Basic / Lateral Police Officer

Job Details:

Essential Job Functions:

• An individual in the position of Police Officer may be required to perform any or all of the following duties:
• Patrols assigned district and receives dispatched calls for service to help prevent crime, aid citizens needing assistance and arrest violators of the law.
• Enforces traffic laws, monitors school crossings and provides escorts to insure safe motor vehicle operation throughout the City.
• Prepares written reports as required by specific assignment.
• Answers, screens and refers calls from citizens requesting Police services.
• Investigates reports of criminal activity, interviews victims and witnesses, seeks, gathers and submits evidence for processing, interrogates suspects, and arrests suspected offenders.
• Testifies in court as required.
• Instructs citizens, businesses, schools and civic organizations about methods and techniques that may help prevent one from becoming a victim of crime.
• Develops and implements community-based policing strategies and programs.
• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Skill in communicating ideas effectively both verbally and in written form.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with work associates and the public.
• Ability to read, interpret, learn and apply laws, regulations, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Ability to successfully complete training at police academy and on the job training.
• Ability to satisfactorily perform duties under time constraints.
• Ability to successfully communicate under strained circumstances.
• Ability to make quick and sound decisions in stressful situations.
• Ability to lift 100 pounds.
• Ability to pass the written exam and a physical agility test.
• Ability to pass a polygraph, medical examination, and a drug screen.
• Ability to pass a background investigation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Be 21 years of age or older.
• Have:
  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of post-secondary education as certified through a commission on higher education of a regional educational agency for colleges and universities recognized by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or
  • Four years of active-duty military experience with an honorable discharge, or
  • 60 hours of college credit with two continuous years as a City of Arlington employee, or
  • 60 hours of college credit with the completion of the Arlington PD Hometown Recruiting Program.
  • Laterals: For applicants who are already certified peace officers - must be eligible for certification from TCOLE and Actively employed as a licensed peace officer for a municipality, county, school/university, and/or state law enforcement agency with no service year requirement and have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of post-secondary education, or Actively employed with 3 years continuous service as a licensed peace officer for a municipal, county, school/university, and/or state law enforcement agency if the applicant does not have a bachelor's degree. Continuous service may include multiple agencies so long as any breaks in service were less than 90 days.
  • Lateral Officers meeting the eligibility requirements are exempt from meeting the education requirement for basic entry. An Associate's Degree is required for selection to Corporal and a Bachelor's Degree is required to promote to Sergeant.
• Have no felony or class A misdemeanor convictions, including deferred adjudications.
• Have no misdemeanor convictions, including deferred adjudications, above the grade of class C within the past 10 years.
• Not be on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of class C misdemeanor.
• Have no family members working for APD.
• Be of good character and have a stable school, work, and driving record.
• Have no DWI convictions within the past 10 years.
• Read, write, and speak the English language.
• Possess 20/20 vision, either corrected or uncorrected in each eye. Uncorrected vision cannot exceed 20/100 in each eye unless vision is corrected by the use of contact lenses or prescription eyeglasses which must be worn on duty and / or during all enforcement related activities. Must also be free of dichromatic color blindness, night blindness, and any other visual deficiencies or limitations.
• Have no hearing loss greater than 45 decibels at 4000 hertz.
• Be able to pass a physical exam as determined by a physician.
• Have no tattoos on the neck, face, or hands except for one wedding band.
• An associates degree is required for officers seeking the rank of Corporal. A bachelor's degree is required for officers who wish to promote to the rank of Sergeant.

City of Arlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.