JOB SUMMARY
Performs general duty
police work in the patrolling of assigned areas, protecting the public and enforcing the
laws through arrest or other appropriate means.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
(All responsibilities may not be performed
by all incumbents.)
Investigates traffic
accidents by determining cause, protects, processes, and stores all physical evidence
related to specific incidents, transports individuals for the purpose of obtaining blood
or other samples for testing in alcohol or drug incidents and evaluates a driver’s
ability to drive a motor vehicle by using psychomotor skills field tests.
Directs vehicular traffic, enforces traffic laws,
directs pedestrian traffic, investigates road damage, removes hazards from the roadway,
conducts traffic stops to check operator’s license, issue citations, explains legal
procedures, check vehicle license plates, registration and identification number, emission
sticker and proof of insurance.
Investigates accidents involving hit and run drivers and
traffic accidents involving hazardous material carriers.
Testifies in State mandated implied consent hearings.
Uses oral communication skills to testify in a courtroom
setting or other legal proceeding to ensure complete and correct information is related to
all participants.
Reviews all documents, papers and notes related to an
investigation to allow for knowledgeable courtroom testimony.
Obtains arrest warrants from judicial authority by reviewing
facts and evidence as basis for obtaining warrant resulting from the investigation of a
criminal incident.
Advises victims or other involved persons of their rights
according to current law and the proper procedures to follow to prosecute a case.
Confiscates property for evidence resulting from an arrest
or for safe keeping by physically taking property to property control and completing
necessary paperwork.
Cleans and inspects all issued equipment to include;
uniforms, leather gear, hand gun, ammunition, magazines, hand cuffs, flashlight, hats,
badges, shoes, pursuit case and other equipment.
Inspects the assigned patrol vehicle prior to beginning
shift to include; checking under all seats front and back, and all compartments where the
public or incarcerated suspects may have had access.
Operates the assigned patrol vehicle in accordance with all
laws and regulations of the State of Georgia and the department.
Demonstrates a proficiency in the use of all issued
equipment to include; issued fire arms, PR-24 baton or other issued straight baton, hand
cuffs, flex cuffs, measuring tape or roll-a-tape, atlas or map book, body armor, whistle,
light reflective traffic vest, flashlight or other equipment as may be required.
Searches movable vehicles both interior and exterior under
independent probable cause in accordance with established search and seizure rules and
procedures.
Searches persons, premises, or property incident to a lawful
arrest with a warrant or consent in accordance with established departmental policy and
search and seizure laws.
Identifies, confiscates, preserves and maintains the chain
of custody of all evidence in accordance with current search and seizure laws and
departmental policy.
Seizes or confiscates illegal substances or apparatus such
as drugs, drug equipment, or gambling devices, placing and securing these items into
property control.
Determines the need for specialized equipment such as the
bomb trailer, listening devices or special armament and specially trained personnel.
Recovers, marks, and stores evidence or property that has
been lost or stolen, into the property control unit for safekeeping.
Secures and protects the scene of a crime and the immediate
area surrounding the crime scene so that no evidence is disturbed.
Communicates over and listens to police radio, issues
lookouts and other required information while on patrol.
Orally communicates with the public, fellow officers and
supervisors to a degree that complete understanding is accomplished.
Checks wanted sheets and GCIC/NCIC notices or handouts for
suspect information.
Explains demonstration permits to demonstrators and the
requirements and procedures to obtain one.
Patrols areas containing labor pickets, marchers, or
demonstrators and watches for illegal activity or law violations.
Responds to and identifies fuel or hazardous material spills
and requests needed equipment and personnel for clean up or disposal process.
Positions vehicles at roadblocks to effectively isolate the
scene or hazardous situations.
Participates in riot control to prevent illegal activity or
injury to property or persons.
Assists in the evacuation or rescue of persons and property
in emergency situations such as aircraft crashes, fires, floods and other natural or
manmade disasters.
Advises through oral communication skills, all parties
involved in domestic disputes of the proper legal procedures to obtain warrants, other
sources of assistance and the consequences of actions.
Explains and enforces the provisions of the family violence
statute by making arrests where warranted.
Speaks with and refers citizens in need to appropriate
public and social services.
Speaks with and interacts with citizens on the beat to
establish rapport and trust.
Patrols area in the precinct beat that are high crime and
potentially dangerous to deter crimes and to respond quickly if a crime does occur.
Maintains and organizes field notes and other information to
complete final departmental reports.
Patrols assigned beat area to include; all public and
private businesses and residences, parking lots, surface streets and interstates enforcing
all federal, state and local laws.
Make entries to the officer’s daily activity log after
response to each dispatch to maintain a record of the unit’s daily activity.
Conducts misdemeanor and felony traffic stops.
Provides dispositions to the court on incidents where they
have direct knowledge or information.
Advises persons under arrest and explains their rights
according to the Miranda decision to ensure complete understanding of these rights.
Conducts stop and frisk searches on suspicious persons for
the safety of all involved parties.
Removes weapons from armed persons.
Obtains information on persons or property involved in a
crime from witnesses, victims or others with knowledge of the incident.
Attends in-service and specialized training to insure the
required number of training hours has been acquired.
Transports or escorts prisoners to any location within the
county either by foot or motorized vehicle.
Completes documents for confinement of persons in custody
and transports to a place of detention.
Performs other related duties assigned.
MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Vehicle, Firearms, Protective, and
Safety equipment
Radio, Speed Detection Systems, Electronic equipment,
and Computer
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
Must be a U.S. Citizen
Education and Experience:
High school diploma or GED; and no minimum
experience; or
Any combination of education, training and experience, which
provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities, required for the job.
Licenses and Certifications:
Valid Georgia Driver’s License.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of:
Local, state and federal laws and current county ordinances.
Judicial system, operation and procedures for criminal
prosecution.
Laws pertaining to citizen disputes and domestic violence
Laws pertaining to the issuance of valid arrest and search
warrants.
Legal limitations of police officers authority and the
limits and requirements in use of force.
First aid procedures and equipment at the first respondent
level.
Suspect/victim/witness interview and interrogation concepts,
principles and practices.
Departmental policies and standard operating procedures.
Public relations techniques for handling calls for service
or complaints.
Crime scene processing procedures and the security and
protection of a crime scene.
Basic crime prevention techniques.
Defensive tactics to protect self and others.
Proper arrest and suspect apprehension techniques.
Physical characteristics of the precinct’s territory.
Cultural diversity of the people living and working within
Cobb County.
Crime patterns, potential problem areas and prior offenders
within Cobb County.
Record keeping, report preparation, filing methods and
records management techniques.
Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar,
punctuation and vocabulary.
Standard business arithmetic, including percentages and
decimals.
Applicable state, federal and local laws, rules and
regulations.
Computer applications related to the work.
Skill in:
Skill in the use and operation of equipment to
include police vehicle, emergency equipment, fire arms, baton, walkie-talkie, restraint
devices, technical equipment and basic first aid equipment.
Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and
other written materials.
Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical
deadlines and following up assignments with a minimum of direction.
Applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish
tasks; to understand, interpret and communicate complicated policies, procedures and
protocols.
Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
Mental and Physical Abilities:
Ability to mediate disputes between diverse groups of
people.
Ability to be articulate while testifying in court or other
legal proceedings.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety
rules. Operation and maintenance.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before public groups and
respond to questions.
Ability to compute ratios and percentages and interpret bar
graphs.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written,
oral, diagrams or schedule form.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety
of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to use physical strength of arms and legs to climb
up and over or to jump over, across, ascend, or descend large obstacles.
Ability to push or pull self through openings of varying
nature by using the necessary upper or lower body strength of the arms or legs.
Ability to drag, push, pull, lift, or carry heavy objects or
persons to push vehicles from roadway, move heavy equipment, rescue individuals, restrain
suspects or victims, and drag persons away from dangerous situations or respond to
incidents.
Ability to run up or down stairways or respond to other
incidents.
While performing the essential functions of this job the
employee is occasionally required to lift and /or move more than 100 pounds.
Working conditions:
While performing the essential functions of this
position the employee is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions.
While performing the essential functions of this position
the employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, work in high
precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals and work with
explosives.
Exposure to unknown and dangerous conditions such as
intoxicated or violent arrestees and life threatening situation such as armed and/or
violent arrestees.
Occasional exposure of work time to hazardous situations
which involve armed or physically violent persons, or interviewing mentally or emotionally
disturbed persons.
Working time will require irregular hours and shift times.
The incumbent’s working conditions are typically
moderately quiet.
These class specifications should
not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions
and requirements of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related
responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Any essential
function or requirement of this class will be evaluated as necessary should and
incumbent/applicant be unable to perform the function or requirement due to a disability
as defined by the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
