Patrol Officer

Bloomington Police Department

Contact Information

Address:

Website:

• www.cityblm.org

Phone Number:

• 309-434-2309

Email:

• nrichards@cityblm.org

Application Deadline:

• 01/05/18

Salary:

• $28.02 - $42.06/hour

Sworn Officers:

• 124

City Population:

• 78,005

Position Details

JOB DESCRIPTION - PATROL OFFICER
RULE 9-1 DUTIES

The job of Patrol Officer is general duty police work in the protection of life and property and the enforcement of laws and ordinances. The work involves preventive patrol, preliminary investigation, traffic enforcement and regulation, and preservation of social order and public peace by means of patrolling in cars or on foot in a designated area where the officer is accountable.

The delivery of service at the Police Officer level applies to the protection of life and property; prevention and suppression of crime; apprehension of criminal offenders; regulation and control of traffic; recovery of lost or stolen property; and preservation and maintenance of social order and public peace.

The Patrol Officer is required to exercise a great deal of discretion concerning basic police responsibility. The Police Officer runs the risk of upsetting the delicate balance that must be maintained between the rights of individual citizens and the safety and protection of the community. It is the duty of the Patrol Officer to interpret the laws and determine which ones to enforce, and decide upon the manner in which they will be enforced within real or imagined departmental police perimeters.

The uniform force is the "backbone" of the Police Department and the focal point for all police activities. All other police services are either supportive of, or supplemental to, the patrol operation.

The duties and skills of the Police Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Working knowledge of the criminal and vehicular statutes of the state, local ordinances, general orders, and all department directives as they apply to the department and employees.
2. Endurance for long periods of monotony in routine patrol, yet ability to react quickly, almost instantaneously and effectively, as problem situations occur.
3. Thorough knowledge of the rules and procedures concerning the powers of arrest, search and seizure, probable cause, and the use of force to affect an arrest.
4. Familiarity with the proper procedures for transporting prisoners and the booking of prisoners.
5. Awareness of safety for himself and others and the ability to overcome any and all potential hazards.
6. Ability to detect potential evidence at crime scenes and know the proper procedures for collecting and preserving that evidence. Familiar with proper procedures for sealing off the crime scene area.
7. Ability to write clear, concise, and detailed reports to aid follow-up investigations by members of the investigative unit, to aid the quick apprehension of offenders, to aid in testifying effectively in court to assure a conviction, and to aid the immediate supervisor in gauging and evaluating the caliber of performance.
8. Follow correct radio transmitting procedures and always be alert to any and all transmissions over the air, i.e., calls for assistance, crimes in progress, etc.
9. Familiar with the assigned patrol zone, i.e., street names, businesses and their normal business hours, the caliber of people living there, the normal routine of events, known criminals, being alert to anything out of the ordinary and reacting accordingly.
10. Possess safety-minded driving ability and be conscious of types of road conditions either in the course of normal patrol or when responding to an emergency call by use of the red light and siren.
11. Ability to interview/interrogate people effectively and sufficiently so as to gather as much information as possible about any given situation.
12. Familiar with and, be able to, refer people with problems to the correct agency.
13. Use discretion in the use of police powers. Experience often dictates the effectiveness of such power, i.e., when, how, and to what extent the use of that power will achieve a satisfactory and effective result.
14. Respond whether on view or by dispatch, investigate, interpret and enforce the law, give aid to victims or offenders as necessary, and apprehend the perpetrators of the following offenses:
15. Criminal statutes as prescribed by the State of Illinois
16. Juvenile statutes as prescribed by the State of Illinois
17. Vehicular statutes as prescribed by the State of Illinois
18. Local Ordinances as prescribed by the City of Bloomington
19. In some cases, statutes as prescribed by the Federal Government
20. Respond to alarms.
21. Investigate traffic accidents.
22. Control and regulate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic as the need arises.
23. Respond to and handle suicide and hostage situations.
24. Make appropriate preliminary investigations of law violations.
25. Cooperate with other members of the department.

The Police Officer is involved in the provision of public or non-enforcement services also. Because the Police Officer is a visible and tangible around the-clock representative of the city government process and can be summoned to respond on a short notice, he is expected by citizens to provide a variety of social services. Traditionally, the demands for such services have grown and the department has responded, even though assuming such roles may seem somewhat contradictory and inconsistent with the perceived "real" job of policing. Such roles as "social worker", "nursemaid", and "counselor" (social first aid) often lend themselves to generating increased public support and confidence in the Police Department when done in a capable, enthusiastic, and confident manner.

The provision of public, social, or non-enforcement type services as done by the Patrol Officers include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Administer aid to accident victims.
2. Assist persons who are destitute and have no one to whom they can turn for advice or help.
3. Take part in rescue operations, i.e., natural disasters, boating accidents, plane crashes, etc.
4. Act as counselor-mediator for family and marital problems.
5. Mediate neighborhood, juvenile, or social problems-conflict.
6. Maintain constant vigilance in patrolling assigned zones for safety hazards, i.e., broken water mains, holes in the street, defective traffic and road lights, etc., and notify the appropriate agency for their immediate attention.
7. Assist the alcoholic/mental patient in getting medical attention and/or appropriate counseling and therapy.
8. Search for lost children, missing persons, and lost pets.
9. Help stranded motorists, i.e., transporting to get gas, calling a tow truck for automobiles, etc.
10. Provide escort service (transportation) to those who are in need of such if the situation should arise.
11. Give directions to out-of-town motorists, and when asked, give directions to restaurants and motels.
12. Capably assist the public by giving advise, counseling, and interpreting situations as requested.
13. Respond to animal bite calls, barking dogs, and report stray animals.
14. Serve as a public relations representative, not only of the Police Department, but also the City, by always conducting oneself in a confident professional manner.

How To Apply:

Visit our website:

www.cityblm.org/employment

OR

Stop by our computer kiosk:

Human Resources Department
City Hall
109 E. Olive Street
Bloomington, IL 61701

Complete the electronic employment application and upload all required documents. We will send an email for you to sign up for the written test (dates are TBD). Once you have signed up, you will be required to pay a $25 application fee. If paying with check or money order please make checks payable to the City of Bloomington. We only accept cash payment in person.

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