Police Officer / Lateral Recruitment

Capitola, CA
Capitola Police Department

Salary: $7,359.25 to $9,391.23/month

Position Summary:

Performs police patrol, investigation, traffic enforcement and regulation, enforces laws, and related law enforcement activities. The job of police officer and reserve officer involves a variety of activity in responding to public requests for service, enforcement of traffic and penal laws. Police officers and reserve police officers must prevent crime and keep the peace.

Essential Functions:

  • Works on rotating shifts performing security patrols, traffic control, code enforcement, investigation and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation, and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
  • Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedent.
  • Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.
  • Patrols City streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies, and other law violations’ and to otherwise serve and protect.
  • Responds to emergency radio calls and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.
  • Interrogates suspects, witnesses, and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene.
  • Conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift. Seeks out and questions victim, witnesses, and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches scene of crimes for clues. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings.
  • Prepares a variety of reports and records including officer’s Daily Log, reports of investigation, field interrogation report, alcohol reports, influence reports, breathalyzer check list, bad check form, vehicle impoundment form, traffic hazard report, etc.
  • Undertakes community-oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as code enforcement projects, locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education (DARE), traffic safety, etc.
  • Participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the City limits, obtaining evidences, and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing of charges, testifying in court, and related activities.
  • Coordinates activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney, Public Works Department, Court Administrator, and Municipal Prosecutor’s Office regarding cases, policies and procedures, as needed and assigned.
  • Maintains contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities, provide mutual assistance during emergency situations and provides general information about Department activities.

Requirements:

  • Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment; (B) Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid State driver’s license without record of suspension or revocation in any State.
  • Felony 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 (Substitute any local civil service or statutory requirements as applicable, here).
  • High school diploma or equivalent supplemented by 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.