Township of Springfield - Full-Time Certified Police Officers

Job Announcement:

Township of Springfield Police Department

Minimum Requirements

• Must be a resident of New Jersey and a citizen of the United States;
• Must be at least 21 years of age;
• Must be able to read, write and speak the English language proficiently;
• Must have graduated high school and have a minimum of 60 college credits, but an associate’s degree or higher from a recognized college/university in an accredited course of study, or a combination of active military service time and college/university credits, is preferred;
• Must have the physical and mental ability to perform the tasks and duties of a Police Officer;
• Must possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license;
• Must have NO indictable criminal history convictions and be of good moral character;
• Must meet the current educational and/or active military service requirements set forth by the N.J. Police Training Commission (PTC) for candidates to be eligible for the alternate route program;
• Must possess a valid NJ PTC certification for Basic Course for Police Officers (BCPO),
• Or currently be accepted/enrolled in a NJ PTC police academy for BCPO training;
• Must be able to otherwise meet all requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122 to 40A:14-127.1;
• Must be licensable as a law enforcement officer in accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:17B-71a et seq., and N.J.A.C. 13:1 et seq.

Job Description/General Duties

A law enforcement career is physically and mentally demanding and requires working shift work, irregular work hours, weekends, holidays and during inclement weather.

You must be prepared to perform the following feats of physical agility, strength and dexterity. By completing this preliminary application, you acknowledge that you are able to complete these tasks.

• Walk, run and/or sprint in all weather conditions and varying locations
• Ascend or descend stairs
• Climb over, pull up over, and jump over obstacles
• Jump down from elevated surfaces or areas
• Climb or crawl through openings or confined areas
• Use body force to gain entrance or break through barriers
• Lift, drag and carry objects or persons
• Sit or stand for extended periods of time
• Employ defensive tactics and use physical force against a person
• Swim
• Operate a motor vehicle, during the day and night, during hazardous and unsafe weather, in emergency situations, at high rates of speed, on the open road or in congested traffic
• Detain individuals
• Stop suspicious individuals and vehicles
• Pursue fleeing suspects in a vehicle or on foot
• Disarm individuals
• Restrain or subdue resisting suspects
• Effectuate a full physical custody of arrest using handcuffs and other restraints
• Conduct visual and audio surveillance
• Issue summonses and complaints
• Direct traffic, sometimes for long periods of time, using hand signals, flares, barricades, etc.
• Perform law enforcement patrol functions on foot or in a vehicle
• Observe, record, recall and report incidents and information
• Operate radar equipment
• Administer field sobriety tests
• Operate fire extinguishers
• Fingerprint, photograph, and videotape individuals, objects and scenes
• Transport citizens, prisoners, and other persons in crisis, when appropriate
• Maintain mental alertness and readiness to act, even during periods of calm and inactivity
• Identify, collect, label and preserve evidence
• Secure the scene of a crime, emergency, or disaster
• Control crowds
• Secure and evacuate individuals from particular areas using either verbal commands or the appropriate degree of physical force
• Perform rescue and support functions at the scenes of accidents, emergencies and disasters
• Administer first aid and other lifesaving measures
• Physically check buildings including doors and windows, to ensure they are secure
• Resolve hazardous conditions by direct action or notification of appropriate authority or agency
• Perform searches of vehicles, individuals, buildings, and large outdoor areas, which may involve seeing, feeling, and detecting objects
• Search for missing, wanted or lost persons and evidence
• Load, unload, aim, and fire a handgun and rifle in day and night conditions from a variety of body positions at the proficiency level required by qualification standards
• Understand and follow orders, policies and procedures
• Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, detailing incidents and activities of those involved
• Prepare written investigative and other reports including sketches and using appropriate grammar, symbols, and mathematical computations
• Read and comprehend legal and non-legal documents including the preparation and processing of documents such as summonses, affidavits and warrants
• Communicate effectively and coherently over the telephone, walkie-talkie or radio initiating or responding to verbal communications
• Communicate effectively in court and in other formal settings
• Communicate effectively with people including juveniles, by giving information and direction, by eliciting information, and by advising of rights, processes and procedures
• Communicate effectively with individuals in an agitated or distraught condition
• Integrate individual activities and goals with the efforts of other members of the law enforcement community for the promotion of common goals and objectives
• Perform a variety of tasks involving different and sometimes contrasting skills in rapid succession during a short period of time
• Exercise independent judgment in determining when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exists to search and/or arrest, and when force may be used and to what degree
• Withstand exposure to and deal appropriately with stress involved in dealing with hostile views, abusive language, threats, opinion, and behavior in antagonistic settings
• Endure unpleasant, immoral or horrific calls for service against other person
• Ability to ensure the general safety of the public
• Have regular and predictable work attendance habits
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand and communicate effectively in English proficiently to perform the duties of the position.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities can be eligible so long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodations made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would impose an undue hardship to the Township, such persons may not be eligible.

Benefits:

1. Ample extra duty employment opportunities
2. Medical / Vision / Dental Coverage
3. Paid time off and bereavement
4. Educational tuition reimbursement
5. Training opportunities
6. Excellent retirement benefits

Hiring Process:

• Initial Application
• Department/Township Interviews
• Background Investigation
• Conditional Offer of Employment
• Medical Screening
• Drug Screening
• Psychological Screening

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Please direct questions regarding this position to jonathan.rachel@springfield-nj.us