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The Colma Police Department is seeking individuals for the position of part-time/casual Police Officer Reserve who are committed to providing public safety and quality service to community residents, businesses, and visitors.

 

The Town of Colma, known worldwide as the "City Of Souls," is the smallest city in San Mateo County with over 1,509 residents and 1.5 million "souls." However, Colma is more than just cemeteries. Colma's commercial buildings make a distinct architectural statement resulting from design standards that encourage Spanish-Mediterranean motifs. The  small-town approach to modern, municipal government reflects a commitment to both a healthy business climate and a harmonious relationship with residents. 

THE DEPARTMENT 

The Colma Police Department is made up of 28 employees who take great pride in providing excellent police service to the community. Among police, dispatch and detective duties, the department also has an Executive Assistant, Motorcycle Officer, Bicycle Patrol Officers, members attached to the Daly City/North County SWAT team, Tactical Dispatchers, a Community Service Officer and a Reserve Police Officer Program. 

The members of the Police Department hold many values in high regard and are proud to serve those who live, visit, or do business in the Town of Colma.  They take special pride in the department motto, “Excellence is Our Standard.”  They have built a culture rooted in professionalism, honor, and outreach; where innovation and fresh ideas are welcomed. If you seek a law enforcement agency where you will be surrounded by officers of strong character, supportive Town leadership and an involved community who believes in their officers, the Colma Police Department is the place for you; a place where you are family; a department like no other.  We invite you to explore this opportunity with us!

To learn more about the Colma Police Department, you are invited to visit their website at https://www.colma.ca.gov/departments/police/.

THE POSITION

Under general supervision of a Police Sergeant, the Reserve Police Officer is a sworn position assigned to field operations to patrol for the prevention and detection of crime and enforcement of laws and regulations within the philosophy of community oriented policing.  Incumbents are normally expected to solve most work problems independently and to refer to supervisory personnel only those matters which involve policy decisions, technical questions and unusual problems at the entry level and make recommendations at the advanced level.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Enforces laws and regulations and apprehends law breakers
• Conducts crime investigations
• Patrols for the prevention and detection of crime and enforcement of laws and regulations
• Responds to radio messages or telephone instructions and investigates reported disorders or crimes
• Notes and reports complaints, accidents, offenses and damages to property
• Reports abandoned or damaged vehicles
• Directs traffic
• Makes arrests, issues citations and warnings
• Prepares reports on arrests and property impounded
• Inspects crime scenes and questions witnesses
• Analyzes clues and information related to criminal activities
• Reviews modus operandi of known criminals
• Reports on the progress of investigations and prepares assigned cases for court
• Serves warrants
• Appears in court to testify regarding arrests and other law enforcement activities
• Writes complex and detailed reports
• Operates patrol vehicles
• Administers first aid or CPR when appropriate
• Develops cooperative working relationships and mutual aid agreements with other local public safety representatives
• Develops and maintains partnership building with the residential and business community as well as the other working departments within the Town of Colma
• Adheres to department rules, regulations, orders and procedures
• Exhibits and encourages behavior that is consistent with the Town’s risk management program and decreases risk of accident or injury to self, employees, residents, visitors and their property
• Performs other related duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Modern office technology
• Principles and practices of customer service
• Operations, services and activities of a comprehensive municipal law enforcement program
• California driving regulations and motor vehicle operations
• Basic English composition, grammar, spelling and math
• Simple record keeping methods
• Methods and techniques of criminal investigation
• Law enforcement theory, principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs
• Principles and practices of crime prevention, suppression and law enforcement
• Use of firearms and other modern police equipment

Ability to:

• Represent the Town in a positive manner
• Establish, maintain and foster cooperative working relations with others from diverse backgrounds, including elected officials, co-workers and the public effectively and with courtesy, in person, via e-mail and over the phone
• Follow written and oral instructions and procedures
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, by using proper English grammar, spelling and punctuation
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of peace officer duties and responsibilities
• Effectively deal with personal danger
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating equipment and vehicles
• Exercise sound judgment and rational thinking under stressful circumstances
• Demonstrate intellectual capabilities during training and testing processes
• Utilize word processing and spreadsheet programs and personal computer
• Work effectively with a wide variety of individuals and groups, including other staff and the public
• Acquire knowledge of applicable policies, practices and functions of the division, department, Town and other governmental agencies
• Prepare and maintain accurate records and reports
• Operate a variety of office equipment
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality

The City of Lincoln is creating an applicant pool for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher I/II within the Police Department.  Interested applicants may submit their application to be part of the applicant pool.  As new vacancies occur, the recruitment team will review applications for consideration.

The Lincoln Police Department is authorized for 23 sworn officers, six dispatchers, and various other civilian and volunteer positions. The dispatch center provides public safety dispatch services for the Lincoln Police Department and three Lincoln Fire stations. The communications center is staffed 24/7 and dispatchers work in pairs or solo. Public safety dispatchers answer emergency and non-emergency calls for police, fire and other city services. Dispatchers prioritize calls and dispatch public safety units as needed. Heavy phone and radio use is a primary duty of the position. Other duties include clerical and specialized record keeping functions.

Under immediate supervision, performs a wide variety of technical and clerical law enforcement support duties related to taking police, fire and medical emergency requests for service from the public and tracks and dispatches field units as appropriate; gathers, records, maintains, retrieves and distributes law enforcement data and information; enters reports and data into a variety of automated law enforcement records systems; ensures that records and information are accurate, clear and comprehensive for law enforcement personnel and the general public; learns applicable policies, procedures and work methods associated with assigned duties; performs other related duties as required.

 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Public Safety Dispatcher I

The Public Safety Dispatcher I is the entry level class in which incumbents learn to perform and perform Police Dispatcher duties under immediate supervision. This classification is alternatively staffed with Public Safety Officer II and incumbents may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating a level of proficiency that meets the qualifications of the higher class.

Public Safety Dispatcher II

The Public Safety Dispatcher II is the working level class in which incumbents are expected to perform the full range of Police Dispatcher duties with minimum supervision and apply sound judgment regarding their scope of authority in dispatching personnel. This classification is distinguished from the Community Service Officer series in that the latter performs duties involving work in taking reports in the field and performing face-to-face public service activities.

 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED

Public Safety Dispatcher I
Receives immediate supervision from the Police Office Supervisor or a Watch Commander. Incumbents of this class do not routinely exercise supervision.

Public Safety Dispatcher II
Receives supervision from the Police Office Supervisor or a Watch Commander. Incumbents of this class do not routinely exercise supervision.
 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Include but are not limited to the following:

• Receives and enters calls for police, fire and medical service in CAD; dispatches and tracks field units; interprets level of service needed through information obtained from field officers or citizens; coordinates multi-agency responses when necessary; transfers calls to appropriate agencies if warranted.
• Responds to questions and concerns from the general public, department staff and other agencies; takes and records telephone and counter reports; provides information as appropriate and resolves service issues and complaints.
• Enters and maintains accurate data and information into the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) including stolen vehicles and missing and unidentified persons; enters and retrieves information from a variety of state and local automated systems; validates selected records from the Department of Justice files including vehicles, boats and missing persons; releases impounded vehicles; processes reports and citations; collects and maintains statistical information.
• Learns and develops an understanding of applicable policies, procedures, and work methods associated with assigned duties.
• Photocopies and distributes crime, incident, arrest and accident reports to the general public and various agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), California Highway Patrol, District Attorney, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and insurance companies; prepares reports for court; applies federal, state and local laws when releasing information.
• Establishes positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies and associations, City management and staff, and the public.

 

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily office activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in preparing reports and retrieving and entering data using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading work related documents and using the computer, and acute hearing is required when providing phone, dispatch and face to face service. The need to lift, drag, and push files, paper, and documents weighing up to 25 pounds also is required.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The following are a representative sample of the KSAs necessary to perform essential duties of the position. The level and scope of the knowledge and abilities listed below vary between the I and II levels.

Knowledge of:

Civil, criminal, and municipal provisions relating to the various activities of the Police Department; law enforcement, fire, and other operating procedures and functions of the Department as they relate to the dispatch function; geography of the City and the surrounding environment; legal and procedural techniques and regulations regarding transmission and reception of public safety radio traffic; basic radio and related equipment maintenance.

Skill to:

Operate an office computer and a variety of word processing and software applications; effectively operate specialized law enforcement automated information and communication systems; type accurately from clear copy at a rate of 35 words per minute.

Ability to:

Perform a variety of complex work with speed and accuracy; remain calm under emergency situations; learn to operate specialized law enforcement automated information and communication systems; work flexible hours including evenings, weekends and split shifts; learn basic Spanish speaking skills that allow for communication regarding addresses, locations, time descriptions, etc.; interpret, explain and apply applicable laws, codes and regulations; read, interpret and record data accurately; organize, prioritize and follow-up on work assignments; work independently and as part of a team; make sound decisions within established guidelines; follow written and oral directions; observe safety principles and work in a safe manner; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

 

THE SELECTION PROCESS

The process may include an in-basket exercise, individual interviews, panel interviews and/or other related components.  Only those candidates who have the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to the process. The candidate selected for the position will be required to complete a background check including reference checks, fingerprint check, medical/drug-test evaluation and/or other related components.

Human Resources will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate persons with disabilities.  Please advise HR of any special needs a minimum of five days in advance of the selection process exam by calling (916) 434-3229. The City of Lincoln is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The information contained herein is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.