Police Officer/Police Officer Trainee

Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral Police Department

Salary: $66,185.60 – $102,752.00 Annually

Position Summary:

Police Officer Trainee/Police officer(s) perform under the direct supervision of a Police Supervisor; performs duties in accordance with Florida State Statutes, City of Cape Coral and departmental policies and procedures. Police officers perform a wide variety of law enforcement duties, to include, but are not limited to: enforcement of laws and ordinances, prevention, detection, and investigation of crime(s), apprehension of criminals, response to calls for service, and other duties required and/or associated with the protection of life, property, and public safety. This position is characterized by the use of independent judgment in the application of police principles, and knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances.

Essential Functions:

  • Utilizes community oriented policing strategies to develop partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address issues that give rise to public safety.
  • Patrols assigned areas within the City for prevention of crime and enforcement of all applicable criminal, traffic, and other laws and ordinances.
  • Responds to calls for police service and takes action upon observing a circumstance or situation requiring police attention such as: detection and/or prevention of criminal activity, enforcement of traffic laws, processing crime scenes, investigation of traffic crashes, enforcing City ordinances, collection of intelligence, and providing general assistance to the public.
  • Conducts visual and audio surveillances for extended periods of time.
  • Apprehends suspects in accordance with Federal, State, and Local Laws; prepares and executes necessary search and/or arrest warrants; transports suspect(s) to jail; and testifies and presents evidence in court.
  • Effectively communicates with people of varying ages, provides information and/or available assistance/services, and advising individuals of rights and processes. Maintains a professional demeanor under stressful circumstances to include confrontational situations.
  • Responds to domestic disputes with potentially violent or lethal situations involving a wide variety of participants, including family members, neighbors, landlords and tenants, rival youth gangs, etc. in an effort to diffuse the situation and establish a peaceful dialogue between the involved parties.
  • Prepares detailed incident, investigation, and activity reports in compliance with proper police policy and procedures.
  • Performs rescue functions at accidents, natural disasters, and other emergency situations; administering first aid, lifting/dragging/carrying, and evacuating people away from dangerous environments or situations, in which these tasks may risk exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, water (pools, canals, etc.), fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, violence, disease, pathogenic substances and/or toxic/poisonous agents.
  • Performs a variety of general and specialized investigations involving, but not limited to; property, persons, and financial crimes, gathers evidence and preserves crime scenes.
  • When assigned to a specific functional area such as investigations, primary function includes follow-up investigative activities, e.g., reviewing initial investigation and case file, interviewing witnesses and suspects, developing resources, gathering, and processing evidence, working with outside agencies, and completing documentation.
  • For specific functional area such as patrol, primary function includes providing for the safety and convenient flow of traffic and pedestrians, reporting unsafe conditions, investigating impaired drivers and maintaining civil obedience at group gatherings.
  • May be required to be on call and/or work on various shifts, weekends, and/or holidays as deemed necessary when the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated.
  • In the event of an emergency, employees in this classification may be called to work during days or hours other than those for which they are regularly scheduled.
  • Attends vocational classes, seminars, and related training opportunities to maintain/achieve various certifications and to maintain state law enforcement certification; and maintain current knowledge of statutes, court decisions, and related law enforcement developments.
  • Maintains vehicle and assigned equipment according to established departmental policy and procedures.
  • Searches, locates, and detains suspects. Exercises independent judgment in determining reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exist to search and arrest, and when force may be used and what level is necessary to control an incident, affect an arrest, and/or protect officers or others from harm.
  • Required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of assigned tasks.
  • Performs related duties as required.

Requirements:

  • Achieve a passing score on the Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT).
  • An associate’s degree or sixty (60) college credits from an accredited college or university; or obtain within five (5) years of swearing in with the Cape Coral Police Department.
  • Must have a valid state driver’s license and obtain a valid Florida driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire.
  • Certified Officer: Florida Law Enforcement Officer Certification or possess an out-of-state law enforcement certification with proof of meeting the eligibility requirements from the Florida CJSTC Equivalency of Training Program (EOT).

Preferred Requirements:

  • Law enforcement related work history or Military Service.
  • Florida Law Enforcement Certification.