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County of Alpine Adopted 05/07/02 BEAR VALLEY PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER I / II DEFINITION Under general supervision, to perform law enforcement, fire suppression, search and rescue and emergency medical response services in Alpine County; and to perform related duties as assigned. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS Public Safety Officer I is the entry-level classification in this series. Incumbents learn and perform a wide range of law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression and search and rescue activities. This class is flexibly staffed with Public Safety Officer II and incumbents normally advance to the higher level after experience and achieving proficiency which meet the requirements for Level II. Public Safety Officer II is the fully qualified, experienced classification in the series. Incumbents competently perform the full range of Public Safety Officer assignments. Public Safety Officer I / II differs from the classification of Deputy Sheriff I / II in that the latter class primarily is responsible for law enforcement activities. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES – Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Patrols assigned areas with patrol car, boat and snowmobile; maintains surveillance to prevent or detect criminal activity; responds to dispatched calls and emergencies; provides back-up assistance to other officers as needed; responds to and supervises significant and/or major incidents; locates, apprehends and arrests law violators; performs physical searches and seizures; completes appropriate paperwork; transports detainees for booking. Supervises crime scenes and determines the need for additional or specialized law enforcement personnel. Coordinates and participates in all search and rescue activities. Testifies and presents evidence in court. Participates in search and rescue operations. Responds to and makes initial evaluation of fire situations; determines appropriate fire suppression methods, including types of tools to use and application of water and/or chemicals; determines need for additional personnel and equipment, and reports to immediate supervisor on recommended action. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I / II Page 2 Performs fire suppression activities, serving as incident commander, engineer and/or driver/operator of fire engine. Tests fire hydrants and hoses as required. Provides first aid and/or CPR to injured persons. Responds to calls for service involving stray or potentially dangerous animals; captures animals and transports to animal shelter. May perform bailiff duties, providing security during court sessions as assigned. Prepares law enforcement and fire reports, incident reports, violation notices, citations, etc., as required. Testifies and presents evidence in court. Participates in neighborhood and community relations programs; attends community meetings to enhance Sheriff’s Department / community relationships and to address safety issues; implements problem-solving techniques and strategies. Cooperates with other law enforcement agencies, the Fire Marshal and others on cases and projects as appropriate. Receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance, concerns and complaints from the public regarding public safety matters. Keeps supervisor informed of problems encountered during assigned shift. Maintains assigned weapons, vehicles and equipment in proper condition, in a constant state of readiness, and in compliance with departmental policies and standards. Operates a law enforcement vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, fire engine, search and rescue equipment, safety equipment, firearms and other weapons, avalanche locator, snow mobile, motor boat, extrication equipment, various hand and power tools, and other public safety equipment; operates general office equipment including a computer, two- way radio, calculator, copier, fax machine, telephone, etc. Maintains proficiency in the use and care of law enforcement and fire suppression equipment. Performs general clerical duties as required, including but not limited to attending meetings, preparing reports, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, entering computer data, ordering supplies, etc. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I / II Page 3 Bear Valley Public Safety Officer II: (In addition to the above duties) May provide training of volunteer staff and subordinate officers as assigned. May serve as Assistant Fire Chief, providing coordination and lead direction of fire service volunteers as assigned. May supervise or assist with criminal investigation activities, including the collection of evidence and the questioning of suspects and witnesses. May perform duties of Public Safety Supervisor in his/her absence as necessary. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I: All pertinent federal, state and county laws, codes, ordinances, regulations and standards affecting Sheriff’s Department operations. Modern methods and procedures of law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression, fire prevention, search and rescue. Fire codes, building codes and appropriate health / safety codes pertaining to fire suppression/prevention operations. The various types of law enforcement, fire suppression, and search and rescue equipment, and their maintenance needs. Principles and techniques of modern first aid, resuscitation and emergency medical services. Basic mathematics. English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Modern office procedures, practices and technology. Principles and practices of record-keeping and reporting. The use of computers for word processing and records management. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I / II Page 4 Safe work practices. Public / community relations techniques. Bear Valley Public Safety Officer II: (In addition to the above requirements) Basic principles of leadership, training and supervision. Community, area and terrain within the Bear Valley patrol area. Other state and local public safety, law enforcement and emergency response agencies. Courtroom procedures and legal practices. Fire engine hydraulics, foam systems, apparatus and pumping mechanisms to deliver water via hose lays and operate engines for peak performance. Principles of combustion as related to the various types of building and construction materials. Specialized rescue technology. Ability to: Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I: Learn, interpret, apply and enforce pertinent policies, laws, rules and regulations. Keep abreast of trends, technology and requirements in public safety operations. Understand and follow oral and written instructions. Work under stressful or dangerous conditions, often involving considerable personal risk or risk to others. Observe, remember and recall detailed information, names, faces and facts. Assess threat to life, property and resources and make critical decisions under time pressures and emergency conditions when choices are limited, including in multi-incident events requiring response from both law enforcement and fire units. Anticipate potentially unsafe situations. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I / II Page 5 Safely operate and maintain law enforcement and fire suppression vehicles, equipment and tools. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Deal courteously, yet firmly and effectively with the public in emergency situations. Deal effectively with persons of various socio-economic and educational backgrounds. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Maintain detailed, accurate records and prepare clear and concise reports as required. Make required calculations accurately as required. Meet the physical requirements necessary for successful job performance. Bear Valley Public Safety Officer II: (In addition to the above requirements) Analyze problems encountered in areas of responsibility, evaluate alternatives and make sound recommendations. Draw valid conclusions from a given set of facts, and articulate facts in support of a certain action or response. Brief and lead other officers and volunteers in law enforcement, fire suppression, and search and rescue operations. Exercise sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines. Effectively use computers for record-keeping and report preparation. Education: (for both Public Safety Officer I and II) High school diploma or GED equivalent. Completion of college-level coursework leading to an Associate’s degree in criminal justice, police science, public safety or closely related field is desirable. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I / II Page 6 Experience: Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I: Experience as a local law enforcement or public safety officer is desirable. Bear Valley Public Safety Officer II: One year as a Public Safety Officer I in Alpine County or two years as a local law enforcement or public safety officer. Other Requirements: Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I: Possession of a valid California driver’s license with Class or endorsement. Possession of a P.O.S.T. Basic certificate. Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a Firefighter I certificate from an accredited Fire Academy within six months of appointment. Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a First Responder Medical Card and public safety CPR certificate is desirable. Bear Valley Public Safety Officer II: Possession of a valid California driver’s license with Class or endorsement. Possession of a Basic P.O.S.T. certificate; an Intermediate P.O.S.T. certificate is desirable. Possession of a Firefighter I certificate from an accredited Fire Academy. Possession of a First Responder Medical Card and public safety CPR certificate. TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Requires the mobility to work in an office and field environment. Requires the ability to sit, walk, stand, run, jump, climb, balance, bend, squat, twist and reach while performing office duties and police work; lift and/or move the average weight of a person (approximately 165 pounds) and take physical charge of a person in rescue or restraint situations; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools and controls. Must be able to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating firearms and other law enforcement equipment; must be able to hear normal speech and other audible events, even in combination with other environmental and equipment noise. Must be able to use a ---PAGE BREAK--- Bear Valley Public Safety Officer I / II Page 7 telephone to communicate verbally and a keyboard to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen. Requires the strength and stamina to perform law enforcement duties, including handling firearms, pursuing suspects and making arrests, retraining uncooperative persons, performing search and rescue operations, and driving a motor vehicle.