must meet the minimum standards established by California POST:

Be a United States citizen;
Be at least 18 years of age;
Be a high school graduate or have passed the GED;
Possess a valid California Driver's License and a safe driving record;
No felony convictions;
Pass a criminal history check (fingerprints and police records);
Pass a thorough background investigation of work and personal history;
Possess the physical health, strength, stature, and agility to meet the physical demands of police work.
Must pass a pre-employment physical examination;
Possess emotional maturity and psychological fitness as determined by a pre-employment psychological examination;

Must have successfully graduated from an accredited California police academy.

SPECIAL NOTATION:

The incumbent must be willing and able to work nights, holidays, weekends, and overtime assignments.

The incumbent wears a police uniform or, depending on the assignment, works in civilian clothes.

The incumbent carries and uses a firearm and assigned defensive weapons in accordance with policies, procedures, and laws, and must remain proficient in their use.

The incumbent must remain mentally and physically fit and able to perform the strenuous emotional and physical demands of police work.

Machines, tools, equipment, or motor vehicles which are required to perform the duties of the position:

Occasional: Department issued semi-automatic pistol, carbine, shotgun, ammunition, baton, handcuffs, chemical agents, bullhorn, flex cuffs, portable breath alcohol analyzer, First Aid and CPR supplies, typewriter, and fire extinguisher.

Frequent: "Slim jim" and other vehicle lock-out tools, VCR, fingerprint brushes and dusting powder, RADAR, and bicycle.

Regular: Police radio, patrol car, keys, battery jumper cables, measuring devices such as steel tape and rolatape measure, traffic flares, camera, telephone, flashlight, and computer equipment.

For additional information: UCSC staff job opportunities (search for job #0701238)