Patrol Officer

Position Summary:

Under supervision of the Patrol Sergeant, the Patrol Officer performs a wide range of general law enforcement duties. The Patrol Officer is responsible for the maintenance of order, the enforcement of laws and ordinances, the protection of life and property, and the prevention, detection, and investigation of
criminal acts within the city of Saint Peter. The Patrol Officer enforces court orders and court directives and assures the preservation of the constitutional and civil rights of all persons.

Essential Functions:

• Maintains a clear understanding and knowledge of law enforcement and departmental practices, procedures, policies and skills and independently applies this understanding, knowledge and skill to daily patrol and investigative activities.
• Actively patrols all areas of the city to prevent criminal activity, to detect and deter or apprehend individuals who threaten public safety, peace or tranquility of the community and detect, deter or apprehend individuals who threaten or carry out criminal acts.
• Using the Community Oriented Policing philosophy, works with community members to identify and resolve public safety issues, problems and concerns.
• Actively patrols streets, highways and other public roadways within the community to prevent traffic violations and to detect and apprehend traffic violators. Monitors traffic for the purpose of preventing traffic problems and maintain traffic safety. Pro-actively enforces all traffic laws through routine and consistent patrol.
• Assists as needed at public safety events, including rapidly developing emergency situations making the Patrol Officer assume temporary leadership roles such as incident commander until relieved by a supervising officer.
• Responds to the needs of the mentally ill and chemically dependent and initiates actions and activities which assures the protection and safety of those individuals.
• Enforces state, federal and local laws and ordinances through receiving citizen complaints.
• Engages in proactive crime prevention through intelligence gathering.
• Investigates all crime reports or suspicious activity in a timely manner, which are identified by the officer or reported by citizens to police in a manner that will allow for effective case completion.
• Protects individuals at the crime scene, protects the crime scene and evidence, collects evidence, gathers and documents information from the crime scene, victims, witnesses, suspects and complainants. Identifies victims, witnesses and suspects of crime and gathers and documents information and statements. Identifies, locates and questions criminal suspects.
• Follows up on leads and information relating to criminal activity and crime with the purpose of resolving the crime and detecting and apprehending the criminal suspect. Maintains required documentation of criminal investigation and investigative activities.

Requirements:

• Two year degree in Law Enforcement from P.O.S.T. accredited college or vocational school or three years’ full-time experience as a police officer or working in a related field such as probation or corrections.
• Possession of a valid Minnesota P.O.S.T. board license or eligibility to immediately receive a P.O.S.T. board license.
• Possession of, or eligible for a Minnesota Class D Drivers’ license within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Four year Bachelor’s degree in law enforcement or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Four (4) or more years of experience as a law enforcement officer.
• Demonstrated specialized training or certificates in a law enforcement related subjects such as Emergency Management, Crime Scene Processing, Tactical Response, Mental Health Response, and/or Law Enforcement De-escalation Training.
• Ability to speak conversational Spanish or Somali.