Public Safety Aide I

This is a non-sworn law enforcement position that handles non-confrontational, non-emergency criminal incidents and police calls, such as gas drive-offs and loud noise complaints where there is no suspect and a written police report is necessary. May be assigned to monitor public security cameras. This position is a high profile service position contributing to the improved efficiency and operation of the Uniform Patrol Division.

This position will close after receipt of the first 75 qualified applications.

Example of Duties:

• Completes detailed written and computer generated reports.
• Completes faulty equipment checks.
• Checks on abandoned vehicles and conducts request patrols such as vacation house checks.
• Provides traffic assistance and assists with funeral escorts.
• Records and process found property.
• Investigates animal complaints and violations of City Ordinances.
• Assists with preliminary crime scene investigations.
• Processes minor crime scenes, collects evidence.
• Monitors public security cameras.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Handles phone-in and walk-in complaints at the Station Duty Desk.
• Greets the public and conducts other administrative duties associated with the Station Duty Officer.
• Performs various other law enforcement duties of a non-emergency nature as designated by the Shift Commander and/or Supervisor.
• May be assigned to assist in processing major crime scenes
• May be given specialized assignments at the direction of the Chief of Police (e.g., investigate missing persons).
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma from an accredited school or its equivalent.
• Must be able to complete the Public Safety Aide training program.
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities and other competencies necessary for success in the target position.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess a valid state of Florida Class E driver’s license and have a good driving record as determined by the City of Lakeland.
• Must maintain a valid telephone number.
• May be required to work overtime, or alternate hours, as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
• Position may be designated as Mission Critical by Department Director.

Note: Preference will be given in the hiring process of those applicants having completed the State of Florida Police Standards.

Supplemental Information:

• Ability to learn the practices, laws, ordinances, and policies governing law enforcement; city government and departmental operations; and geographic locations within the City.
• Physical ability, strength and flexibility sufficient to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to ambulate independently; to walk, to run, climb stairs, stand; sit and operate a vehicle for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to withstand working outside in all extreme weather conditions.
• Visual ability and the possession of depth perception sufficient to operate a police vehicle during the day and at night.
• Speaking and hearing ability sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person, over the telephone and over the radio.
• Ability to read and write legibly and have typing skills sufficient to operate a lap-top computer.
• Ability to work independently under stressful conditions and remain calm and responsive in emergency situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with fellow employees, supervisors and staff members; and interact courteously with the public.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS:

• Work involves routine keyboard operations, walking, standing for extensive periods of time, running, climbing stairs, operating a vehicle for extensive periods of time and extracting injured victims at emergency scenes.
• The job risks exposure to extreme hot/cold temperatures, diverse weather conditions, heights, dusts, pollens and traffic.
• The job requires normal visual acuity, and field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception.

Required Documents:

1. Copy of valid driver license.

2. Copy of High School Diploma.

3. Copy of DD214 – Military Discharge (if applicable).

Applicants for the position of Public Safety Aide are required to submit a copy of ALL required documents with the employment application. Applicants will not be eligible for employment until ALL required documents have been submitted to CIVIL SERVICE or uploaded with the application. Documents will not be accepted after the closing of the job posting.

Elements of the selection process:

Our system allows you to work on your application and save the application without submitting it. This is done to allow you to save your work and come back to finish the application without having to start over. Your application is not considered “complete” until it is thoroughly filled out, without missing information, and ALL required documents are received by Civil Service. If you submit your application and do not “complete” it before 4 p.m. on the posted close date (listed on the job opportunities page), your application will be rejected from the system and you will have to start the application process over. The application WILL NOT be accepted or reviewed until it is “complete”.

After submission of the completed application (including ALL required documents) the application will be accepted. Once the application is accepted, you will be notified to take the Public Safety Aide I Basic Skills Test. This test measures the basic skills associated with a Public Safety Aide I and include both a written and video segment.

Once the applicant has passed the Basic Skills Test they will be required to take and pass a Physical Abilities Test. The General Services staff will also take your fingerprints to assist in the background phase of the hiring process.

If selected to move to the next phase, the applicant will attend an interview conducted by a panel. The panel will consist of a minimum of three police department members.

A thorough background investigation will be completed on all candidates prior to employment.

Those applicants that are selected for employment will be given a conditional offer of employment. The job offer is contingent upon the successful completion and approval of a polygraph examination, psychological fitness examination, medical examination, drug screen testing and completed background investigation.

The applicant will receive written notice either by mail or electronic mail at each phase of the selection process advising them that they were selected to move forward in the process or that they were not selected. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the e-mail address provided on the application is correct and to provide any updated information to Civil Service during the application process.

Once a decision has been reached to offer the applicant employment OR that the applicant will not be offered employment, applicants will be notified within 30 days. The intent of the Lakeland Police Department’s General Services Section is that the selection process, from the date of the exam until the applicant is advised of a decision regarding employment, will not extend beyond 180 days.

When the applicant is selected for employment and all elements of the selection process have been passed, the applicant will begin the in house “Mini-Academy”. The Mini-Academy is a seven-week long training program that provides recruits with the necessary knowledge and skills to begin the Field Training program. Once the recruit successfully passes the Mini-Academy they will begin the 10-week Field Training Program. The recruit will be on probationary status until their one-year probationary period is successfully completed.

Reapplication:

Reapplication, retesting, and re-evaluation of applicants not hired is permitted after six months as long as nothing in the application history indicates an unfitness for employment. Conditions that qualify as unfitness for employment include revelations of unacceptable drug use, criminal records, or other factors discovered during the selection process.

Public Safety Aide I Basic Skills Test:

This test is designed to measure basic skills associated with the position of Public Safety Aide I for the Lakeland Police Department. The competencies measured in the test are based on the Public Safety Aide I job description (job code 5016) and competency model, and include:

• Investigative Skills
• Investigative Communication skills
• Written Communication Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Listening Skills, and
• Multi-tasking Skills.

The test simulates activities that may be encountered while working in this position, such as listening to and noting witnesses’ statements, completing an electronic report, and attending to incoming dispatch transmissions while completing the report.

The test is administered using video and computer and lasts approximately two hours.

Psychological Fitness Examination:

An emotional stability and psychological fitness examination of each candidate for Public Safety Aide I is conducted and assessed by a qualified professional prior to appointment to probationary status.

Background Investigation:

A background investigation, of each candidate for all positions, is conducted prior to appointment

to probationary status. The background investigation may include, but is not limited to:

a. verification of qualifying credentials

b. a review of any criminal record

c. a review of applicants driving record

d. fingerprint check

e. warrants check

f. records check

g. verification of at least three personal references

h. a review of prior employment/military history

i. a review of applicant’s employment and academy files

j. review of social site/internet information

Be advised that sensitive or confidential aspects of the applicant’s personal lives may

be explored.

Physical Ability Test:

This test consists of a standardized obstacle course which was created and recommended by the FDLE Criminal Justice and Standards Training Commission. It simulates activities that may be encountered while working in this position at the Lakeland Police Department. Applicants should wear proper clothing and shoes for the test. Test is administered on a pass/fail basis.

The course consists of the following tasks (not necessarily in the order you may experience them). The time limit for this test is 6 minutes and 4 seconds:

– Exit from the seated, safety belted driver’s position of a parked motor vehicle

– With opposite hands, remove two flags fastened to a belt with Velcro, from your back

– Utilizing the vehicles’ keys, retrieve from the car trunk a flashlight to be carried during the following stages:

– 220 yard run (twice)

– Jump over a four (4) foot wall

– Run through a series of cones

– Jump over a series of three (3) hurdles

– A low crawl under three (3) hurdles

– Drag a 150 pound dummy for 100 feet

– Return the flashlight to the vehicle trunk

– Return to the safety belted driver’s position of the vehicle

The City of Lakeland is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and a Drug Free work place.