Police Sergeant

Under general direction, performs responsible law-enforcement and supervisory duties in support of the mission of the Red Oak Police Department. Provides professional, ethical, responsive, courteous, and effective police services to the City of Red Oak, its residents, visitors, businesses, and property.  The Police Sergeant serves as a first-line supervisor and is responsible for providing leadership, direction, guidance, and accountability to assigned personnel. The Sergeant exercises sound judgment in routine and emergency situations; ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws and Departmental policies and directives; evaluates and develops subordinate personnel; and promotes the effective, efficient, and professional delivery of police services.

The Sergeant may be assigned to patrol, investigations, training, traffic, administrative functions, or other areas of the Department and may be required to perform the duties of a Police Officer in addition to supervisory responsibilities.

• Provides direct supervision, leadership, guidance, and direction to sworn and, when assigned, civilian personnel.
• Ensures that assigned personnel comply with federal, state, and local laws, Departmental policies, written directives, procedures, rules, regulations, and established standards of conduct.
• Assumes responsibility for the actions and inactions of assigned personnel and takes appropriate supervisory action when deficiencies, violations, or performance concerns are identified.
• Responds to and assumes command of significant, unusual, or critical incidents as appropriate; evaluates circumstances and makes timely, lawful, and reasonable decisions.
• Reviews, approves, and ensures the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of reports, records, investigations, citations, affidavits, and other official documentation prepared by assigned personnel.
• Conducts and/or supervises criminal, administrative, personnel, internal affairs, and other investigations as assigned.
• Ensures appropriate crime-scene management, evidence collection, preservation, documentation, and handling in accordance with law and Departmental procedures.
• Interviews victims, witnesses, suspects, and other people as necessary and ensures investigative activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and accepted law-enforcement practices.
• Makes arrests and performs other lawful enforcement actions as necessary.
• Enforces traffic laws and promotes traffic safety through enforcement, education, directed patrol, and other appropriate activities.
• Monitors officer performance through direct observation, report review, field observation, body-worn camera review, and other appropriate methods.
• Provides coaching, counseling, corrective guidance, and performance feedback to assigned personnel.
• Conducts or assists with employee performance evaluations and identifies training, development, and performance-improvement needs.
• Provides instruction and guidance to subordinates concerning Departmental policies, procedures, laws, rules, regulations, equipment, and operational practices.
• Ensures that assigned personnel maintain required certifications, qualifications, training, equipment, and proficiency standards.
• Maintains accurate and complete documentation of personnel performance, counseling, training, investigations, incidents, and other supervisory activities.
• Serves as a resource to subordinate personnel and assists with resolving operational, legal, personnel, and public-service issues.
• Exercises discretion and acts as a mediator in disputes involving employees, members of the public, and other parties when appropriate.
• Represents the Red Oak Police Department professionally when interacting with residents, visitors, businesses, elected officials, City employees, other governmental agencies, and members of the media.
• Promotes positive community relations and supports Department and City efforts intended to improve the quality of life within the community.
• Provides assistance and coordinates activities with other City departments and local, state, and federal law-enforcement agencies as appropriate.
• Appears and testifies in municipal, county, state, and federal courts and other legal proceedings as required.
• Maintains professional knowledge of current laws, court decisions, law-enforcement practices, Departmental policies, and applicable standards.
• Operates police vehicles and utilizes firearms, less-lethal weapons, communications equipment, computers, body-worn cameras, and other Department-issued equipment as required.
• Maintains required proficiency with firearms, weapons, defensive tactics, driving, and other specialized equipment in accordance with Department standards.
• May assume the duties and responsibilities of higher-ranking personnel when specifically assigned or authorized.
• May perform the duties of a Police Officer when operational needs require.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

This position is appointed through a competitive testing process.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have held the position of a sworn municipal law enforcement officer for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding the date of appointment as Police Sergeant.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Peace Officer License issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
• Must possess the level of TCOLE peace-officer proficiency certification required by the City and/or Department at the time of application.
• Must meet all applicable TCOLE licensing, training, and continuing-education requirements.
• Must possess a valid Texas driver's license and maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with City policy.
• Must meet all applicable City and Department requirements for participation in the Police Sergeant appointment process.
• Must be in good standing and meet applicable Department requirements concerning disciplinary status and employment eligibility at the time of application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Must have held the position of a sworn municipal law enforcement officer for at least five (5) continuous years immediately preceding the date of appointment as Police Sergeant.
• Must have held the position of a sworn municipal law enforcement supervisor for at least two (2) continuous years immediately preceding the date of appointment as Police Sergeant. 
• TCOLE Intermediate, Advanced, or Master Peace Officer Proficiency Certification, as applicable.
• Completion of a TCOLE supervisory or first-line supervisor course (TCOLE 3737 or equivalent).
• Completion of a TCOLE Field Training Officer course (TCOLE 3702 or equivalent).
• Specialized law-enforcement instructor or investigator certifications (TCOLE 1014 or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience in employee coaching, training, performance evaluation, investigations, critical-incident management, or community policing.

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Texas Peace Officer License issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE).
• Must maintain all TCOLE-required training and licensing requirements applicable to the position.
• Must maintain all Department-required certifications and proficiency qualifications.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Texas driver's license.
• Employees appointed to their first supervisory position must complete applicable TCOLE new-supervisor training within the timeframe established by TCOLE.

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws applicable to law-enforcement operations.
• Knowledge of constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, search and seizure, arrest procedures, use of force, and other legal principles applicable to police operations.
• Knowledge of Departmental policies, written directives, rules, regulations, procedures, and operational practices.
• Knowledge of modern law-enforcement principles, practices, methods, and techniques.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices, including employee development, performance management, conflict resolution, and discipline.
• Knowledge of crime-scene management, evidence procedures, investigative practices, and report preparation.

Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Effective leadership, supervisory, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Ability to analyze complex situations, identify appropriate courses of action, and make timely, lawful, reasonable, and defensible decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including people who may be upset, emotionally distressed, hostile, or in crisis.
• Ability to interpret and communicate laws, policies, procedures, and written directives.
• Ability to prepare, review, and approve accurate and comprehensive reports and other official documents.
• Ability to conduct effective interviews and investigations.
• Ability to resolve conflicts professionally and serve as a mediator when appropriate.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment concerning sensitive information.
• Ability to use computers, record-management systems, communications systems, body-worn camera systems, and other technology necessary to perform assigned duties.

Abilities

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City officials, other governmental agencies, and members of the public.
• Ability to lead personnel during routine operations, emergencies, critical incidents, and periods of high stress.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and objective when confronted with stressful or potentially volatile circumstances.
• Ability to understand, follow, interpret, and enforce Departmental and City policies and directives.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and hold employees accountable for performance and conduct.
• Ability to maintain proficiency in firearms, defensive tactics, driving, and other Department-required areas of qualification.
• Ability to attend and successfully complete required training and provide instruction, guidance, or feedback to subordinate personnel.
• Ability to maintain the physical and emotional fitness necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.