Working in collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Police, this position assumes oversight for the management of sworn and non-sworn employee positions in the Police Department. The Police Captain has responsibility for the overall management oversight and direction of operations and personnel of a division within the Police Department. Police Captains may respond to calls for service; however, the primary responsibilities are managerial, including the coordination of activities with those of other City departments and law enforcement agencies. In the absence of the Chief of Police, the Police Captain may assume the duties there-on.
Read the full Police Captain Recruitment Brochure here.The list is not intended to be all-inclusive nor exclusive but is intended to provide examples of typical duties performed.
- This position assumes command of the Police Department in the absence of the Police Chief and Deputy Chief of Police as needed, or as assigned.
- This position plans and directs operations and administrative resources to accomplish department goals and objectives, including responsibility for patrol operations; special event planning; emergency management investigations, reports, and report writing; application and enforcement of departmental policies and procedures, professional standards performance evaluations, customer and staff relations development and execution of in-service training and field training and evaluation; crime prevention education; and community-based outreach and initiatives.
- Supports the mission and vision of the Pelham Police Department by way of positive and meaningful community interactions that support strong working relationships and partnership building.
- Identifies researches and evaluates best practices in law enforcement; facilitates corrective actions; implements process improvement initiatives; and, formulates proposals and recommendations based on cost analysis and supporting data/research.
- Assists the Office of the Chief of Police in developing, implementing, and maintaining internal policies, procedures, and practices.
- Works closely with the Office of the Chief of Police to write, revise, communicate, and execute departmental general orders and policies.
- Ensures that all operational, administrative, and organizational matters are uniformly executed, and effectively communicate, and effectively execute departmental general orders and policies; selects, trains, supervises and evaluates staff. Effectively supervises multiple assigned police personnel.
- Investigates, analyzes and reports upon employee performance and misconduct; recommends specialized training, professional development, disciplinary and corrective actions.
- Provides staff assistance to the Office of the Chief of Police; prepares and presents staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary; prepares a variety of reports and makes presentations.
- Serves as staff on a variety of boards, commissions, and committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
- Attends and participates in professional group meetings and committees; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of law enforcement.
- Coordinates activities of Departmental Divisions, Squads, and specialized units.
- Analyzes, coordinates, and assigns employees according to shift/beat requirements relative to crimes committed, potential crimes, traffic control, traffic enforcement, and other real or anticipated calls-for-service.
- Maintains duty roster and handles scheduling problems of assigned personnel.
- Performs oversight duties relative to overall departmental scheduling to maintain high standards of service delivery.
- Delegates duties to subordinates to the maximum degree possible and supervise the overall operation of the Police Department.
- Mediates and attempts to resolve differences or conflicts between citizens and assigned subordinates. Acts as final citizen complaint contact as required under Departmental General Orders.
- Oversees and coordinates prospective employee candidate interview panels, evaluate candidates, compile recommendations from subordinate supervisors, and make hiring recommendations based on the result.
- Operates advanced computer record-keeping programs, word-processing programs and related equipment.
- Directs and oversees the total records-keeping function of the department as well as the security of the same.
- Maintains, accounts for, and issues Department’s confidential funds and required audit information.
- Facilitates efficient and effective cooperation and teamwork between all Divisions or Units of the Police Department.
- Compiles, analyzes, and reports statistics in Annual Report form as Department General Orders requires.
- Prepares budget analysis, requests, and justifications for all Divisions, Squads, and specialized units for submission to the Office of the Chief of Police each fiscal year.
- Establishes and maintains effective work relationships with others.
Competency:
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner;
- Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs;
- Team Work - Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Contributes to building a positive team spirit;
- Leadership - Inspires respect and trust;
- Ethics - Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values;
- Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures;
- Accountability - Takes responsibility for own actions;
- Professionalism - Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position;
- Quality - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education/Experience
- Must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate. Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Police Science, Criminology, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred. A combination of education, training, and years of experience may be used in lieu of a degree.
- Ten (10) years of sworn law enforcement experience with a minimum of two (2) years in an upper-level supervisory capacity of Lieutenant or other law enforcement equivalent.
- Graduation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course or Command Officer Development Course, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, or a comparable, comprehensive police executive leadership program is preferred.
Certificates, Licenses and Special Requirements:
- Must meet the minimum standards for law enforcement officers as established by Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) and Alabama Law and maintain annual APOSTC continuing education requirements.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license as issued by the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
- Within six (6) months of the date of hire, the employee must establish primary residence within a 35-mile radius of Pelham Police Headquarters to be eligible for a take-home vehicle subject to approval by the Chief of Police.
- In order to maintain and continue employment as a sworn police officer for the City of Pelham Police Department, an employee must retain the legal right and authority to carry a pistol and any other firearm normally used by police officers. Conviction of any crime that results in the loss of an employee’s rights to carry firearms will immediately disqualify said employee from continued employment as a sworn police officer for the City of Pelham.
- In order to maintain and continue employment as a sworn police officer for the City of Pelham Police Department, an employee must retain the legal right and authority to access information from and through the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer systems. Conviction of any felony, or any other crime that results in the loss of an employee’s right to access said computer systems, or a sustained allegation of breach of the rules governing operation and access to said computer systems which results in a decision by either ACJIC or NCIC to terminate an employee’s right and/or authority to access, operate, or receive information through said computer systems will immediately disqualify said employee from continued employment for the City of Pelham.
Language Ability:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
Communicate effectively over law enforcement radio channels while initiating and responding to radio communications, often under adverse conditions such as siren usage and high-speed vehicle operations. Communicate verbally and effectively by listening to people and by giving information, directions, and commands. Manage interpersonal conflicts to maintain order. Prepare investigative and other reports, including sketches, using appropriate grammar, symbols, and mathematical computations. Read and comprehend rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and the law for purposes of ensuring appropriate police officer behavior/response and performing enforcement activities involving the public. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with subordinates and superiors. Read, comprehend, and maintain a good working knowledge of state criminal laws, motor vehicle laws, municipal codes, civil service law, and the Police Department’s General Orders.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and variables.
Exercise judgement within legal guidelines, to determine when there is reasonable suspicion to detain, when probable cause exists to search and arrest and when force may be used and to what degree. Gather information in criminal investigations by interviewing and obtaining the statements of victims, witnesses, suspects, and confidential informants. Perform other essential tasks as may be identified by job-task analysis.
Computer Skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software and Database software.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Directly supervises employees in the Police Department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; work in high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock and work with explosives. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical Demands
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.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100+ pounds. Employee must be able to affect an arrest, forcibly if necessary, using handcuffs and other restraints. Perform tasks which require lifting, carrying, or dragging people or heavy objects while performing arrest, rescue, or general patrol functions. Use body force to gain entrance through barriers to search, seize, investigate and/or rescue.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Operate an emergency vehicle during both the day and night in emergency and pursuit situations involving speeds in excess of posted limits while exercising due care and caution and in exception to traffic control devices and in congested traffic and in unsafe road conditions and environmental conditions such as fog, smoke, rain, ice and snow. Conduct visual and audio surveillance for extended periods of time. Pursue fleeing suspects on foot, both day and night, in unfamiliar terrain.
Load, unload, aim and fire handguns, shotguns and other Department firearms from a variety of body positions in situations that justify the use of deadly force while maintaining emotional control under extreme stress. Subdue resisting subjects using hands and feet while employing defensive tactics maneuvers or approved non-lethal weapons.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Perform searches of persons which involve touching and feeling to detect potential weapons and contraband.
The employee is frequently required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl in confined areas to pursue, search, investigate and/or rescue. Enter and exit vehicles quickly to perform rescue operations, pursue a suspect or answer an emergency call. Climbs over obstacles, climb through openings, jump down from elevated surfaces, jump over obstacles, ditches and streams; and, crawl in confined areas to pursue, search, investigate and/or rescue. Conduct searches of buildings and large outdoor areas which may involve walking and/or standing for long periods of time and which requires the ability to distinguish color and perceive shapes.
Perform law enforcement patrol functions while working rotating shifts.
