Police Officer

Position Summary:

The purpose of this directive is to establish criteria for the position of Police Officer, which outlines the functions of the position to guide the employee in the realization of the goals of the Department.

Essential Functions:

• Obtain and maintain Pennsylvania Act 120 certification through the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission.
• Pursue fleeing suspects, address emergencies, and perform rescue operations which may involve quickly entering and exiting police vehicles; directing traffic for long periods of time; lifting, carrying and dragging heavy objects; climbing over and pulling oneself over obstacles; jumping down from elevated surfaces; climbing through openings; jumping over obstacles, ditches and streams; crawling in confined areas; balancing on uneven or narrow surfaces and using body force to gain entrance through barriers.
• Effect an arrest, forcibly if necessary, using handcuffs and other restraints; subdues resisting suspects using maneuvers and weapons and resort to the use of hands and feet and other approved weapons in self-defense.
• Provide emergency medical aid, hazardous materials emergency response, and initial fire scene emergency response.
• Prepare and write investigative and other reports, including sketches, using appropriate grammar, symbols and mathematical computations.
• Exercise independent judgment in determining reasonable suspicion to detain, probable cause to search and arrest, and when to use force and to the degree of force.
• Have regular and predictable attendance.
• Work shifts as assigned.
• Drive emergency vehicles under stressful conditions. Operate a law enforcement vehicle during both the day and night, including emergency situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits, congested traffic, and unsafe road conditions caused by factors such as fog, smoke, rain, ice and snow.

Requirements:

• Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.
• Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid Pennsylvania State driver’s license without record of suspension or revocation in any State.
• Criminal convictions and disqualifying criminal histories within the past seven years are not allowed.
• U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to read and write the English language.
• Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits.
• High school diploma or equivalent, encouraged to possess a two-year community college degree or vocational school training in police science,
  law enforcement, criminal justice administration, public administration, or a related field; or
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to meet Department’s physical standards by satisfactorily completing all of the training requirements of Act 120, Pennsylvania Municipal Police Training Act.