Police Officer

Under general direction of the Police Chief and within guidelines set by policies, rules, and regulations, this position is responsible for protecting persons and property. The police officer works in accordance with departmental rules and regulations to receive assignments and instructions from police personnel of higher rank. Duty involves an element of danger and is performed in all types of weather.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Patrols designated areas of the City in car, by foot, or other means to preserve law and order, discovers and prevents the commission of crimes, and enforces traffic and other laws and ordinances. 
• Protects real and personal property by providing security checks of residential, business, and public premises.
• Maintains awareness of and remains alert for wanted suspects, known criminals, stolen vehicles, missing persons, traffic violators, and crimes in progress; 
• Issues warnings and citations.
• Responds to calls for the protection of life and property, the enforcement of laws and ordinances, general public service calls, and complaints including those involving automobile accidents, traffic hazards, misdemeanor and felony incidents, domestic disturbances, property control, civil complaints, and related incidents.
• Investigates complaints and takes appropriate action, which may include the use of deadly or nondeadly force; uses sound judgment under adverse, stressful conditions.
• Conducts investigations at scenes of incidents to which summoned, or incidents observed; determines what, if any, crime has been committed; identifies, collects, preserves, processes, and books evidence; locates and interviews victims and witnesses; identifies and interrogates suspects.
• Prepares investigative reports and case information; recommends disposition of cases including to discuss recommended disposition of cases with legal authorities.
• Trains new recruits and lateral police officers; documents trainee progress and prepares evaluations; serves as acting field supervisor as assigned.
• Testifies in courts and at hearings; prepares and presents case evidence; responds to mandatory court calls during irregular hours.
• Initiates and completes reports, legal documents, and other required paperwork; prepares a variety of reports including those on activities, operations, arrests made, and unusual incidents observed; prepares investigative reports and case information.
• Participates in continuous training to enhance law enforcement skills including firearms proficiency, defensive driving skills, apprehension and arrest techniques, investigative skills, and general law enforcement skills.
• Contacts and cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses; may respond to requests for assistance from agencies outside the City for mutual aid in the suppression of civil disturbances, apprehension of criminals, or other related requests.

• Performs other reasonably duties in a safe manner as assigned by immediate supervisor or other supervisors as required.

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent with related work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Special Qualifications:

• Must be at least 21 years of age. 
• Must never have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude or misdemeanor involving the use of force or violence. 

• Must pass the Civil Service Board’s written examination, The Alabama Peace Officer Standards Training Course, a pre-employment physical and drug screen, and a psychological evaluation. If an applicant is currently APOST certified and currently employed by another law enforcement agency in the State of Alabama, they will be allowed to forego the written examination and APOST Physical Training Requirements. The applicant still must pass all other pre-employment checks.  If an applicant is currently POST certified and currently employed by another law enforcement agency outside the State of Alabama, they will be allowed to forego the written examination and physical training course; however, employment is subject to completion of the Refresher/Lateral Entry Course for APOST certification.  The applicant still must pass all other pre-employment checks.

• Possession of a valid, State of Alabama driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.  Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of federal laws, state laws, City ordinances, policies, and procedures.

• Knowledge of the behavioral traits that are needed to remain impartial and objective in dealing with the public. 
• Knowledge of the general layout of the City of Northport.

• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs).
• Skill in operating a firearm safely and accurately.
• Skill in dealing with the public and often time in less than ideal conditions. 
• Skill in safely operating an automobile at various speeds in all types of weather conditions.
• Skill in planning and organizing work.
• Skill in utilizing such office equipment as a calculator, typewriter, facsimile machine, and copier.
• Skill in interpersonal relations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public.
• Skill in verbal and written communication.
• Skill in the use small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Skill in using computers for data entry, word processing, and/or accounting purposes.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle, firearm, radio, and other police equipment. 
• Ability to move quickly in emergency situations. 
• Ability to exercise self-defense techniques.
• Ability to successfully complete the mandatory 480 hour Alabama Law Enforcement Academy. 
• Ability to comprehend and execute verbal and written instructions 
• Ability to work in all types of weather. 
• Ability to learn and perform CPR and basic first aid. 
• Ability to maintain regular attendance on the job. 
• Ability to organize and communicate effectively.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationship with other employees and the public. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is heavy work: exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally,  

and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: 

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium. 
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. 
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet. 
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine. 
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips. 
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Sitting: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand. Must have the ability to place records, files, and boxes weighing no more than 25 pounds on shelves about head level.
• Hearing 1: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Hearing 2: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound. Must have the ability to hear well enough to carry on a normal conversation with clients both in person and on the telephone.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Must have the ability to efficiently operate a computer, calculator, fax, copy machine and other related office machines.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Talking 1: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Talking 2: Shouting in order to be heard above ambient noise level.
• Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading. Must have the ability to see well enough to interpret data on a computer monitor.
• Visual Acuity 2: Including color, depth perception, and field vision.
• Visual Acuity 3: Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
• Visual Acuity 4: Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
• Visual Acuity 5: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, operation of machines; using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another. Must have the ability to move freely about the office.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed indoors and outdoors. Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, temperature and noise extremes, bright/dim light, toxic agents, disease, pathogenic substances, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, smoke, bodily fluids of other persons, and/or rude/hostile citizens.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.  Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description. 

Additional Information

Testing for eligible applicants is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, 2026.   More information will be sent to you by email closer to that date regarding the locations and times for the written exam and physical training test. The physical test (PT) consists of push-ups, sit-ups, 1.5 mile run, and an obstacle course.  You must meet the following standards:  22 Push-Ups in 1 minute or less, 25 Sit-Ups in 1 minute or less, 1.5 Mile Run in 15:28 or less, and Obstacle Course in 1:30 or less.