Walpole PD: Full-Time Entry Level Officer

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Including but not limited to.)

1. Works on rotating shifts performing security patrols, traffic control, investigation and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct. Works an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance.

2. Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone for consultation on major emergencies or precedent. Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and Town laws and By-laws; Patrols Town streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies and other law violations and to otherwise serve and protect. Responds to emergency radio calls and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.

3. Interrogates suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene. Conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift. Seeks out and questions victim, witnesses and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches crime scenes for clues. Analyzes and evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings. Prepares a variety of reports and records including officer's Daily Log, reports of investigation, field interrogation report, alcohol reports, influence reports, breathalyzer check list, bad check form, vehicle impoundment form, traffic hazard report, etc.

4. Undertakes community-oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as locked or stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse resistance education (DARE), traffic safety, etc.

5. Participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the Town limits, obtaining evidences and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing of charges, testifying in court, and related activities. Conducts patrol activities including directing traffic, investigation of reported or observed violations of law. Coordinates activities with other officers or other Town departments as needed, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the Town Counsel, Court Officers and District Attorney's Office regarding cases, policies and procedures, as needed and assigned. Maintains contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities; provide mutual assistance during emergency situations and provides general information about Department activities.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Maintains departmental equipment, supplies and facilities. Maintains contact with general public, court officials and other Town officials in the performance of police operating activities. Serves as a member of various employee committees.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Police car, police radio, scanners, radar gun, handgun and other weapons as required, baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, pager, telephone system, personal and departmental computer systems, copier, cell-check recorder, first aid equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above; reach with hands and arms; 

The employee occasionally is required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move more than 10 pounds. 

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 150 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

The employee must have the ability to engage in a foot pursuit and have reserve endurance sufficient to engage in a physical struggle with a suspect. Ability to hear people talking in crowded atmosphere with high ambient noise, ability to hear commands or requests given by other officers at crime scenes, ability to hear cruiser radio or portable radio so as to understand. Differentiate between voice transmissions; Detect smells. Perceive movement and depth-of-field. Discriminate different colors. Ability to see and read street signs and computer screens, ability to visually distinguish objects at a reasonable distance. Ability to stand for long periods of time while on traffic duty. Ability to sit for extended periods while working at a desk. Maintain personal fitness for length of career. Run a 340-yeard obstacle course in 130.4 seconds or less. Raise a simulated handgun and squeeze off 6 shots with each had in 7.1 seconds or less. Pull a hanging bag weighted against 75 lbs. backwards touching it to the ground across a marked line two times. Each pull must be completed in 14.2 seconds or less. These standards have been set by the Human Resources Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, occasionally loud.