Police Officer – Recruit/Entry Level

Basic Function:

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, and performing individually or as a member of a team, participate in the following activities: enforce state statutes and local ordinances, regulations and laws; apprehend suspects; respond to and investigate disturbances, services and accident calls; patrol and conduct surveillance; receive training and maintain skills proficiency; operate a vehicle during routine and emergency situations; communicate with the public in normal and adverse situations; complete verbal and written reports and documentation; work independently following written or verbal instructions that are general in nature; and perform a variety of specialized duties as assigned.   Successful candidates will have a strong service orientation and demonstrated record of responsiveness to community priorities and concerns. The incumbent in this position will create and nurture a community-oriented public safety department as envisioned by the City Council and set forth in the department vision and values statement: a department which inspires a sense of confidence and security in the citizens of Federal Way through professionalism, citizen involvement, and creative approaches to public safety; a department which is distinguished as a caring, competent, firm, fair, accessible and innovative organization that actively seeks opportunities to help citizens; a department which is a part of, rather than apart from, the community, fostering an efficient citizen-police partnership to insure a safe and secure city.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Developing Relationships/Representing/Handling Inquiries: Establish rapid rapport with new contacts; deal effectively with complaints by being polite to customers; maintain good public relations; establish good relationships with antagonistic individuals; work closely with team; verbally answer inquiries about public safety as a service; and establish a network of contacts.  Communicate with other City personnel, law enforcement agencies and health care and social service providers to coordinate efforts, resolve problems, and exchange information.
• Deciding: Decide, on own initiative or in conjunction with others, to pursue a course of action; make decisions under time pressure in a quick manner and after evaluation of the situation; choose appropriate materials to complete a job, and decide whether to refer problems to a supervisor.
• Motivating: Gain willing cooperation by understanding the personal needs or motives of others; provide reassurance for those suffering anxiety; create and foster team spirit; get individuals to carry out unappealing tasks; warn people to increase their motivation; sustain interest of others in tasks.
• Controlling/Directing/Reviewing:Direct action in emergencies; manage unexpected situations; ensure that safety precautions are observed; review to assess compliance with laws, rules, etc.; follow up with people to expedite work completion.
•  Cooperating/Acting as a Liaison: Encourage cooperation from peers and colleagues, and between team members; act as liaison with supervisors, clerical and/or non-sworn personnel, with managers/professionals, and between organizations or departments.
• Disciplining/Handling Disputes and Grievances: Avoid emotional involvement in disputes; reduce tension between people; handle grievances effectively by listening to all sides involved and being sympathetic; handle disciplinary problems firmly and effectively; warn people by threat of punishment and issue formal warnings; physically restrain people where necessary; order rule breaking public to leave a public premises, and resolve disputes.
• Supervising/Directing: Maintain a physical presence to ensure all is well; issue directions in emergent situations; direct the public to obey laws and supervise to ensure that this is done; give verbal instructions to colleagues.
• Security/Cleaning/Handling: Patrol a defined area; apply manipulation to body and/or limbs as necessary and appropriate; handle dangerous items (i.e. poisons, explosives, etc. where appropriate) gently to avoid pain/damage to a person or object; physically handle animals.
• Informing/Reporting: Prepare accurate and detailed investigative reports; complete a variety of forms and issue citations as appropriate; provide information either verbally or in writing about a case; contact manager or supervisor for authorization; give instructions via radio or telephone; make verbal reports of problems or status to immediate supervisor; explain technical situations to the public in lay terms; present formal training sessions as requested; and brief individuals on tasks or situations.
• Assisting/Caring: Respond to a wide variety of calls from citizens in need of first aid, information and general assistance; counsel or advise on personal problems; assist members of the public with psychological problems; provide emotional support or comfort; look after the needs of members of the public, including the young and elderly, the disabled, and other vulnerable adults.
• Respond to calls, complaints or reports of the actual, possible or potential occurrence of specific criminal activity; assure protection of the crime scene and physical evidence; perform preliminary investigations as directed.  Provide a variety of police protection and other services to enforce the laws and ordinances of Federal Way and to safeguard the lives, property and constitutional rights of citizens.
• Perform a variety of specialized police assignments in specialty programs identified by the Director of Public Safety such as hostage negotiation, K-9, firing range, DWI enforcement, domestic violence, traffic enforcement and investigation, field training, search and rescue, special events, public information, crime prevention, school related programs, property and contracted services, training, recruitment and hiring, and vice and narcotics investigations.
• Collecting Information: Interview persons with complaints and inquiries; attempt to make the proper disposition or direction to proper authorities; observe unusual or dangerous occurrences or warning symbols; ask questions to establish information required; watch out for safety or health hazards; listen or observe if a dangerous situation occurs; listen to all arguments and evidence, verbal instructions from superiors, and to verbal reports from fellow officers or subordinates.
• Analyzing/Integrating/Interpreting: Summarize verbal information given, critically examine all information for accuracy and quality; interpret rules, laws, regulations and codes for the public; and interprets information to simplify reports or evidence gathered.
• Selling/Influencing: Provide information on laws and ordinances, police services, and other information to the public as requested; make a spoken case for a course of action; contact citizens as part of routine checking procedures.
• Administering/Writing/Drawing: Complete forms or other structured documentation; keep detailed records of events, occurrences, and work undertaken; produce legible handwriting and make freehand sketches if necessary.
• Responding Physically: Physically restrain suspects as needed via quick reaction to visual and sound signals, using physical coordination of hand and foot. Provide first aid and rescue services at crime scenes, accidents and other emergency situations.
• Using Tools/Modifying: Utilize and maintain a variety of specialized equipment such as firearms, police vehicles, radios, baton, kubaton, handcuffs, flares and chemical mace according to established procedures.
• Controlling Vehicles:  Maintain proficiency in driving; operate police vehicles which may include cars, vans, trucks, powered water vehicles.
• Using the Senses: Make fine auditory and visual discrimination; identify colors; recall both verbal or written instructions over hours and days.
• Perform related duties as assigned.