Police Officer

The police officer is a public servant position based on public trust, competency, and credibility. It is a critical
requirement of this position that the employee has the desire and the ability to perform and behave (on-duty as well as offduty)
in a manner that does not cause damage or endanger the loss of such trust and credibility with the public, the court
systems, co-workers, this police department or other law enforcement agencies.

The police officer performs enforcement as well as safety related duties and functions. These include, but are not limited
to: promoting and maintaining a good public image; responding to calls for service; preventing, detecting, and
investigating crime; enforcing violations of criminal statutes and city ordinances; enforcing traffic laws; and providing
protective services.

The police officer must have the competency, self-initiative, and willingness to work a majority of assigned hours without
direct supervision. The employee must have the cognitive ability, and desire, to understand and interpret organizational
rules, policies, and procedures in a manner that solves problems while at the same time promotes the image and mission of
the Sylvania Police Division.

Because the majority of law enforcement work is preventive and peacekeeping in nature, the police officer, when not
responding to calls for service or on assigned duties, must be willing to self-initiate public relations and enforcement work
in those areas designated by management as priorities. This means, in many instances, the police officer must be able and
willing to know what to do before having to be told what to do.

The police officer must be able to interact comfortably, lawfully, effectively, efficiently, and often quickly with a wide
variety of citizens and citizens’ groups who have a wide variety of problems and need for enforcement and safety services.

Police officer duties are often performed under a wide variety of known and unknown working conditions. Calls for
service are often repetitive and sedentary in nature, punctuated with diversity. Sudden changes in service demands tax the
extremes of the employee’s physical and mental resources. For this reason, it is imperative that the police officer maintain
a physically and mentally fit and ready condition.

The police officer must: promote personal and public safety consciousness; possess a good knowledge of and demonstrate
strict adherence to the civil liberties and rights of all persons; have the ability and desire to demonstrate competent job
performance without direct supervision; and have the desire and ability to promote and project a positive public image.

These are all critical requirements of the position of a police officer.

The Sylvania Police Division provides police services every hour of the day and every day of the year. The police officer
must be able and willing to work any time of the day and on any day of the year as scheduled or needed.

The police officer reports directly to the police sergeant.

Ohio Peace Officer Certification; firearms certification; valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record; acceptable
background investigation; successfully pass the psychological test, drug test, and employment physical; and meets all
eligibility requirements established by the Sylvania Civil Service Commission. Must project a positive and professional
image. An individual who poses a direct threat to the health and safety of himself/herself or others in the workplace will
be deemed not qualified for this position.

The police officer must have a good working knowledge of: department policy and procedures; local and state ordinances
and laws; arrest procedures; criminal apprehension techniques; self-defense techniques; constitutional rights; rules of
evidence; search and seizure laws and court rulings; techniques for collecting and preserving evidence; investigative
techniques; crime prevention techniques; court procedures; record keeping; civil disobedience control techniques; and first
aid/CPR. Must have the ability to work with little supervision; to interpret and apply local and state laws and ordinances;
define problems, collect data, establish facts and reach conclusions; effectively deal with problems involving several
variables; communicate effectively in oral and written from; maintain files; prepare reports; properly use computer
systems, programs, and other office equipment; effectively use firearms, handcuffs, baton, radar, evidence collection
materials, recording equipment both audio and video; and other equipment required to perform police related duties. The
police cadet must safely operate police vehicles in normal and emergency situations; work in adverse weather conditions;
remain calm in emergency situations; and develop and maintain effective working relationships with the public, officials,
co-workers, supervisors, and other criminal justice agencies.

The duties listed below are intended to depict the training tasks performed by this classification.

Percentage of time:

* Denotes essential job function.