Police Sergeant

This position is responsible for first-line supervision and training of personnel assigned to a division of the Police Department, which may include Field Services, Investigative Services, or Support Services. The Sergeant performs a variety of administrative duties including directing and overseeing the activities of assigned personnel, reporting, staffing, training, evaluation and reviewing of various reports generated by personnel within assigned shift/unit. Work also consists of duties involving the preservation of public peace, protection of lives, property and rights of the public, enforcement of statutory laws and municipal ordinances, and other duties as assigned.

Major Duties

• Supervises on-duty personnel; directs the daily activities of a unit through subordinate employees; coordinates shift activities and exchange of pertinent information with other shifts, departments, jurisdictions, or outside agencies.
• Maintains continuity of command by assuming duties and responsibilities of the Lieutenant or Captain in their absence.
• Keeps the Major, Captain and Lieutenant informed of problems, services, and activities of the unit.
• Oversees and supervises major incidents, investigations, and arrests to advise and act as the Incident Commander.
• Maintains communication with the Major, Captain, and Lieutenant regarding major incidents, accidents, or other emergencies.
• Ensures departmental rules and regulations and work methods and procedures are followed; enforces disciplinary measures as necessary.
• Directs or personally investigates citizen complaints about police personnel conduct and services.
• Establishes and develops unit goals and objectives and ensures that goals and objectives are reached.
• Advises and assists subordinates as to priorities, procedures, and ensures compliance with departmental rules and regulations.
• Schedules and assigns work; assures that personnel are assigned to shifts or working units which provide optimum effectiveness in terms of current situations and circumstances governing deployment; ensures the training of officers in correct methods and procedures; reviews and evaluates employee performance.
• Assigns, coordinates, and reviews subordinate’s work.
• Completes daily attendance forms and duty roster
• Maintains administrative records and files (such as time logs, leave requests, duty rosters, and electronic time sheets).
• Identifies personnel training needs and makes recommendations for specialized training.
• Performs public relations duties; answers questions, addresses concerns, and gives information to the public, civic organizations, neighborhood groups, business groups, the media, and other groups; attends meetings as necessary.
• Responds to complaints and questions related to law enforcement issues and activities; mediates disputes; provides information, researches problems, and initiates problem resolution.
• Conducts roll call duties and ensures that all information is passed from one shift to another.
• Ensures the maintenance of officers’ uniforms, vehicles, and equipment in accordance with department policies and procedures.
• Inspects subordinate personnel for fitness for duty; instructs and advises personnel in their work and/or in practices and procedures to be followed in law enforcement, crime prevention, support services, and related activities.
• Reviews, approves, and evaluates a variety of administrative reports and forms for completeness and accuracy (i.e., incident reports, investigation reports, warrants).
• Prepares necessary reports (i.e., shift activity reports, case status updates, event action plans, and after-action reports).
• Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, the public, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems; responds to requests for service or assistance.
• Participates in departmental meetings, job related conferences, seminars, community services related events and/or in-service training programs.
• Assists with general law enforcement functions as needed; monitors and utilizes radio to provide support and advice to personnel, assisting dispatchers with directing calls as necessary; prevents/discovers commission of crime, issues citations, and makes arrests; performs rescue functions at accidents, emergencies, and disasters; maintains high visibility in the community.
• Attends court and testifies in judicial proceedings.
• Operates department vehicle in performance of duties.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required by the Position

• Knowledge of principles of supervision, training, performance evaluation, human relations, communication techniques; and so forth.Ability to supervise, direct and coordinate the work of sworn and non-sworn personnel. Ability to command respect of members of the department through exemplary leadership. Ability to recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient law enforcement services.Ability to manage competing priorities on multiple projects. Ability to prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports.Knowledge of modern police procedures, methods, techniques, and practices in patrol, crime prevention, investigation, and administration.Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations Ability to understand, interpret, and apply Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.Knowledge of principles and practices of search and seizure and preservation and presentation of evidence.Ability to serve in a law enforcement capacity in a responsible and effective manner under difficult, stressful, or life-threatening situations.Ability to analyze complex police problems and situations and to adopt quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action with due regard to surrounding hazards and circumstances. Skill in the proper use and care of firearms. Ability to safely handle weapons and use force to restrain/subdue combative subjects.Skill and ability to drive and operate the department’s vehicles and equipment in a safe and efficient manner.Ability to maintain all licenses, certifications, and qualifications required by position.Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.Ability to understand and respond quickly, calmly, decisively, and accurately to written and oral directions, instructions, inquires, and requests in all situations. Ability to observe accurately and remember names, faces, numbers, incidents, and places, and record information clearly and completely.Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including City and other government officials, community groups, and the general public.Ability to foster appropriate intra and interagency communications.Ability to handle situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and impartially.Ability to facilitate effective conflict resolution.Ability to work independently or as a team member effectively within the guidelines of standard operating procedures, department rules and regulations, and within the scope of authority for the position.Ability to learn, display, and maintain all skills, knowledge, and abilities for performance of all duties and responsibilities, as outlined in this job description. Ability to meet physical, mental, or other job specific requirements.

Physical Demands
Effective audio and visual discrimination and perception needed to make observations; read and write; drive safely and simultaneously operate emergency lights, siren, radio, and computer; speak clearly and concisely, free from speech impediments; hear and understand radio, telephone, and normal range of verbal communications, discern color differences; identify and distinguish smells of different materials; sit or stand for prolonged periods; walk, run, stoop, kneel, crawl and crouch; walk up and down flights of stairs; climb or jump over obstacles such as fences, shrubs and ditches; run fast for short periods of time to apprehend suspects or provide emergency assistance; confront armed and dangerous subjects; make precise and coordinated finger, hand and limb movement; maintain uniform, controlled hand-arm posture or movement; push, pull or drag and adult (averaging 160 pounds); lift, pickup, and/or carry all sort of items of 50 pounds or more; use force to restrain/subdue combative subjects; work efficiently for long periods of time; drive motor vehicles under emergency and non-emergency conditions; fire weapon and/or utilize other non/less-lethal weapons on duty; perform lifesaving procedures; perform prolonged periods of concentrations such as proof reading, figure work, and reading various law enforcement materials; function effectively under stress; ability to deal effectively with the morbid, the repugnant, the abnormal, the morse, the psychotic, the neurotic, and otherwise unpleasant and unusual facets or results of human behavior

Work Environment
Work is performed either in an office environment or in a variety of field and office settings and may require exposure to dangerous and life-threatening situations. Must be willing to carry a firearm; mentally and physically capable of taking the life of another, if justified; willing to work any hour of the day or night (shift work), overtime, weekends on call and holidays; work at any location in the city and travel in specific assignments.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility
Exercise’s supervision over corporals, detectives, police officers and support positions as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Criminology, Criminal Justice, or related field desired; five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience; prior supervisory experience is preferred. For external applicants, a minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience is required; Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities for the job may be considered in lieu of educational requirement; Certified Peace Officer under regulations of Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.); valid Georgia Driver’s License; successfully pass pre-employment physical abilities test, medical and drug screen; satisfactory motor vehicle record (MVR); and acceptable background investigation.