Description

LATERAL ENTRY AVAILABLE

Job Duties:

Under general direction enforces Federal, State and local laws and ordinances.  Performs various duties to support law enforcement activities as well as provide service to the citizens in an efficient and professional manner.

• 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 ensure safe motor vehicle operation throughout the City
• Prepares written reports as required by specific assignments
• 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
• Responds to emergency calls and routine complaints and disturbances and takes necessary action
• Directs and escorts traffic, operates traffic radar monitoring equipment and issues traffic citations
• Conducts initial investigations of traffic accidents and crimes against persons and property
• Questions witnesses, complainants, victims and suspects and takes statements
• Chases and apprehends suspects
• Processes prisoners, including fingerprinting, photographing, enduring magistrate warnings by a judge, approving city bonds, searching prisoners, recording and securing the prisoner’s property, and transporting prisoners to an appropriate facility
• Shares information and works with other law enforcement agencies as directed and appropriate
• Assists EMS personnel, firefighters, animal control and other City departments as required
• Conducts security checks of businesses and residential areas on patrol route
• Fosters good police-community relations among residents and civilian population
• Monitors roadway and weather conditions, reporting any potential problems to appropriate agencies
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Excellent Benefit Package Includes the selection of traditional or HSA Insurance Plan options. HSA Plans receive a generous annual City contribution , depending on which tier of coverage you elect. 
• 12 Paid Holidays
• 1 Personal Day (Starting in 2025)
• Certification Pay
• Longevity Pay of $7.00/month
• Vacation / Sick Leave Buy-Back Programs
• 457 Plan Options

Requirements

        EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) from a college or university accredited by the United States Department of Education or Council for Higher Education by the time of their hire date with the Police Department,

 OR

 Be eligible for certification from TCOLE (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement). (Please refer to Texas Administrative Code Title 37 Chapter 217.1 for clarification.) AND

• possess a Bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 Grade Point Average (GPA) from a college or university accredited by the United States Department of Education or Council for Higher Education by the time of their hire date with the Police Department, OR
• possess at least two (2) years of experience as a regular full-time peace officer for a law enforcement agency, OR
• possess at least three (3) years active-duty military experience with an Honorable Discharge,

 OR

  possess at least thirty (30) college semester hours with at least a GPA of 2.5 from a college or university accredited by the United States Department of Education or Council for Higher Education, AND

• two years of experience with the City of Lake Worth.

      NOTE: Military police experience does not count as regular full-time peace officer experience.

 LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES

Valid Class C Texas driver license; valid Texas Basic Officer Certification

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

• Must possess the visual acuity to operate a computer terminal and city vehicle
• Walk, stand, sit, or run for prolonged periods of time
• Regularly push, pull, lift, and/or carry up 10 pounds
• Frequently lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds
• Occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 100 pounds or more
• Occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist
• Operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard
• Speak and hear to exchange information in English
• Operate a vehicle to travel to various locations
• Operate and use specialized law enforcement tools and equipment including guns and handcuffs
• Restrain or subdue individuals