Police Officer Trainee (recruit) at City of Oakley – Oakley, California

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Attend a certified academy designed to provide an overview of the criminal justice system including knowledge of laws, police procedures, law enforcement techniques, first aid, and physical fitness.
• Undergoes training to develop an awareness of the functions and responsibilities of Police Officers and how they relate to field operations.
• Academy and field training includes activities such as:
  • Instruction on proper handling and firing of firearms.
  • Review of radio codes and applicable Penal Code sections.
  • Overview of the court system
  • Public contact skills including, but not limited to: Answering telephone calls and dispensing public information.
  • Writing and editing police reports.
  • Observing law enforcement activities such as maintenance of order, crime prevention, and protection of citizens and property.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Basic functions, principles, and practices of law enforcement agencies.
• Activities and programs of a municipal Police Department.
• Basic principles of record keeping.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination.
• Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software packages) to conduct, compile, and/or generate documentation.

Ability to:

• Learn basic functions, principles, and practices of law enforcement agencies.
• Learn police terminology and law enforcement codes.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The City will engage in a timely, good faith interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Reactive emergency, natural or man-made disaster, and routine peace keeping environments with travel from site to site; the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions; occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, risk of radiation, and vibration; exposed to potentially hostile environments; extensive public contact; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, the noise level is occasionally very loud due to sirens, firearm training, etc.; incumbents required to work various shifts, including evenings and weekends.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in a law enforcement setting; an office setting; restrain or subdue individuals; walk, stand, sit, or run for prolonged periods of time; occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; occasionally climb and balance; regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry light to moderate weights; frequently lift and/or move moderate to heavy weights; occasionally lift and/or move heavy weights; operate office equipment including use of computer keyboard; requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and gripping with hands and fingers; ability to speak and hear to exchange information; ability to operate a vehicle to travel to various locations; ability to operate and use specialized law enforcement tools and equipment including guns and handcuffs; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Must be cleared through a qualified medical exam and meet the requirements set by P.O.S.T.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction. Must be cleared through a qualified medical exam and meet the requirements set by P.O.S.T.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction. Must be cleared through a qualified medical exam and meet the requirements set by P.O.S.T.