Police Cadet

Summary

Under immediate supervision, performs a wide variety of non-sworn duties in the Police Department, including investigations, traffic, property and evidence, and/or administration; provides general office support as assigned; and performs related work as required.

Receives immediate supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

This classification is responsible for performing routine non-sworn civilian status work in the Police Department. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise. Since this class is used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Learns, understands and applies Department and mandated applicable laws, ordinances, policies and procedures.
• Provides technical assistance to the public at the front desk and over the telephone; evaluates and processes disturbance calls, complaints, and requests for police services; gathers information, records complaints, and prepares routine crime reports; directs callers to other departmental personnel or other agencies as appropriate.
• Prepares and processes a variety of reports, forms, citations, applications, and permits; types, compiles, and tabulates basic statistical and financial data; tracks status of cases and warrants; maintains related files and records.
• Prepares and issues parking citations to vehicles parked illegally; arranges for the towing and storage or impound of abandoned vehicles, illegally parked vehicles with expired licenses, or vehicles in violation of other related laws and ordinances.
• Directs and controls traffic during special events and peak traffic conditions.
• Receives emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public for police, fire, or other services; communicates with callers to determine the nature of the call and provide appropriate assistance; maintains composure to ensure that complete and accurate information is transmitted to public safety and medical personnel.
• Receives, classifies, indexes and stores property and evidence seized and recovered by police personnel, including money, firearms, narcotics, stolen property, and hazardous materials.
• Assists with field investigations of crime scenes; protects crime scenes from contamination; takes photographs, and collects other related property and evidence; examines and processes evidence on scene and at the Police Department.
• Transports police vehicles to City yard for service.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• General functions of a municipal law enforcement agency.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• Word processing methods, techniques, and programs.
• Principles of business letter writing.
• Basic principles of record keeping.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

• Accept supervisory authority.
• Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls and other requests for service.
• Obtain, record and retain complete and accurate information from diverse individuals, including those who are upset, angry or difficult to understand.
  
  Maintain professionalism, courtesy and composure at all times including emergency and high stress situations.
• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the Department and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and precise written documents such as technical reports, records and correspondence that may serve as evidence in court.
• Organize, maintain, and update office database and records systems.
• File materials alphabetically, chronologically, and numerically.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Operate modern office equipment, including computer equipment and word-processing and other software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy guidelines in sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.