Police Officer (Certified EOT Candidates or Certified Cadets)

Please note that applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 pm ET on the day prior to the close date listed on the job posting.

Mission: Provide Superior Services that Inspire Community Pride

Vision: To be the Community of Choice in Tampa Bay

Values: Integrity, Collaboration, Passion, Creativity

Largo's commitment to a High Performance Organization (HPO) model builds a flexible and resilient organization that intentionally builds leadership capacity at all levels of the organization.

CITY OF LARGO ... Naturally A Great Place to Work!

Closing:

Continuous

Salary:

$32.76 hourly rate

Job Summary:

The Largo Police Department is accepting applications for FDLE Certified Police Officers and/or Out-of-State Certified Officers who will have completed EOT and State exam, or those who will complete the Police Academy and pass the State certified exam. EOT or Academy tuition reimbursements are also available.

This is general duty police work in the enforcement of laws and ordinances. The employee is responsible for the protection of life and property, for the prevention, detection, and investigation of crime, and for maintaining law and order. Assignments are carried out in accordance with established rules, procedures, statutes, and judicial decisions. However, employees must be able to act without direct supervision in emergencies and unusual situations. Work is reviewed through reports, inspections, and observation.

Applicants must be able to complete the hiring process within 90 of application date.

**Applications with incorrect or incomplete information will not be considered.**

Starting Salary: $68,144 per year/$32.76/hr

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATUS: As a condition of employment, City of Largo employees will be required to work as directed during an undeclared and/or a declared emergency. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the official job description.

Additional Compensation/Benefits:

- Defined Benefit Pension Plan with a generous 8% City match

- Benefits also include 12 paid leave days and 24 hour full access to City fitness center. Continuous learning is supported through tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities.
- May receive $1,000 in relocation assistance for candidates outside Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, or Manatee counties.

- Salary incentive for lateral entry, AA or BA degrees, Shift Differential, and Specialty Unit Pay

- Out of county take home vehicle assigned out of FTO

- All equipment is provided

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All employees share components of leadership, management, technical, and team skills to assist in making the City of Largo the community of choice in Tampa Bay.

Leadership

• Demonstrates an understanding and reflection of the City’s mission, vision, and values, and a commitment to achieve organizational goals aligned with the City’s strategic plan
• Champions a high-performance work culture that encourages and embraces new ideas, develops individuals, and welcomes and encourages diverse perspectives
• Articulates strategic and innovative thinking and provides clarity to deliver superior services
• Approaches the job with enthusiasm and curiosity to promote a solutions-oriented work culture

Management

• Effectively manages assignments and priorities to ensure the fulfillment of projects, tasks, and responsibilities
• Follows suggested procedures to ensure the highest standards of risk management, employee safety, and risk avoidance

Technical

• Responds to assignments received as a result of calls for service from the public and superior officers
• Patrols assigned areas on foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or in police vehicles; enforces traffic and criminal laws, parking regulations, and domestic violence injunctions; performs investigations, provides service, and generally provides for the safety of the public
• Responds to the scene of crimes, traffic accidents, and incidents; interviews suspects, prisoners, complainants, and witnesses in order to gather information; takes enforcement action and files official reports
• Attends training for the City when necessary
• Maintains radio contact with department personnel via two-way radio
• Searches for and apprehends suspects involved in criminal activity
• Transports prisoners to the police building, detention facility, or treatment facility as required
• Testifies and presents evidence in court regarding policing duties
• Interacts with diverse groups of people within the department and the community in order to detect, prevent, and investigate suspected criminal activity; monitors businesses for compliance with laws and ordinances, and develops and maintains sources of information about criminal activities
• Takes proper safety precautions, anticipates unsafe circumstances, and acts accordingly to prevent accidents; responsible for the safety of self, others, materials, and equipment
• Assists medical personnel on site; assists other agencies as required
• May be assigned special law enforcement-related duties

Team Skills

• Supports honest and transparent decision-making
• Collaborates with all team members in a way that builds upon ideas and takes personal accountability and ownership of projects, roles, and assignments
• Openly exhibits a positive attitude in word and action and encourages others to do the same

Performs related work as required.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE STATUS: As a condition of employment, City of Largo employees will be required to work as directed during an undeclared and/or a declared emergency. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the official job description.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: 

• Sixty (60) semester credit hours from an accredited college or university. Accredited college, university, or community college” means a college, university, or community college that has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, another regional accrediting agency, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, or an accrediting agency or association that is recognized by the database created and maintained by the United States Department of Education. The 60 credit hours will be waived for applicants with at least two years of prior sworn law enforcement or corrections experience, or two years of active military duty.
• Ability to successfully obtain a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Certification. Applicants certified in other States must meet compliance standards as enumerated in Florida Statute 943.13.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to understand the principles and practices of police work and to understand and enforce laws and ordinances
• Ability to analytically and objectively observe situations and to report and record them clearly and completely
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public
• Ability to meet the minimum standards for employment as a Police Officer established by Florida Statute 943.13 and meet background and personal history standards as established by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) 11B-27.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Environment: 15% inside a climate-controlled building and 85% outside, which includes driving. The essential functions of the job require sitting for approximately five (5) hours, standing for approximately four (4) hours, and walking for approximately three (3) hours during the course of a 12-hour shift. The job also requires frequent bending/stooping, grasping, reaching, and lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 15 pounds, with occasional fine manipulations, pulling/pushing, and repetitive motion. On rare occasions, the work requires climbing, crawling, running, kneeling, and lifting/carrying objects weighing 15 pounds or more.

Sensory Requirements: Hearing: Ability to hear alarm signals and radio transmissions, understand what others are saying in normal conversation, and detect specific noises or voices during group conversations. Speaking: Ability to communicate orally with others in person, via radio and telephone transmissions, and during formal presentations to groups. Seeing: Ability to operate a vehicle, read fine print and normal print, and observe numbers, license plates, and street signs at night.

Driving Requirements: Requires frequent driving and a valid Florida Driver’s License.

Technology: The work requires the ability to operate telephones, smartphones, tablets, photocopiers, printers, desktop and laptop computers, calculators, video recording devices, and all associated software.

Tools: The work requires proficiency with standard police tools.

Work Assignment: As a requirement of the position, employees should be prepared to work any/all shift assignments. Shift assignments include work on days, evenings, and nights, including weekends and holidays, and may require overtime.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Yes - DRUG TESTING (Safety Sensitive)

No - CHILDCARE FINGERPRINTING

Yes - CREDIT CHECK

Yes - FDLE AND CJSTC SECURITY CLEARANCE: As mandated by the FDLE, CJSTC, and the Largo Police Department, this position may be subject to additional security clearances due to access to the police department facility or police department's electronic data.

Elements of the Selection Process:
 1. Review of applications for selection of individuals to be interviewed
 2. Schedule those applicants selected to be interviewed
 3. Selected applicants will interview with the panel

 4. Selected applicants who pass the interview will move on to a scenario board

 5. Conduct criminal background checks and driving history records on top applicants
 6. Schedule polygraphs for selected top applicants
 7. Schedule physicals for top applicants
 8. Verification of three (3) personal references
 9. Schedule the applicant to report to sign in at Human Resources on the first day of work

Duration of The Process:
The expected duration of the interview selection process for filling the position should take approximately three (3) to four (4) weeks or longer, depending on the size of the applicant pool.

Agency's Policy On Reapplication:

Applicants who complete the process but have yet to be selected will be placed on an eligibility list for one year and/or may reapply in subsequent hiring processes. Applicants who are rejected for sworn employment due to background concerns or not meeting threshold performance during any phase of the process may not reapply for one year from the date of rejection.

The City of Largo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

** If you are interested in joining the Largo Police Team, please apply today**