Senior Police Officer

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists newly sworn police officers with all facets of job orientation;
• Patrols assigned area on foot, by motorcycle or in patrol car, to enforce laws, prevent and discover crimes, investigate crimes, maintain order, and answer calls and complaints;
• Answers radio-dispatched or citizens' requests for police services at the scene of accidents, domestic disputes, law violations, and peace disturbances;
• Familiarizes self with beat and with persons living in area;
• Investigates illegal or suspicious activities, persons, and establishments; and quells disturbances;
• Locates, searches, detains, and arrests law violators, following recognized police procedures;
• Displays promptness for all duty assignments, i.e., roll call, and scheduled court hearings;
• Interviews and questions victims, witnesses, and suspects;
• Gathers and preserves evidence;
• Performs first aid and provides other assistance to accident and other victims;
• Investigates causes and results of incidents/accidents;
• Directs and controls traffic;
• Issues written citations for traffic and other minor violations;
• Operates police communication and computer equipment to obtain, disseminate, and report information
• Attends community meetings to discuss crime prevention activities and crime problems;
• Writes detailed incident, investigation, activity, and other reports;
• Testifies in court to present evidence by describing conditions, situations, and actions;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job Competencies

• Detailed, intensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, goals, objectives, operational entities, requirements and activities as they apply to the assigned organizational entity in the DCHA
• Demonstrated working knowledge of an extensive body of standardized, optional procedures, techniques, and methods in the in the performance of law enforcement work in the preservation of the peace; the prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes; the arrest or apprehension of violators; and the provision of assistance to citizens in emergency situations
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos
• Ability to write correspondence
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form 
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations 
• Demonstrated skill and knowledge in the use, care and safe handling of firearms
• Demonstrated knowledge of the laws controlling, and the procedures, practices and techniques necessary to police patrol operations
• Knowledge of the laws, codes, statutes and regulations concerning criminal activity, especially when they apply to law enforcement operations
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system as it applies to law enforcement operations
• Knowledge of the techniques, practice and procedures necessary for effective interaction with the general public, victims, suspects, and officers of other agencies and municipalities
• Knowledge of duty manuals, departmental organizations, administrative direction and applicable city ordinances

Education And/Or Experience

Retired sworn Police Officer under the optional retirement of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Incumbent Must

• Possess a valid driver’s license prior to appointment and during tenure of employment;
• Pass a medical examination, including being of proportionate weight and height;
• Pass a psychological examination and drug-screening test;
• Pass a thorough background investigation;
• Possess a high moral character for carrying out law enforcement duties;
• Must be a United States citizen;

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) conducts pre-employment screening on specified positions, which may include but is not limited to a criminal background check, drug and alcohol testing, verification of academic credentials, licenses, and certifications, and/or verification of work history. 

This position has been designated by the department to require a drug and alcohol screening and background check. Finalist(s) for this position will be subject to drug and alcohol testing and will be required to consent to a pre-employment background check as a condition of employment.

Technical Skills

No technical skills required

Supervisory Controls

The Police Officer works under general supervision. The supervisor makes assignments such as long-term investigations and undercover work; provides beginning shift briefings including defining objectives, priorities, complaints received, or any special problems, situations or information, etc.

The Officer having developed expertise in the work as a former Metropolitan Police Officer, independently plans and carries out assignments, resolving problems as they arise according to governing standards, procedures, policies, precedents, training and experience.  Completed assignments are normally accepted as technically sound.

Guidelines

Guidelines used include District and federal laws, rules, and regulations; rights of citizens and others; manuals and handbooks; instructions; actions allowable and limits specified; procedures for issuing citations and conducting arrests; use of force and use of weapons; communication and other equipment; court procedures; complainants or witnesses; established operating and public relations procedures; building evacuation procedures in case of fires, earthquakes, bomb threats, or other emergencies; etc., that define the Officer’s work.

The Officer uses expertise in interpreting, adapting, applying and deviating from the guidelines, based on unusual or emergency circumstances and concern with protecting public safety.  The Officer makes recommendations for changes in methods and procedures.

Complexity

The Officer performs the full range of police duties requiring the application of different and unrelated methods, practices and techniques. The Officer decides what action to take and applicable methodology based on the facts and surrounding circumstances.

Scope And Effect

The Officer treats the full range of law enforcement problems ranging from simple rules violations to felony crimes encountered in conformance with established criteria, methods, techniques and procedures; and provides expertise and assistance to fellow Police Officers as appropriate.

Results of the work contribute to the crime prevention and safety objectives of the Office of Public Safety.

Personal Contacts

Contacts are with agency officials and employees, clients, applicants, residents and their families, visitors, contractors, vendors, representatives of organizations, the business community, representatives of other agencies both government and private, other law enforcement personnel such as the Metropolitan Police Department, Fire and EMS Department personnel, court personnel, lawyers, and the general public. The contacts may also include violators of laws, rules or regulations, some of who are reluctant to accept the Officer’s authority, may resist detention or attempt to flee, etc., are unruly; trespassers attempting to avoid apprehension; angry or disgruntled individuals, individuals with emotional and/or mental disorders, violent or irrational individuals, etc.

Purpose Of Contacts

The purpose of the contacts is to provide expertise and assistance to fellow Police Officers; obtain, clarify, or provide facts or information; influence, motivate, interrogate, negotiate or control persons or groups, and to investigate and resolve complex problems; overcome life threatening situations, where persons dealt with are unstable and pose an imminent danger and/or direct threat to the Officer, innocent victims, bystanders or agency property.

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 position.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee is frequently required to use hands to handle, feel, and reach. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb, kneel, or crawl. The employee may be required, on occasion, to lift and/or move heavy objects which could weigh at least 50 pounds or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment includes working inside and outside walking on foot patrols; and regularly involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress which requires a range of safety and other precautions. While performing the outside duties of this position, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The work environment may include violent, angry, distraught or irrational individuals, who pose a threat to the Officer and/or other individuals present. The work may be in a high crime area where the public has easy access and officers must patrol in locations where persons may be armed while attempting vandalism, narcotics transactions, or other offenses. 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.