Police Patrol Officer

NEXT TESTING DATE: TO BE DETERMINED
LOCATION: RICHLAND COUNTY LAW & JUSTICE CENTER
300 12TH AVE. NW
SIDNEY, MONTANA 59270

• Are you the kind of person who loves to help others and would jump at the opportunity to help make their community a better place to live and work?

• Are you the kind of person who thrives working as a member of a team to overcome challenges and solve problems?

• Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your skills and embark on a rewarding career?

Then YOU just might be who we are looking for...

Prior law enforcement experience?

LATERAL ENTRY STARTS AT $34.26/hr ($71,260.80 annually)

The Sidney Police Department is now accepting applications and resumes for the position of PATROL OFFICER.

To apply click HERE.

Applications will be continually reviewed and applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited for testing.

Exceptional applicants may be contacted for immediate testing and interviews.

Entry-level or lateral transfer candidates are welcome.

Why the Sidney Police Department?

The Sidney Police Department is a modern, full-service law enforcement agency whose core values are INTEGRITY, SERVICE, RESPECT, COMMUNITY and FAMILY. These are not just words on our website...they are our guiding principles, and everything we do is framed with those values in mind. We believe in SERVANT LEADERSHIP and the concept that service to others is the noblest of endeavors. Ideal applicants must have a desire to serve and personal values that align with our own. They also must have outstanding written and verbal communication skills, the ability to react quickly and effectively to stressful situations, excellent personal character, and a desire to learn.

Our mission is simple...to enhance the overall quality of life in our community, and we do it by partnering with the community to protect life, property, and the Constitutional rights of all people. To achieve that mission we hold our officers to the highest professional and personal standards, and are dedicated to ensuring our officers are provided with the best training, equipment, and support possible, and encourage professional growth at every opportunity. While we are a small department, with an authorized strength of 13 sworn officers, we can do big things.

Sidney is primarily an agricultural community of approximately 6,500 people located in eastern Montana near the North Dakota border. We are located in the heart of the Yellowstone Valley along the Yellowstone River. Our community is at the periphery of the Bakken oil shale exploration effort. The increase in oil production over the past decade and the associated service industry have brought dramatic changes to the Sidney, Richland County area.

BENEFITS:

Wage: $30.86 - $34.26 DOE

Starting (Non-POST Certified) $30.86
1-2 years $30.86
3-5 years $34.26
6-7 years $35.53
8-10 years $36.52
10 years + $36.86

Shift differential pay:

$0.50/hr, $0.75/hr, or $1.00/hr depending on the shift.

Incentive Pay:

Education (per mo.)
Associate $50.00
Bachelor $100.00
Master's $150.00

POST Certificate (per mo.)
Intermediate $50.00
Advanced $100.00
Supervisory $125.00

Specialty Assignment Pay
Longevity Pay
Vacation accrued at 10 hours per month
Sick leave accrued at 8 hours per month
Holiday pay
Medical insurance
Municipal Police Officer Retirement System
All uniforms and duty gear are provided

SELECTION PROCESS:

The Sidney Police Department's selection process consists of the following:

Initial Phase:

• Montana POST application
• Resume

Testing Phase:

• National Police Officer Selection Test
• Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT)
• Oral Board Interview

Background Phase:

• Comprehensive background investigation
• Medical Examination
• Psychological Testing and Assessment
• Drug Testing

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt by the Sidney Police Department and applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited for testing. Exceptional applicants may be contacted for immediate testing and interviews.

Applicants invited for testing must complete the National Police Officer Selection Test, which is a 75-minute written examination consisting of four parts: Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, and Incident Report Writing. The successful applicant must pass each part of the National Police Officer Selection Test with a minimum of 70%.

Applicants who pass the written testing will then be required to pass the Montana Physical Abilities Test (MPAT) followed by an oral board interview.

Upon completion of testing and interviews, the scores from the written testing and oral board interview will be compiled and applicants' files will be reviewed by the selection committee. Selected applicants will receive a conditional offer of employment that is contingent upon successfully completing the remaining phases of the selection process.

Applicants who move onto the background investigation will be required to complete a personal history questionnaire, and all the information provided will be subject to verification. The background investigation will consist of reviewing and verifying the applicant's personal information, education and experience, employment history, criminal history, driving record, financial history, and may involve the background investigator contacting past and present employers, spouses, family, friends, neighbors, etc.

Upon successful completion of the background investigation, the applicant will be required to complete a psychological assessment with the Department's contracted psychologist followed by a pre-employment medical examination and drug screening before receiving a final offer of employment.

All new hires are subject to a one-year probationary period.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Performs generalized law enforcement duties, usually in department-issued uniforms;
• patrols an assigned beat or area, usually on foot or in a radio-equipped patrol car;
• answers calls for service;
• investigates traffic accidents and criminal offenses;
• issues citations and warnings for traffic and criminal violations;
• makes physical custody arrests with and without a warrant;
• takes intoxicated or mentally ill persons into protective custody;
• transports prisoners;
• testifies in court and before administrative bodies;
• composes investigative reports;
• conducts crime prevention presentations;
• speaks before schools and civic groups;
• renders emergency first aid to injured or ill persons;
• completes all necessary reports, affidavits, and citations in a thorough, legible, and timely manner;
• makes inquiries of computerized databases;
• answers telephone calls and initiates radio broadcasts;
• searches for latent fingerprints at crime scenes;
• searches for and collects trace evidence at crime and accident scenes;
• performs various rescue and lifesaving tasks;
• participates in raids and high-risk warrant service;
• controls violent or resisting suspects;
• apprehends fleeing persons in a vehicle or on foot;
• participates in physically strenuous and mentally demanding recruit and in-service training programs; and
• other related work as required.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a citizen of the United States,
• Must be at least 18 years of age,
• Must have a good driving record, and possess or ability to obtain a Montana driver's license by time of appointment,
• Possess P.O.S.T. certification or be able to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire,
• Must be fingerprinted and subject to a background check to disclose any criminal records,
• Ability to legally possess a firearm,
• May not have been convicted of a crime for which he or she could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary,
• May not have been convicted of a crime of domestic violence,
• Must be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation,
• Good verbal and written communication skills,
• React quickly and effectively to stressful situations,
• Must be a high school graduate or have passed the general education development (GED) test and have been issued an equivalency certificate by the superintendent of public instruction, an appropriate issuing agency, another state or the federal government,
• Able to work nights, weekends, and holidays,
• Knowledge and skills in operating computer systems,
• Must be of sound physical and mental health,
• Ability to perform essential functions of this position.

Skills And Abilities:

In order to successfully perform the above critical job functions, the officer must possess specific skills and abilities, including, but not limited to the following:

• Ability to operate mobile and portable radio equipment, including transmitting and receiving voice messages;
• Flexible availability for work and being dependable and accountable to a supervisor;
• Have sufficient knowledge and training in taking care of vehicles, firearms, clothing, and personal equipment;
• Ability to handle a vehicle in a variety of situations, including normal driving, high-speed situations, inclement weather, and other hazardous conditions;
• Possess very good English language communication skills, including verbal and writing skills;
• Physical ability necessary to maintain long working hours, walk patrols, apprehend dangerous persons, subdue suspects, search for missing persons and suspects, and engage in physical exercise and training;
• Have good memory skills to remember names, radio codes, addresses, events, dates, circumstances, etc;
• Possess interpersonal skills to interact with the public and co-workers. Establish a good rapport with citizens in the community;
• Ability to sit for long periods of time;
• Ability to protect self and others from physical attacks and hostile use of firearms or other weapons;
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, general laws, legal procedures, constitutional rights and to be able to explain these to offenders and the general public;
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn, court procedures, to be able to confer with prosecutors, obtain search warrants, prepare affidavits, serve restraining orders, mental health commitment orders, etc.;
• Accurately operate typewriters, desktop, and mobile computers, possess typing skills and windows based software program experience, word processing programs and standard office equipment, etc.;
• Retrieve suspect information from files, radio transmissions, teletypes, witnesses, and criminal histories;
• Ability to remain calm, think and react quickly and use good judgment in the most demanding situations;
• Ability to maintain precise and well-organized records and logs, and write complete, precise, and comprehensive reports;
• Physically able to check buildings, parks, schools, and other developed and undeveloped areas for possible criminal activity;
• Have sufficient emotional stability to tolerate stressful work conditions, including verbal and physical abuse, and traumatic emergency events;
• Successfully complete training and obtain the knowledge needed to investigate complex criminal cases;
• Sufficient physical and mental strength and ability to defend self and others, handcuff suspects, and subdue subjects resisting arrest;
• Knowledge and training, or ability to learn, general and emergency first aid, including CPR;
• Possess sufficient vision in both eyes, allowing you to see and distinguish colors in all weather conditions and both day and night time;
• Possess sufficient hearing in both ears, to be able to hear and understand normal conversation, receive verbal instructions, radio transmissions, and detect instructions presented in crowds or emergency situations with extreme background noise;
• Knowledge and training, or the ability to learn, the investigation of persons for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs;
• Ability to control crowds, direct traffic, and give verbal commands in emergency situations;
• Knowledge of or ability to learn juvenile justice programs and procedures;
• Basic understanding or ability to learn, animal control laws and procedures;
• Ability to engage in physical altercations for an average of nearly two minutes of very strenuous physical exertion with some altercations much longer;
• As a condition of continued employment, must possess and retain the ability to provide credible testimony in a court of law;
• Attend and successfully complete the State of Montana Law Enforcement Academy Law Enforcement Officer Basic Course or the State of Montana Police Officer Equivalency Examination (if applicable) and all required in-service department training;
• Comply with all departmental rules, regulations, and directives.

Tools And Equipment Used:

To include, but not limited to: police car, mobile and portable radios, radar equipment, mobile and desktop computers, video and audio recording equipment, various office equipment, handgun, shotgun, and other firearms as required, TASER electronic control device, handcuffs and other duty gear, breathalyzer, and first aid equipment.

Working Conditions and 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 of the job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions, including extreme cold and heat. The employee occasionally works near or with moving mechanical parts, explosives, and weapons; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Job duties frequently require the employee to see, sit, talk, hear and smell. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk or run; use hands to finger, handle, or operate controls or objects or tools listed above; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

If you have any questions, please contact the Sidney Police Department at 406-433-2210 Monday through Friday 8:00 am -5:00 pm (MST) or by email at sidneypd@richland.org.