Job Details

Law Enforcement Officer

Signing Bonus: $5000 to each new hire after successful completion of field training.

Under general supervision performs general and specialized law enforcement work for the City Police Department. Work involves protecting lives, property, and rights of the public; investigating criminal activity; serving criminal process papers; and assisting in community functions. Employee is also responsible for preparing files, reports and records and testifying in court. Employee must exercise tact and firmness in frequent public contact. Employee is expected to exercise independent judgment and initiative in performing assigned tasks. The employee is subject to the usual hazards of law enforcement work. The Suffolk Police Department is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Essential Job Functions

• Patrols an assigned area of the City using a police vehicle to detect and deter criminal activities; monitors radio calls; inspects troublesome areas and checks security of business establishments; answers complaint calls and investigates crimes and disturbances; interviews witnesses; gathers evidence and transports to the lab; interrogates suspects and makes arrests; prepares investigation reports.
• Serves legal papers such as summons and warrants and civil process papers; explains briefly the meaning of the papers served and makes arrests when necessary.
• Must be able to provide credible testimony in a court of law.
• Prepares various reports and forms such as case files, offense reports, accident reports, tow sheets and cards, property vouchers, lab requests, etc.
• Receives and handles citizen complaints and inquiries.
• Transports prisoners and mental patients as required; serves mental papers.
• Investigates accidents; performs first aid; secures and clears accident scenes; directs traffic; investigates fatalities of accidents.
• Investigates misdemeanor and felony crimes; conducts building checks; reports traffic hazards.
• Processes minor crime scenes including collecting, packaging, and vouchering evidence, photographing, and sketching; prepares felony case reports.
• Monitors vehicle speeds with radar; conducts criminal and driving checks; issues summons for violations; operates breathalyzer machine.
• Conducts surveillance using relevant techniques.
• Assists State and Federal agencies in conducting various investigations; prepares affidavits and search warrants; testifies in court.
• Teaches programs based on topic areas of assigned units; prepares visual aids, lesson plans, handouts, etc.; participates in extracurricular activities; builds a rapport with program participants to accomplish program intent.
• Performs duties relating to the recruitment of new officers; coordinates and participates in training sessions; administers physical agility tests; coordinates appointments for oral review board, polygraph and employment physicals; conducts background checks.
• Answers confidential "crime line" public access phone for reporting crime and other information; provides reports to crime stoppers international; maintains records of calls received and numbers calls; meets with Board on approval of the "crime line".
• Acts as media contact; provides interviews and materials to the media; attends major media functions.
• Orders and issues uniforms and equipment for departmental personnel.
• Processing arrest information; notes warrant has been executed; updates communications division files.
• Retrieves warrants from magistrate's office and the courts; assigns warrant number; logs warrants in warrant book; prepares card for communications division files; files warrants; purges felony and misdemeanor warrants as required by law; executes state and local criminal warrants.
• Coordinates policing efforts with civic leagues and community groups; attends civic league and PTA meetings; participates in community functions; acts as liaison between schools and Police Department.
• Monitors interior and exterior of school buildings; develops a rapport between police and students to deter crime in schools.
• Prepares brochures and other documents to promote the Police Department.
• Counsels teachers, students, parents, etc.; maintains security during school events.
• Teaches boating safety and conducts marine patrol.

Additional Duties

• Escorts funeral processions, parade, public figures and other special assignments; coordinates traffic patterns.
• May investigate communicable diseases and exposure; coordinates initial and follow up medical care for exposed employees; maintains medical records, testing, and training.
• May assist disabled motorists with simple repair work such as changing flat tires, unlocking doors, or by contacting others for assistance; may provide directions, answer simple inquiries, etc.
• Reports unsafe conditions in city streets, sidewalks, public facilities, etc.
• May participate in special public information programs such as seat belt safety campaigns, child fingerprinting projects, etc.; speaks at public and community functions; prepares classes for community participation.
• Notifies next of kin of deaths and accidents.
• Trains and supervises new officers in the field; may act as general instructor for the Police Academy.
• Maintains police vehicle and issued equipment; maintains proficiency in skilled use of firearms.
• Performs other related work as required.

Required Qualifications

Graduation from high school or GED. Must possess a valid driver's license. Applicants who successfully pass the initial application process will be required to participate in the physical agility testing. The location, date and time will be released with your invitation to test.

Supplemental Information

Must pass the Basic Law Enforcement test as administered through an accredited police academy within 1 year of employment. Must complete 40 hours of in service training every two years. High school graduation or GED. Applicants must be 20 years of age at the time of application; able to possess a firearm in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and able to pass a comprehensive background screening including polygraph.

• A comprehensive medical examination by a licensed physician.
• A psychological examination conducted and interpreted by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist.
• A background investigation conducted according to guidelines set forth by the City of Suffolk for its Police Department employees.
• A polygraph examination conducted by a qualified polygraph examiner.
• Successful completion of any compulsory minimum training standards for a Police Officer as required by regulations established in accordance with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Board.
• Valid Driver's License, with -3 or higher point value.

Disqualification

Automatic Disqualifying Factors for Sworn & Non-Sworn Applicants: The following list includes all items for which an application for a sworn and non-sworn position will be automatically disqualified.

Criminal History:

• Conviction of any felony
• Conviction of domestic violence
• Any conviction regarding the involvement in the sale or distribution of illegal drugs.
• Conviction of any Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor (or the Virginia State Law equivalent) within the last five years, excluding traffic violations (minor offenses may be looked at on a case-by-case basis)
• Embezzlement or misappropriation of funds from a former employer
• Founded child/elder abuse or neglect case
• Illegal possession of a schedule I or II drug or any derivative thereof within the last five years (excluding marijuana)
• Illegal use and/or possession of anabolic steroids within the last five years
• Illegal use of any drug classified as a hallucinogen within the last five years

Driving History:

• Four or more negative points on a Virginia Operator's license (or the equivalent for out-of-state residents). Points may be negated by attending defensive driving school offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prior to the one on one interview with the background investigator.
• Conviction of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol within past five years
• Eluding police within past five years
• Leaving the scene of an accident within past two years
• Multiple convictions of DUI
• No valid driver's license and/or inability to obtain a Virginia license
• Refusal to take a blood or breath test related to suspected DUI/DUID within past five years
• Suspension or revocation of license or conviction of reckless driving within the last twelve months

Other Disqualifications:

• Two or more bankruptcies
• Any "Dishonorable Discharge" or discharge "other than Honorable", from the military resulting from disciplinary action (Case by case as determined by disposition code).