Police Officer

As a police officer, you may be assigned to work in any part of Friendswood. You will be required to perform shift work, including rotating day, evening, and midnight shifts. On occasion you will be required to work unscheduled overtime, and there will be times when you will have to attend court to testify on your normal day off, or on a day when you are scheduled to work the evening or midnight shift. You will be compensated for overtime and court time. You must expect these occurrences if you accept employment.

Essential Job Functions

A police officer’s essential job functions include:

• Responds immediately to calls for service by motor vehicle or on foot to obtain or give information, enforce the law, provide timely assistance and make referrals to other agencies.
• Patrols by vehicle or on foot to deter crime, apprehend violators and assist other officers. The position may require walking or standing, exposed to elements for extended periods.
• Observes and responds to traffic violations to maintain public safety.
• Enforces laws and ordinances impartially by warning or arresting violators.
• Prepares notes, reports and other documents using appropriate sources to provide necessary information
• Clearly, concisely and professionally testifies in court or other proceedings.
• Conducts preliminary or follow-up crime and traffic accident investigations.
• Processes prisoners by properly fingerprinting, photographing, checking records and accurately preparing all charging documents to properly identify a defendant prior to release or incarceration.
• Administers appropriate first aid to stabilize an individual’s condition until additional medical assistance arrives.
• Interviews and interrogates to obtain information, statements, admissions, or confessions.
• Secures and manages crime scenes to preserve evidence.
• Presents a professional appearance and maintains assigned equipment by practicing personal hygiene, wearing a clean uniform and caring for equipment to ensure proper operations.
• Conducts surveillance of people or locations to prevent crime or obtain information.
• Controls crowds and demonstrations in order to maintain community peace and safety, to include wearing protective clothing or masks and standing in formation for long periods.
• Communicates effectively and coherently by radio in routine and stressful situations.
• Makes arrests by command presence, verbal directions, and, as needed, using necessary force including pressure points, control holds, impact weapons, or handcuffs to control suspects.
• Exhibits independent judgment to determine when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, probable cause to arrest or search, and appropriate level of force to be used.
• Operates police vehicles at any hour in emergency or non-emergency situations to arrive safely and prevent injury to others.
• Pursues fleeing suspects on foot, which may include quickly exiting a police vehicle or include running, climbing, pulling, jumping, crawling or using physical force to gain entry through barriers to make arrests.
• Loads, unloads, aims, and fires firearms from a variety of positions in various levels of light or darkness and in various types of weather for self-defense or the protection of others in accordance with established standards.
• Searches people, vehicles, buildings or outdoor sites for evidence or items that may pose a threat to the officer or others.
• Communicates effectively and coherently with people by giving and receiving information.
• Identifies and collects evidence at traffic accident or crime scenes to assist in investigations and prosecutions.
• Maintains professional demeanor, especially when enduring verbal abuse from antagonistic people in a hostile environment.
• Rescues by lifting, dragging, carrying, securing and evacuating people from accident scenes.
• Reads and comprehends a variety of documents, maps and reference materials to properly enforce laws, help others and comply with Department regulations.
• Directs traffic, which may require standing for extended periods in extreme weather conditions, using hand signals, flares, flashlight or whistle to ensure the flow of traffic, prevent accidents and deny access to dangerous locations.