Police Officer

Police Officer

Responsible for the protection of life and property and the enforcement of laws. A variety of duties in patrol, traffic, or crime investigation on an assigned shift (40 hours per week including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required).

STEPS OF THE SELECTION PROCESS :

• Written Examination
• Physical Fitness (Clark State Academy Requirements)
• Polygraph Examination
• Psychological Assessment
• Extensive Background Investigation
• Oral Interview (May include a written exercise)
• Complete Medical Examination (Administered only with a conditional offer of employment)

Modern policing requires a list of tasks or duties which is so extensive as to fill hundreds of typed pages. It also requires both the willingness and ability to learn new methods or techniques. The general duties of police work involve the protection of life and property from unlawful attack as well as general services in protecting persons in jeopardy from any cause. The preservation of community safety and order, including the effective enforcement of laws and ordinances results in frequent contact with people in many varied situations.

This is general duty police work consisting of work in an assigned area, investigations and report of criminal or other harmful situations or acts and all work which is otherwise assigned. Such work must be performed within the law and in proper compliance with Divisional rules or supervisory orders. A police officer is required to exercise both initiative and discretion when faced with emergency or complicated situations. This work involves an element of personal danger. A police officer may be assigned to work in uniform or in plain clothes, by vehicle or by foot patrol, and (with specialized training) to highly technical duties.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Each candidate for a position as a Public Safety Officer with the City of Springfield is required to undergo a background investigation and polygraph examination. If during the background investigation, interview, or polygraph examination, admissions are made by the applicant or problems are discovered of a disqualifying nature, the applicant may be eliminated from further consideration. Reasons for disqualification include, but are not limited to the following :

Narcotics or Drug Usage. Current or a past history of the illegal use of narcotics, i.e., Morphine, Codeine, heroin, cocaine, Dilaudid, and Demerol, or the use of hallucinogens, i.e., Hashish, L.S.D., Marijuana, T.H.C., and P.C.P. or abuse of dangerous drugs, i.e., Barbiturates, amphetamines, or any other prescription drug. Drugs abuse would include the use of prescription drugs for a purpose other than which it is intended or the prolonged use of such drugs without a prescription or sniffing of glue, paint thinner, or other chemical agents for the purpose of obtaining a state of intoxication. Automatic disqualification for admission to usage of "ANY" of the above within one year from application date.

Immoral Conduct / Disorderly Conduct. This includes conduct or court convictions in, but is not limited to the following areas :

a. Abuse - emotional or physical abuse of parent, spouse, child, etc.

b. Promoting, procuring, compelling, soliciting or engaging in prostitution.

c. Corrupting minors.

d. Sexual imposition.

e. Importuning.

f. Voyeurism (peeping tom).

g. Public indecency.

h. Obscenity - Disseminating material harmful to juveniles and pandering obscenity.

i. Incest - (sexual relations with relatives nearer than cousin).

j. Conviction of a crime involving disorderly conduct, i.e., fighting, public intoxication, etc., or a conviction record of three or more misdemeanors excluding traffic, of any nature.

Felony convictions. Any conviction for a crime classified as a felony.

Excessive traffic violations. Having more than two moving traffic violations within the past year or been under suspension through the violation point system in the past 5 years. One DUI or DWI conviction under this section shall be considered excessive. The recency of such conviction(s) will be considered.

Petit theft. Having a conviction record of more than one theft not amounting to a felony, or evidence found through the polygraph or an admission of thefts which tend to show a pattern over a period of time.

Falsification. Any deliberate falsehood or attempt to conceal information pertaining to the qualifications for employment or any deliberate falsehood pertaining to areas which would be grounds for automatic disqualification or a series of falsehoods in areas of less significance.

Political influence. Has used or threatened to use political influence in securing employment or re-employment.

Employment records. A past employment record showing excessive absenteeism, poor quality of production, excessive tardiness, inability to get along with fellow employees, inability to follow orders.

Gambling problems. Has a history of convictions for gambling, associates with known gamblers, or has personal problems as a result of gambling.

Financial problems. Has a history of garnishments, law suits, bankruptcy, etc. A definite poor risk for credit, showing a lack of honesty, integrity and maturity in taking care of financial obligations.

Support of family. Failure to provide proper support for any member of your family for which you are legally responsible or failure to carry out the mandate of any court of domestic relations with reference to child support or support of spouse or ex-spouse.

Please feel free to call 324-7318 if you have any questions concerning any of the qualifications or basic reasons which would tend to disqualify a prospective applicant.