Police Officer I

Performs general duty law enforcement and investigative work to protect life and property in the City, working in the Community Policing, Investigations, Park Ranger, and Patrol Divisions.
An employee in this class performs a full range of general law enforcement duties to provide public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, and promoting good community relations. An employee works in partnership with the communities they serve to maintain law and order, protect members of the public and their property, prevent crime, and reduce the fear of crime. Work includes patrolling the City during an assigned shift in a police car or on foot; preventing, detecting, and investigating disturbances and crime; conducting preliminary or detailed physical evidence examinations at crime scenes; performing traffic control work; apprehending suspects; testifying in court; and executing related assignments. The employee must exercise judgment, initiative, and calm control when performing duties and enforcing laws of the City of Reidsville and the state. Work involves frequent public contact, which requires tact, firmness, and decisiveness and is performed in accordance with departmental policy and state and federal law, supplemented with specific directions from superior officers. Work is performed under the direct supervision of a Police Lieutenant and is evaluated through observation, review of reports, and discussions concerning how particular incidents or activities were handled. This classification is considered non-exempt in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).Essential Duties and Tasks

• Enforces the city and state laws; protects and serves the public.
• Patrols streets in a police car or on foot; performs residential and commercial property check; examines premises of unoccupied residences or buildings; checks doors and windows; detects unusual conditions; maintains surveillance and observation for stolen cars, missing persons, or suspects. 
• Responds to calls for assistance, complaints, suspicious activity, domestic disputes, loud and disruptive behavior; completes calls by determining true nature of the situation and taking whatever legal or persuasive action is warranted.
• Directs traffic and participates in other emergency operation activities during evaluation or other emergencies.
• Performs preliminary or detailed investigations of accidents or possible crimes through observation, questioning witnesses, gathering physical evidence and presents findings in court; participates, as a part of a team, in major investigations. 
• Issues citations for violation of traffic regulations; marks cars for traffic violations; serves warrants; apprehends and processes criminal suspects; gives advice on laws and ordinances to the public;testifies in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases. 
• Drops off animals at the shelters; washes animal control truck.
• Attends Community Watch Summit.
• Answers public questions concerning police services.
• Enforces City violations relating to aggressive animals.
• Regulates and directs vehicular traffic at busy times or when traffic signal malfunctions or accidents require; maintains order at public gatherings; escorts funerals, and directs school traffic; places radar trailers in appropriate locations.
• Operates a two-way radio to receive instructions and information from or to report information to police headquarters.
• Attends a variety of training sessions and courses to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Records facts to prepare reports that document incidents and activities
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances, and policies of the police department.
• Considerable knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and equipment.
• Some knowledge of scientific crime detection and criminal identification methods and procedures.
• Skill in the use of firearms and other police equipment and in the application of self-defense tactics.
• Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.
• Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively, and to determine proper course of action to be taken.
• Ability to present effective court testimony.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise activity reports.
• Ability to build and maintain cooperative and effective public relations with the citizens.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
Work in this class is described as medium. An employee must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, feeling, grasping, fingering, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. An employee must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, perform extensive reading, use a computer terminal, complete visual inspection of small defects or parts, including the operation or inspection of machines, use measurement devises, and determine the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned. The employee is subject to hazards; includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving parts, electrical current, vibration, noise, oils, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to heat and chemicals. The employee is required to wear a respirator. Working conditions include both inside and outside environmental conditions.