Community Resource Officer (CRO) - Internship

Job Overview

Position Summary

 

*Seeking several applicants to fill positions lasting approximately 3-4 months (June-August) and working approximately 20-25 hours per week.  Applicants may be offered to remain year-round on a 10-3- hour per week basis.*

GENERAL SUMMARY:  This in-depth internship program meets the needs of most college internship programs, and provides the Dubuque Police Department with an opportunity to evaluate the applicants’ potential as a police officer. Since its inception in 2011, over 60% of CRO’s have gone on to become Dubuque Police Officers.

Under direction and supervision of the Staff Services Captain and Patrol Division Commanders a Community Resource Officer (CRO) will work with a variety of entities to accomplish proactive and problem-solving community policing objectives; assist sworn and civilian employees of the Dubuque Police Department in their daily duties; and get exposure to a variety of law enforcement related duties and training.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to follow a management philosophy that is input oriented and values problem solving and the development of partnerships; and desires to be part of an organization that values service, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation and teamwork.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: Designed to give participants experience with all aspects of the department, the work involves an element of personal danger and the need to use proactive, problem solving skills. The employee often acts without direct supervision and exercises independent judgment in meeting emergencies, assessing problems, and determining solutions or appropriate courses of action. Assignments may include work at the law enforcement center on special tasks calling upon specialized abilities and knowledge. Specific work assignments and special instructions are received from the Staff Services and/or Patrol Commanders who assess work performance through reports, personal inspection and discussion.

JOB DUTIES:

• Patrolling the city, both on a bicycle and as a rider with a certified officer.
• Attending and assisting with community events.
• Specialized assignments both inside and outside the department.
• Completing training checklists and learning the basics of law enforcement.
• Assisting with departmental training, often as  role player.
• Observe routine patrol, preliminary investigation, and traffic regulation activities.
• Meet with outside organizations and community.
• Attend regular community meetings and special events; required trainings; and neighborhood meetings and functions.
• Appear at scenes of disorder or crime; and in court as a witness.
• Respond to radio and telephone dispatches and emergencies to provide assistance.
• Prepare detailed, comprehensive investigation and incident reports.
• Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel.
• Testify at legal proceedings.
• Relay information about incidents and emergencies to personnel using phones and two-way radios.
• Interview people to gather information about criminal activities; and to obtain information about actions or status of individuals.
• Inform the public about policies, services or procedures.
• Recommend improvements to policies and processes to increase safety and reduce risks.
• Locate suspicious objects or vehicles.
• Assist motorists or pedestrians; other city departments; and other law enforcement agencies.
• Assist in traffic control at scenes or emergencies; and locating lost or missing adults, juveniles or runaway children
• Assist with speaking engagements.
• Report defective traffic control devices and signals; hazardous street situations; and traffic hazards and unsafe conditions.
• Work with groups and taskforces and other city services to identify and solve community problems.
• Give tours of departmental facilities.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services which includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
• Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem and different options, and picking the best one.
• Social Perceptiveness and Monitoring - Understanding people's reactions, and keeping track of how well they are doing in order to make improvements.
• Negotiation and Persuasion - Bringing people together to solve differences; and talking people into changing their minds and behavior.
• Reading and Written Comprehension - Reading work-related information and understanding what it written.
• Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
• Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
• Oral Expression and Comprehension - Communicating clearly by speaking and understanding what people are saying.
• Inductive and Deductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information, and using rules to solve problems.
• Near and Far Vision - Seeing details up close and far away.
• Selective Attention – Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Written Expression – Communicating by writing.
• Information Ordering – Ordering or arranging things.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Successful completion of department approval bicycle safety and skill course within the first week.
• Possession of a valid state driver’s license.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Current college student (about to start senior year or final year at junior college) with recent college work in Criminal Justice/Police Science, Criminal Science, Criminology Law Enforcement or similar/related courses.

Our Commitment to You:  We are committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities. The City of Dubuque values a culture of equity, diverse perspectives, and life experiences. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration and work-life harmony. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our diverse community. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity and an inclusive workforce. Women, minorities, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.