Job Details

Lateral Police Officer

The Gahanna Division of Police is now seeking applications for lateral police officer positions. Applications will be accepted all year. For information on the hiring process, including a timeline for hire, visit Join-Our-Team.

The position of Police Officer is under the general supervision of the Fields Services Bureau Lieutenant and under the direct supervision of a Sergeant. The individual assuming this position will be responsible for providing a highly visible, professional police presence while conducting patrol activities in a specified geographical area. Answers calls when a crime is suspected or an emergency exists; takes such actions as necessary to prevent crime and/or to apprehend a criminal; to maintain safety and to assist citizens in a wide range of emergency and non-emergency situations. Takes proper enforcement action as necessary and required to maintain the order, safety and general welfare of the city of Gahanna utilizing the United States Constitution, the Ohio Revised Code and Gahanna Codified Ordinances. Initiates reports, affects arrests, processes prisoners, conducts investigations in cooperation with detectives, shares intelligence information, and coordinates police resources; observes and identifies potential problem areas within the community.

Essential Job Functions

The essential job functions include:

• Conduct routine patrol activities within assigned areas of the city.
• Provide for public safety by maintaining order, responding to emergencies, protecting people and property, enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws and promoting good community relations.
• Identify and monitor areas where criminal activities or public nuisances are occurring or are likely to occur.
• Utilize an understanding of streets, businesses and significant locations within the city.
• Evaluate complaint and emergency request information to determine response requirements.
• Interact with members of the community.
• Mediate domestic and other disputes.
• Identify, pursue and arrest suspects and perpetrators of criminal acts; use physical force when necessary to control and arrest law violators.
• Use automated systems to perform computer checks of persons, vehicles, locations and property utilizing mobile computing devices.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely under various conditions, in severe weather, in an emergency response/pursuit status and other stressful situations.
• Effectively utilize and verbally communicate via police radio during routine and high stress events.
• Record facts and prepare detailed and accurate reports, criminal complaints, crash reports, forms, memorandums, and other documents as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications include:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Minimum of 21 years of age at time of original appointment not to exceed 40 years of age at time of original appointment (Gahanna Code 139.04).
• Must be a United States citizen.
• The location of an officer's residence must be such that if an officer is contacted and called back to duty in an emergency, the officer can report to the station, ready for duty, within sixty minutes of being contacted. New officers must meet this requirement within six months of appointment.
• Visual acuity both eyes must have corrected vision of 20/30.
• Current and valid Ohio Driver's License with an acceptable driver's abstract in order to meet criteria for insurability established by the City of Gahanna.
• Ohio Police Officer Training Academy certificate or the ability to attend and successfully complete a residential police academy as required for appointment.

Knowledge of government structure and process, state law and local ordinances, police policy and procedures, and agency rules. Skill in applying logical thinking to solve problems or accomplish tasks; to understand, interpret and communicate complicated policies, procedures and protocols. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a variety of people including co-workers, other professionals, appointed and elected officials, and the general public.

Important Job Functions

The important job functions include:

• Provide support and assistance to other peace officers, whether local, state, or federal personnel of the criminal justice system and employees of other communities and agencies.
• Document facts necessary to provide for appropriate responses by non-police resources as necessary to maintain public order and safety.
• Present evidence in legal proceedings, testify in court to present evidence or act as witness in traffic and criminal cases and in civil proceedings as required.
• Conduct investigation activities of criminal and noncriminal events.
• Review facts of incidents to determine if criminal acts or statute violations were involved. Interview witnesses, complainants and suspects and document their statements in written reports or detailed formal statements.
• Conduct lawful searches of persons, vehicles and places.
• Conduct the preliminary investigation of criminal acts as necessary to substantiate crimes and preserve evidence of any crime.
• Respond to situations where deadly force may be threatened or used and to use deadly force when authorized and necessary to protect or preserve life.
• Perform as a rescuer under adverse and difficult conditions.
• Provide for persons held in custody, transport prisoners to and from jail and court. Control and restrain unruly persons held in custody.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by supervisor.