ENTRY - LEVEL TRANSIT POLICE OFFICER

Enforces laws and ordinances, protects life and property, provides information and assistance to the public, conducts criminal investigations, crime prevention and suppression; performs other public safety related duties as assigned, and  collaborates with personnel assigned to other divisions and units within the Department and within the agency to ensure the vision, mission, and objectives of the Los Angeles  Metro and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) are met. This is an armed, sworn classification. 

• Sets an example for, and re-enforces, high standards of leadership, professionalism, collaboration, employee wellness and safety, respect for members of the public and fellow employees, accountability, and adherence to organizational values
• Patrols a designated area in a radio vehicle, on foot, or on a fixed post, to protect life and property, prevent and deter crime
• Responds to suspicious activities and answers emergency calls for services
• Enforces agency, city, county codes, or state and federal laws and ordinances.
• Assists in settling disputes, calms angry patrons, and provides crowd direction and control
• Prepares presentations to community and employee groups regarding personal safety and criminal activities
• Gathers evidence, interviews victims, witnesses and suspects from incident scenes and collects documents, and prepares evidence for court
• Prepares affidavits for arrest and/or search warrants, files criminal complaints, and coordinates investigative activities with other law enforcement agencies
• Transports prisoners to booking facilities and processes them
• Maintains accurate records and writes incident and crime reports
• Works with investigative and legal personnel and presents testimony in court
• Enforces fares and code of conduct regulations
• Serves warrants and subpoenas

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.  Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis.  A typical combination includes:

Education

• Be a high school graduate, or
• Pass the General Education Development (GED) test or other high school equivalency test approved by the CDE, or
• Have attained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree from an accredited college or approved institution (GC 1031)

Experience

• None Required; One year of relevant experience in a related field such as security, law enforcement, or public safety is preferred

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• Must possess a valid California Class C Driver License and have a satisfactory driving record
• Candidates need to be 20 ½ to apply and attend the academy and need to be 21 at the time of swearing in (GC 1031.4)
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law and be free from disqualifying felony convictions (GC 1029)
• Must pass enhanced background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.
• Positions in this job classification are considered safety-sensitive and subject to drug and alcohol testing, including random testing, under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations

Training

• Successfully completes all required academic, physical, and practical training at a P.O.S.T.-certified Police Academy
• Participates in the Field Training Officer (FTO) program and applied learned skills in real-world assignments under supervision

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Basic law enforcement terminology and concepts
• Techniques for dealing with varied groups of people
• Standard record keeping and report writing procedures and techniques
• Recruiting theories, principles and practices
• Principles, techniques and methods used in the police background investigation process
• Research and report preparation methods
• Basic theories, principles, and practices of training program development

Skill in (defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, recommending solutions, and taking immediate action as necessary
• Observing and reporting
• Thinking critically and making sound decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Planning and facilitating training sessions  

Ability to (defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Observe and accurately recall places, names, faces and incidents
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Interpret and apply complex laws, procedures and policies
• Communicate via two-way radio effectively using standard law enforcement radio codes 
• Drive a motor vehicle safely
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those in the course of work
• Write accurate reports of incidents
• Handle firearms in a safe and proper manner
• Use verbal and tactical strategies to de-escalate situation
• Lift and carry equipment and boxes weighing up to 50 pounds
• Read, write, speak, and understand English
• Interpret and apply rules, regulations, general orders and policies
• Maintain confidentiality
• Exercise independent judgement

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out

Working Conditions

• High noise environment
• Exposure to hostile and armed criminal suspects
• Exposure to physical and verbal abuse by clients/customers and/or general public
• Exposure to outdoor weather including extreme heat, cold, dampness and/or humidity
• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments
• Local travel

Physical Effort Required

• Lifting and carrying equipment or objects weighing up to 50 pounds
• Using vision and hearing to observe surroundings, identify hazards, and respond to auditory signals or verbal commands 
• Standing
• Walking
• Crawling, crouching, squatting, stooping and/or kneeling
• Climbing (e.g., ladders, scaffolds, stairs, poles, into vehicles, etc.)
• Pushing and/or pulling
• Communicating through speech in the English language required