Police Department | Disaster Scams

Police Officer Duties/Skills

• Police Officers must evaluate situations, determine whether a crime has taken place, and make an independent decision as to what action is appropriate. In doing so, the Officer must simultaneously consider numerous factors, recognize patterns, and develop theories based on available information and evidence.
  
  
• Police Officers must attend daily roll call meetings. In these meetings, vital information is given about crimes in their area. Officers must organize this information for use during their shift. Officers must plan and complete their activities and paperwork in a timely and efficient manner.
  
  
• Police Officers must pay attention to detail, noticing minute elements or components of a particular person or crime scene. Officers must also be able to visualize and recall an event after the fact in order to construct documentation of the event, possibly for future court testimony. Officers also recognize and gather evidence at the scene of a crime, and they are responsible for the safe storage and transportation of this evidence.
  
  
• Police Officers are required to learn and memorize large quantities of complex and detailed material, including Penal Codes; legal terms; TPD procedures and policies; Health and Safety Codes; Laws of Arrest; Search and Seizure Law, Laws of Evidence, etc.
  
  
• Police Officers must be able to operate a computerized Mobile Data Terminal (MDT). Officers must use the keyboard and special function keys using TPD call codes and computer language to access the various types of information needed. Officers also use the MDT to receive assigned coded calls and communications from other units. Officers must be able to accurately initiate and respond to clear, precise communications over the MDT.
  
  
• Police Officers must develop problem solving and reasoning skills in order to initiate innovative solutions to difficult and unique problems which are faced while on duty.
  
  
• Police Officers are required to fill out many different forms, logs, and reports. Correspondingly, Police Officers must write legibly and clearly and have a good working knowledge of English grammar, sentence structure, vocabulary, and spelling.
  
  
• Police Officers must be concise, descriptive and thorough in all written documents.
  
  
• Police Officers constantly communicate with members of the community. It is crucial to initiate contact with members of the community to better understand the needs and problems of a particular area. Police Officers must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact with the public on a daily basis. Police Officers also must interview and obtain information from victims and witnesses of crimes in a manner appropriate to the situation and
  culture of the people involved.
  
  
• Police Officers meet with and make presentations to groups of residents and/or business people from various neighborhoods regarding local crime, traffic, and related problems.
  
  
• Police Officers may be required to work the front desk at a police station. This involves numerous activities including answering phone calls from the public; taking reports; explaining the law and TPD policies; listening and responding to complaints about police service, and handling complaints from citizens who walk into the station.
  
  
• Police Officers must testify accurately and credibly in court regarding arrests, reports taken, evidence recovered, and victims' statements.
  
  
• Police Officers must employ excellent listening skills, in person and on the telephone. Officers must listen closely to what is being said and retain that information, identifying needs and emotions being expressed and demonstrating interest and involvement.
  
  
• Police Officers deal with all segments of society. Some members of the general public may have hostile feelings toward Police Officers and may express their hostility to the Officer in words or actions. A Police Officer must always behave professionally in the face of provocation.