Liberal Police Department

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LIBERAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
City of Liberal, Kansas
Police Recruit

JOB DESCRIPTION
HIRING PROCEDURE
QUALIFICATIONS
TRAINING
EXPERIENCE
JOB DETAILS

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK

This is work training to perform the tasks required of a Police Officer for the City of Liberal in the protection of life and property through enforcement of laws. Employees are responsible for learning local laws and ordinances and Liberal Police Department policies and procedures for preventing crime, apprehending criminals, and enforcing laws, and general principles of police work. Training is provided by a variety of instructors. Individual performance is evaluated against established performance standards for written tests, role play assessment, physical conditioning, and practical application and utilization of law enforcement equipment and methods.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

Must successfully complete training in areas including, but not limited to:
Answering calls and complaints involving fire, automobile accidents, and misdemeanor and felony cases.
Administering first aid, conducting preliminary investigations, gathering evidence, locating witnesses, making arrests, and taking prisoners to jail.
Interviewing persons with complaints or inquiries and making proper disposition or directing them to proper authorities.
Processing evidence, testifying as a witness in court, keeping records, and making reports.
Using physical force effectively and appropriately.
Using firearms safely and accurately.
The examples of work performed are not intended to be all-inclusive. The City of Liberal reserves the right to assign additional duties as needed.

REQUIREMENTS OF WORK

Ability to successfully complete required training within the time allowed.
Ability to accurately discharge a rifle, shotgun, and handgun with both left and right hands.
Ability to learn to subdue a violent and/or uncooperative person by methods requiring physical force.
Ability to run distances up to one- and one-half miles without exhausting self.
Ability to distinguish colors accurately.
Visual acuity that can be corrected to at least 20/30 in both eyes, and uncorrected acuity at a level not worse than 20/100 in either eye.
Ability to hear without hearing enhancement devices at levels defined as follows:
Pure-tone thresholds not worse than 15 dB HL at 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz, and 3000Hz.
Ability to drag or carry an average adult person, about 160 pounds, a distance of fifteen to thirty feet, away from danger.
Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, representatives of other organizations, and the public.
Ability to operate an automobile and to maintain a valid Kansas driver's license.
An employee shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
All police personnel must be a resident of the State of Kansas and live within three miles of the City of Liberal.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Must be 21 years of age or older; must be a United States citizen; possess a valid Kansas driver's license; must be the holder of a high school diploma or furnish evidence of successful completion of an examination indicating an equivalent achievement (GED); must be fingerprinted and a search of local, state and national fingerprint files have been made to determine whether the applicant has a criminal record; must not have been convicted, does not have an expunged conviction, and on and after July 1, 1995, has not been placed on diversion by any state or the federal government for a crime which is a felony or its equivalent under the uniform code of military justice; must not have been convicted, does not have an expunged conviction, has not been placed on diversion by any state or the federal government for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or its equivalent under the uniform code of military justice, when such misdemeanor crime of domestic violence was committed on or after May 22, 1997, as set forth in K.S.A. 74-5605(d); must be of good moral character; must be free of any physical or mental condition which might adversely affect the applicant's performance of a police officer's or law enforcement officer's duties. Offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment physical, drug screening, polygraph examination, psychological testing and upon satisfactory evaluation of the results of a police records check. Any equivalent combination of experience and training. back to top

HIRING PROCEDURE

To become a Police Recruit you must complete the following steps:

1. Meet all entrance requirements and minimum standards.

2. File an application with the City's Human Resource Office.

3. Pass the written aptitude test, which you schedule with the Police Department.

4 First Contact Interview at the Investigation's Division.

5. Complete Personal History Form.

6. Background investigation.

7. Department Interview Board.

8. Polygraph examination.

Passing all the above steps will place you on the eligibility list. If selected from the eligibility list for a job offer, you will go on to the last steps:

10. Pre-employment drug screening.

11. Psychological evaluation.

12. Physical examination.

13.
Pass a vision and hearing test. (Visual acuity that can be corrected to at least 20/30 in both eyes, and uncorrected acuity at a level not worse than 20/100 in either eye. Ability to hear without hearing enhancement devices at levels defined as follows:
Pure-tone thresholds not worse than 15dB HL at 500Hz, 1000Hz, 2000Hz, and 3000Hz

14. Appointment to the Liberal Police Department by the Chief of Police.

If you are not a certified Kansas Law Enforcement Officer and you are selected for the Police Department, you will be hired as a Police Recruit. Upon graduation from the KLETC, you will be promoted to Police Officer. back to top

QUALIFICATIONS

Police Recruit applicants must meet the following initial requirements:

Be at least 21 years old by the time of hire.
Be a United States citizen.
Be a high school graduate or have a GED certificate.
If you have had military service, no history of misconduct, which tends to reflect disrespect for the law and/or lack of integrity, ethical, and moral standards.
Be able to have a valid Kansas driver's license by time of hire.
Be able to live within Seward County within required time limits after hire.
Must pass all the steps listed under "Hiring Procedure."
Must satisfy all requirements as set forth in K.S.A. 74-5605.
Must satisfy all Administrative Policies and Procedures as set forth by the City of Liberal.
No evidence of deception or subterfuge demonstrated during the pre-employment process.
No conviction of drug violations that has occurred so recently that it indicates disrespect for the law.
No conviction, diversion, or expungement of DUI within the past five years.
No history of misdemeanor crimes or moving violations, which tends to reflect disrespect for the law. (A moving violation means the commission or omission of an act by a person operating a motor vehicle that could result in injury or property damage). e.g. run stop sign, reckless driving.
No conviction, diversion, or expungement of any felony crime.
No conviction, an expunged conviction, or diversion by any State or the Federal Government for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, or their equivalent under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, when the misdemeanor crime was committed on or after May 22, 1997, as set forth in K.S.A. 74-5605(d).

Qualification of applicant for training course; requirements. Every applicant for admission to a course for police officers or law enforcement officers conducted by the training center shall be an employee of a state, county or city law enforcement agency, a municipal university police officer, a railroad policeman appointed pursuant to K.S.A. 66-524, and amendments thereto; an employee of the tribal law enforcement agency of an Indian nation that has entered into a tribal-state gaming compact with this state; or a school security officer designated as a school law enforcement officer pursuant to K.S.A. 72-8222, and amendments thereto. Prior to admission to a course conducted at the training center or a certified state or local law enforcement agency, the applicant shall furnish to the director a statement from the applicant's appointing authority or agency head certifying the applicant's fulfillment of the following requirements. The applicant:

(a) Is a United Stated citizen;

(b) Has been fingerprinted and a search of local, state, and national fingerprint files has been made to determine whether the applicant has a criminal record;

(c) Has not been convicted, does not have an expunged conviction, and on and after July 1, 1995, has not been placed on diversion by any state or the federal government for a crime which is a felony or its equivalent under the uniform code of military justice;

(d) Has not been convicted, does not have an expunged conviction, has not been placed on diversion by any state or the federal government for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or its equivalent under the uniform code of military justice, when such misdemeanor crime of domestic violence was committed on or after the effective date of this act;

(e) Is the holder of a high school diploma or furnishes evidence of successful completion of an examination indicating an equivalent achievement;

(f) Is of good moral character;

(g) Has completed a psychological test approved by the commission;

(h) Is free of any physical or mental condition which might adversely affect the applicant's performance of a police officer's or law enforcement officer's duties; and

(i) Is at least 21 years of age.

The following additional minimum standards involve activities that may to date have been unreported to or undetected by law enforcement, but which will result in disqualification if discovered during the employment process or thereafter.

No undetected illegal drug possession or use during the past, which tends to reflect disrespect for the law.
No illegal distribution or sale of any drug.
No undetected crimes or charges involving morals.
No undetected commission of misdemeanor crimes of violence or use of physical force, which tends to reflect disrespect for the law.
No undetected commission of misdemeanor property crimes during the past, which tends to reflect disrespect for the law.
Any undetected commission of felony crimes will result in immediate disqualification. Any information relative to criminal prosecution will be made available to the proper jurisdiction. back to top

TRAINING

As a Police Recruit, you receive comprehensive training from the Liberal Police Department and the professional instructors at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. Training includes, but not limited to:

Legal Aspect of Law Enforcement

Constitutional Law
State Statutes
City Ordinances
Federal, State and local courts

Defense Tactics & Control Techniques

Use of firearms
Use of the expandable baton
Unarmed defense
Emergency vehicle operation
Officer survival
Aerosol weapons

Criminal Investigation

Principals and techniques of interviewing
Crimes against persons & property
Vice and organized crime
Arson investigation
Crime scene investigation
Report writing

Police Response to Community Problems

Community Policing
Conflict resolution
Domestic violence
Community social services
Poverty problems
Child abuse and neglect
Mental retardation
Mental illness
Substance abuse
Patrol procedures and techniques
Traffic safety and enforcement
DUI enforcement
First Aid and CPR
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EXPERIENCE

After graduation from the academy, you will become a Police Officer and be assigned to work with an experienced Field Training Officer. Your on-the-job training will equip you with the special skills and knowledge that are necessary in the law enforcement field. back to top

WORK SCHEDULE

After graduation from the Academy, you will be assigned to either a day or night shift. Special provisions for law enforcement personnel allow you to work 171 hours during a 28-day period. The Liberal Police Department breaks this down into two 85-hour periods, each consisting of 14 days. One hour every 14-day period will be devoted to meetings, training, court or time worked.

ADVANCEMENT

Your own ability and effort determines how far you advance. Impartial and objective promotional opportunities are open to all eligible officers and are conducted on a regular basis.

PAY

Pay scale from $32,045.00 to $47,073.00 yearly depending upon education and experience.

BENEFITS --- POLICE RECRUIT/OFFICER

You will be issued Department uniforms, equipment and firearms. While in the academy you will be eligible for health and dental insurance and holiday pay. Upon graduation from the academy, you will be eligible for all City benefit programs, including:

Vacation: 85 hours per year, increasing after five years.

Holidays: Twelve paid holidays with one personal day per year.

Sick Leave: Earned at the rate of ½ day per month for the first six months, then one day per month, with a maximum accumulation of 1020 hours.

Retirement: Required participation in Kansas Police and Fire Retirement (KP&F).

Health Insurance: Paid health insurance for the employee.

Dental Insurance: Paid dental insurance for the employee.

Other Benefits: ICMA Deferred compensation plan, group life insurance, Shift differential pay, Worker's Compensation, and Disability and accidental death & dismemberment Insurance included with KP&F.Moving reimbursement up to $500.00. K.L.E.T.C. certification bonus $650.00.

Your background will be closely examined using high professional, legal, ethical, and moral standards. If you think any of the "disqualifiers" apply to you, call either the Human Resource Division's Office, (620) 626-0121, or Liberal Police Department (620) 626-0141, for more information. (This list is subject to change at any time at the Department's discretion).

Applying is easy, simply write, call or visit:

Liberal Police Department
P.O. Box 2199
325 North Washington St.
Liberal, KS 67905-2199
(620) 626-0141

or

Email at
police@swko.net

The City of Liberal and Liberal Police Department are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

This information is not intended to create any contractual rights, express or implied, and is for information purposes only. The City reserves the right to change the provisions of its personnel program at any time, including any matters contained in this informational page. back to top