Police Corporal - Patrol at City of Fountain – FOUNTAIN, Colorado

Job Summary

The Police Corporal plays a vital leadership role within the department, ensuring public safety, enforcing laws, and mentoring officers. This position involves patrolling assigned areas, responding to emergency and non-emergency calls, investigating crimes and traffic incidents, and enforcing municipal, state, and federal laws. The Corporal serves as a first responder to incidents, conducts preliminary investigations, collects and preserves evidence, and provides assistance to citizens.

In the absence of a Sergeant, the Corporal assumes leadership responsibilities, directing scene activities, overseeing on-duty officers, and ensuring adherence to departmental policies. This role includes conducting Field Training Officer duties, assisting in training new and reserve officers, and participating in crime prevention programs. Additionally, the Corporal testifies in court, prepares reports, inspects equipment, and collaborates on community policing initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a dedicated law enforcement professional with strong leadership, investigative, and communication skills, committed to maintaining safety and fostering community relationships.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Complies with all City and Department policies and procedures, as well as applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and requirements related to the performance of assigned duties.
• Demonstrates a respectful, collaborative, and team-oriented approach to work and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, external partners, and the public.
• Patrols assigned areas within the City to deter and detect illegal activities and to protect and preserve the safety and security of individuals and property; renders assistance to citizens as needed.
• Responds to dispatch calls and investigates citizen complaints and reported incidents, including crimes in progress, crimes discovered after the fact, disturbances, and accidents.
• Conducts preliminary investigations at crime scenes, traffic accident scenes, and disturbances to preserve and/or collect physical evidence, diagram or photograph scenes, obtain statements, protect witnesses and possible subjects necessary for the reporting of circumstances and facts, for charging suspects and for necessary follow-up.
• Responds to and investigates traffic accidents; may establish traffic surveillance to observe and apprehend violators of traffic ordinances and statutes.
• Enforces criminal and municipal statutes and ordinances by issuing summons, making arrests, taking into custody, and giving verbal or written warnings.
• Reports traffic hazards and abandoned vehicles.
• Prepares a variety of written reports and records on incidents and violations of the law; including criminal, traffic, and informational reports. Review reports to ensure consistency, accuracy, and thoroughness.
• Appears in Municipal, State, and Federal courts and testifies as arresting officer or witness as required on matters related to criminal and civil actions.
• Offers assistance to citizens and visitors, such as giving directions and information, calling for roadside assistance, locating lost children.
• Attends and participates in briefings, prescribed courses of physical training, classroom instruction, and field exercises.
• Serves subpoenas, assists the courts with court security and transports prisoners as necessary.
• Responds to medical emergencies and assists the fire department and ambulance as needed.
• In the absence of a Sergeant, directs all scene activities of peers and other public officials when arrive as first officer on the scene.
• In the absence of a Sergeant, oversees and directs on duty police officers; forwards any situation or conduct that may involve disciplinary action to a Supervisor.
• Conducts Field Training Officer duties; assists in the training of new officers and reserve police officers.
• Conducts and participates in crime prevention activities and programs such as Neighborhood Watch, Police Activities League, and other programs.
• Responsible for conducting or assisting with major criminal cases at supervisory discretion.
• Inspects and performs preventative maintenance of patrol vehicle other equipment and firearms.
• Inspects equipment assigned to members of team when directed by Sergeant or other superior officer. Inspects agency equipment and “pool” equipment when assigned.
• Attends training courses as assigned or appropriate.
• Leads project teams or committees focused on finding and implementing permanent solutions to problems.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required.

Supervisor Duties

In the absence of a Sergeant, the Police Corporal assumes command at scenes, directing officers and public officials while overseeing on-duty personnel and referring any disciplinary matters to a Supervisor.

Work Environment

While some duties are performed indoors or in sheltered environments, this position often requires extended periods of work outdoors, exposing the incumbent to varying weather and climate extremes. The role involves frequent exposure to loud noises, including sirens, firearms training, and other unpredictable environmental factors.

Police Officers may encounter hazardous conditions such as fumes, odors, dust, mists, and gases in poorly ventilated areas, as well as potential mechanical and electrical hazards. Depending on the circumstances, they may also face risks related to working at heights, burns, radiant energy, explosives, toxic or caustic chemicals, and encounters with aggressive animals and/or combative individuals, some of whom may be armed with dangerous weapons.

While the work environment is generally quiet, noise levels can become intense during crime scenes, emergency responses, and high-risk incidents.

Qualifications

• Requires High School graduation or GED equivalent supplemented by specialized courses/training or work experience that is equivalent to completion of one year of college in law enforcement, criminal justice or closely related field.
• Currently be classified as a non-probationary Police Officer II with the Fountain Police Department or have a minimum of 5-years’ experience as a Colorado Sworn Municipal Police Officer or Sworn Patrol/Investigations experience for a Colorado County Sheriff’s Office during the last (6) six years.
• Requires a valid Colorado driver’s license.
• Must possess a current and valid Colorado Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (P.O.S.T) Certificate, CPR and First Aid Certificate.
• Minimum twenty-one (21) years of age.
• Requires good physical condition.
• Knowledge of crime prevention, investigation, and community policing principals, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and their application to police activities.
• Proficiency in the use of firearms and other police equipment.
• Able to obtain the following ICS Certifications: IS100 200, 700 & 900 within 12 months of hire.

Required Capabilities

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• To perform the essential job functions and to ensure the safety of themselves, their coworkers, and the public, employees must have the ability to regulate attention; to plan; to understand, remember, and apply information; to effectively interact with others; to concentrate and maintain pace; and to adapt or regulate one’s behavior.
• Ability to proficiently read, speak, and understand English. Proficiency in non-English languages is highly valued.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills, analytical skills, statistical and mathematical abilities and interpersonal skills. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write complex reports and distill information for many audiences.
• This position requires close, distance and peripheral vision.
• Ability to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using one or both ears, at a distance of six (6) feet. Ability to hear sounds and signals indicating work and safety necessities.
• This position requires standing, walking, running, and sitting for periods of time. Adept utilization of hands and fingers to operate police equipment, weapons, and office computer equipment required. Must be able to reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel or crouch if needed.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to one hundred (100) pounds as needed and frequently exert between twenty (20) and fifty (50) pounds.
• This position requires effective proficiency in the use of computer software and applications, office equipment, and professional telephone use. The ability to adequately type quickly with few to no errors is also very important. This position will often require multi-tasking in the use of computer, phone, and office equipment while interacting with clients. Candidates for this position may be required to take and pass technology proficiency assessments prior to employment.