Police Officer Jobs

The Cape Coral Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency serving the citizens of Cape Coral, Florida.Cape Coral, the second largest city in Florida (by land area) and the most populous city between Tampa and Miami, is a beautiful waterfront boating community with over 220,000 full-time residents.

The Cape Coral Police Department is one of the fastest-growing agencies in Florida.The Cape Coral Police Department is accredited internationally by the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).An industry leader in police training, technology, and community engagement, the Cape Coral Police Department is a fantastic place to build a career.

Responsibilities

• Responds to domestic disputes with potentially violent or lethal situations involving a wide variety of participants, including family members, neighbors, landlords and tenants, rival youth gangs, etc. in an effort to diffuse the situation and establish a peaceful dialogue between the involved parties.
• May be required to be on call and/or work on various shifts, weekends, and/or holidays as deemed necessary when the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated.
• Apprehends suspects in accordance with Federal, State, and Local Laws; prepares and executes necessary search and/or arrest warrants; transports suspect(s) to jail; and testifies and presents evidence in court.
• When assigned to a specific functional area such as investigations, primary function includes follow-up investigative activities, e.g., reviewing initial investigation and case file, interviewing witnesses and suspects, developing resources, gathering, and processing evidence, working with outside agencies, and completing documentation.
• Performs a variety of general and specialized investigations involving, but not limited to; property, persons, and financial crimes, gathers evidence and preserves crime scenes.
• Required to operate a motor vehicle in performance of assigned tasks.
• Patrols assigned areas within the City for prevention of crime and enforcement of all applicable criminal, traffic, and other laws and ordinances.
• Attends vocational classes, seminars, and related training opportunities to maintain/achieve various certifications and to maintain state law enforcement certification; and maintain current knowledge of statutes, court decisions, and related law enforcement developments.
• Conducts visual and audio surveillances for extended periods of time.
• Effectively communicates with people of varying ages, provides information and/or available assistance/services, and advising individuals of rights and processes. Maintains a professional demeanor under stressful circumstances to include confrontational situations.
• Performs rescue functions at accidents, natural disasters, and other emergency situations; administering first aid, lifting/dragging/carrying, and evacuating people away from dangerous environments or situations, in which these tasks may risk exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, water (pools, canals, etc.), fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, violence, disease, pathogenic substances and/or toxic/poisonous agents.
• Maintains vehicle and assigned equipment according to established departmental policy and procedures.
• Searches, locates, and detains suspects. Exercises independent judgment in determining reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exist to search and arrest, and when force may be used and what level is necessary to control an incident, affect an arrest, and/or protect officers or others from harm.
• Prepares detailed incident, investigation, and activity reports in compliance with proper police policy and procedures.
• For specific functional area such as patrol, primary function includes providing for the safety and convenient flow of traffic and pedestrians, reporting unsafe conditions, investigating impaired drivers and maintaining civil obedience at group gatherings.
• Utilizes community oriented policing strategies to develop partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address issues that give rise to public safety.
• In the event of an emergency, employees in this classification may be called to work during days or hours other than those for which they are regularly scheduled.
• Performs related duties as required.
• Responds to calls for police service and takes action upon observing a circumstance or situation requiring police attention such as: detection and/or prevention of criminal activity, enforcement of traffic laws, processing crime scenes, investigation of traffic crashes, enforcing City ordinances, collection of intelligence, and providing general assistance to the public.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Achieve a passing score on the Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT).
• An associate's degree or sixty (60) college credits from an accredited college or university; or obtain within five (5) years of swearing in with the Cape Coral Police Department.

Licenses or Certifications

• Certified Officer:Florida Law Enforcement Officer Certification or possess an out-of-state law enforcement certification with proof of meeting the eligibility requirements from the Florida CJSTC Equivalency of Training Program (EOT).https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJSTC/Officer-Requirements/Equivalency-of-Training.aspx
• Must have a valid state driver's license and obtain a valid Florida driver's license within thirty (30) days of hire.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS

• None.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Florida Law Enforcement Certification.
• Law enforcement related work history or Military Service.

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of the criminal justice system, modern police work, and law enforcement methods.
• Proper operation(s) and maintenance of various types of apparatus and equipment used by the Police Department.
• Emergency, medical, and first aid practices.
• City, State, and Federal ordinances and laws.
• Departmental policies and procedures

Skill in:

• Utilizing computers, programs, and applications associated with assigned duties and responsibilities.
• The proper care and safe operation of Department-issued firearms, impact weapons, and chemical agents.
• Both verbal and written communication (i.e., grammar, punctuation, and spelling, etc.).
• Operating a motor vehicle during both the day and night in emergency and hazardous situations.
• Numerical Aptitude: add, subtract, multiply, and divide; calculate decimals and percentages.
• Organization, prioritization, and time management.

Ability to:

• Adapt to performing under frequent deadlines, reprioritization of tasks and assignments, and in response to emergencies.
• Effectively and discreetly handle confidential material.
• Assist in lifting and/or moving heavy objects or persons in the course of rescue or law enforcement activities.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Apply sound judgment and interpretation based on acquired knowledge in circumstances where limited standardization exists.
• Learn City Charter, Citywide administrative regulations, applicable Citywide departmental policies, Personnel Ordinance, Collective Bargaining Agreements, and other regulatory documents as required to complete tasks and assignments.
• Perform under stressful situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and professionally.
• Due to the City of Cape Coral having over 400 miles of canals/waterways, it is essential for individuals to demonstrate the basic techniques used for swimming (treading water, etc.).
• Convey a sense of authority and influence.
• React quickly and calmly under dangerous and/or emergency conditions.
• Obtain and record information through interviews, interrogation, and observation.
• Read and write comprehensive reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisor, support staff, staff from other departments and other local, state, and federal government agencies.
• Learn the geography of the City and surrounding areas.
• Operate motor vehicles and demonstrate "performance" driving techniques.
• Effect an arrest, forcibly if necessary, using handcuffs and other restraints; subdue resisting suspects using maneuvers, weapons, and resort to the use of hands/feet and other approved weapons in self-defense.
• Utilize computer technology for analysis and research.
• Analyze a situation, maintain composure, and make effective and reasonable decisions.
• Exercise judgment and make decisions in accordance with established laws, regulations, ordinances, departmental policies and procedures.