Law Enforcement Officer Position

Post Falls Police Department - Lateral Patrol Officer

 

PROFILE DISCLAIMER

The information herein is provided by the respective agency and is only as accurate and as up-to-date as the agency representative(s) update this information. PST is not responsible for the veracity of this data as it is provided directly from the agency. It is ultimately the applicant's responsibility to verify any information about the agency with the agency.

Post Falls Police Department - Lateral Patrol Officer

Last updated on November 20, 2024
PST Partner Agency since December 19, 2023

Vacancies: 4

Testing Deadline: November 30, 2024.

Important Information


The Post Falls Police Department is currently hiring for lateral applicants. This job posting is for LATERAL applicants. To qualify as a lateral applicant, you must have completed a Police Academy from your state. If you are an entry level applicant, please apply through that job posting. 

You must complete the Personal History Statement to be considered for an oral board interview. 

If you have questions regarding the agency or hiring process, please contact Sergeant Harmon (208) 262-7716 / sharmon@postfallspolice.gov or Lieutenant Harrison (208) 773-6393 / bharrison@postfallspolice.gov 

Community Information

The city of Post Falls is growing quickly and is a great community to live, work, and play. With our close proximity to Spokane International Airport, a multitude of lakes and rivers, and five ski resorts within an hour and half it is a desirable place to live. Miles of walking trails, over twenty parks, and a community forest of nearly 500 acres make this and ideal city for an outdoor enthusiast. Post Falls also offers shopping, restaurants, a good public school system, and access to higher education institutes in the immediate area. All of this, combined with a low crime rate, makes Post Falls an ideal community to live and work in. 


Post Falls Idaho | City of Post Falls, Idaho

Visit Post Falls | Post Falls Chamber of Commerce

Department Information

Our motto is "Partners with the Community". We truly believe that successful law enforcement agencies must be community partners. Our department  enjoys a great deal of support from our community, and we have worked hard to earn their trust, respect, and partnership.

Mission Statement: Partnering with our community to maintain a safe and secure city, while providing public safety with professionalism, fairness, pride and dedication.

Our Values:

P- Professionalism

F- Fairness

P- Pride

D- Dedication

Officers have career opportunities including School Resource Officer, Detective, Special Response Team, Motor Unit, K9, Special Operations Group, Task Force, various instructor roles, Field Training Officer, and more. Many of these roles are within reach of officers who have completed thier probationary period. 


Job Description


Class Specifications
THE CITY OF POST FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ENTRY LEVEL (NO EXPERIENCE), LATERAL AND/OR POST-CERTIFIABLE (HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A POST ACADEMY) POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES. PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO LATERAL OFFICERS AND POST FALLS POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES. Performs general duty and investigative police work in the protection of life and property through enforcement of laws and ordinances; responds to calls for the protection of life and property; performs related work as required. The principal function of an employee in this class is to enforce state and local laws and ordinances, respond to calls for the protection of life and property, conduct criminal and non-criminal investigations, to make arrests and perform other assigned law enforcement and public safety duties. Duties normally consist of patrol and traffic activities in the City on an assigned shift. Officers may be delegated to assignments in specialized areas such as neighborhood services, community services, criminal investigations services, administration, field training, firearms training, special weapons and tactical (SWAT) team, or other assignment. Work is performed under the general direction of a supervising Sergeant. Considerable latitude is granted to the employee but work is subject to periodic performance audits and annual evaluations. The principal duties of this class are performed in both a general office environment and an outdoor environment that may include exposure to adverse weather conditions and to potential personal danger.
Examples of Work Duties
  • Patrols assigned areas of the City in a car, motorcycle, bicycle, U.T.V., or on foot
  • Enforces state and local laws and ordinances
  • Maintains community presence and/or responds to calls for service and takes appropriate action
  • Responds to calls related to the protection of life and property, traffic incidents, and other public safety emergencies
  • Responds to patrol calls which include domestic incidents, burglaries, juvenile disturbances, civil disturbances, health and welfare assists, civil standby, business and residential alarms, thefts, traffic accidents, animal problems, civil protection order/no contact order violations and services, medical and fire calls, bomb threats, hazardous material spills, and other public and life safety incidents
  • Determines the existence of probable cause and identifies and takes suspects and offenders into physical custody, or refers charges for review and prosecution
  • Prepares reports of arrests made, activities performed, and unusual incidents observed
  • Completes reports and other related documents in a timely manner
  • Conducts both preliminary and follow-up investigations and collects evidence in disturbances, criminal incidents, hazardous incidents, vehicle accidents, and deaths
  • Verbally interacts with witnesses and victims, suspects, and offenders to obtain information
  • Conducts examinations of persons, vehicles, premises, or areas to determine the presence of individuals or illegal activities or articles
  • Takes suspect or offender into custody and delivers them to appropriate confinement location, maintaining security and safety of individuals being moved from one location to another
  • Performs self-initiated patrol consisting of traffic stops, patrolling high crime areas of the City, warrant arrests, drug interdictions, DUI emphasis patrol, seat belt emphasis, juvenile drinking emphasis, and other relevant law enforcement activities
  • Coordinates and conducts detailed investigations of violent crimes, child abuse, property crimes, gaming, and narcotics violations
  • Presents testimony and evidence in court and other legal proceedings
  • Maintains, cleans, and cares for City-issued equipment and vehicles
  • Performs all work duties and activities in accordance with City and Department policies, procedures and safety practices. Other Duties and Responsibilities
  • May serve in other specialized areas such as neighborhood services, community services, criminal investigations section, administrative services, field training, firearms training, special weapons and tactical (SWAT) unit, or other assignment
  • Prepares search and arrest warrants
  • Contacts, cooperates, and coordinates with other law enforcement and non-law enforcement agencies in matters relating to the apprehension of offenders and the investigation of offenses
  • May be on call after regular duty hours to respond to emergency situations
  • Performs other related duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of

  • Local, state, and federal laws as applicable to community law enforcement
  • Methods, objectives, and procedures of law enforcement practices
  • Methods, objectives, and procedures of court proceedings
  • Officer safety skills including defensive tactics, handcuffing, and firearm operations
  • Standard first-aid administration
  • Personal computers and job-related software
  • Police equipment, including vehicles, speed radar units, communications units, body armor, handcuffs, firearms, batons, and other related equipment
  • Crime prevention and education techniques.
Ability to
  • Attend classes and successfully receive a POST certification within one year of employment
  • Work independently as well as in teams
  • Understand and apply departmental, state, and local law enforcement procedures, policies, rules, and regulations
  • Analyze situations quickly and objectively, to recognize actual and potential dangers, and to determine proper course of action
  • Cope with stressful situations calmly, fairly, tactfully, and with respect for individual rights
  • Establish and maintain effective relations with fellow employees and with citizens with varied racial, religious, ethnic or economic backgrounds
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use and care of firearms
  • Operate a motor vehicle
  • Operate a personal computer including program applications appropriate to assigned duties
  • Operate radio, audio and video equipment, and related specialized enforcement equipment
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
  • Prepare accurate and grammatically correct written reports
  • Keep immediate supervisor and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems and suggestions for new or improved ways of addressing such problems
  • Understand and carry out oral and written directions
  • Uphold the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics at all times
  • Respond to citizen requests in a courteous and effective manner
  • Make sound and reasonable decisions in accordance with laws, ordinances, regulations, and established procedures
  • Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines
  • Have the flexibility to work any shifts required
  • Perform multiple tasks simultaneously, including handling interruptions, and return to and complete tasks in a timely manner
  • Demonstrate integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks
  • Learn new aspects of police work depending on specialty assignment areas.
Acceptable Experience and Training
  • High school diploma or GED equivalency require; and
  • At least twenty-one (21) years of age; and
  • Two years of reasonable work experience; or
  • Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work.


Area Information

County: Kootenai
Population: 50,000
# of Staff: 60 sworn / 37 Civilian

Hiring Status

Post Falls Police Department - Lateral Patrol Officer has 4 vacancies.

The deadline to test for the next hiring cycle is November 30, 2024.

We are accepting applications for immediate hire upon succesful completion of the application, testing, and background process.

Salary Information

Lateral Officer starting wage = $34.52 to $36.24/hr  DOE. 

*Plus shift differential and specialty pay, if applicable. 

5% pay increase after completion of probationary period. 

Benefit Information

The City of Post Falls offers an excellent benefit package that includes: 

- Health Insurance 

- Dental Insurance

- Life Insurance

- VEBA/HSA

- PERSI retirement program 

- Optional 457/401k, vision, and more. 

- 10 Paid holidays 

- Physical Fitness Bonus and Drycleaning allowance 

- On site gym 



Post Falls Police Department - Lateral Patrol Officer Requirements

Category Requirement Required at time of...
    Test Hire
Written Examination No, not required

Lateral applicants are not required to complete a written examination.

LEO/CO Physical Ability Test (PAT) No, not required (may be required later)

Completion of a PAT will be required, but does not have to be completed before submitting your application. 

PST Personal History Statement Yes, required within 14 days of passing required exam(s)
Minimum Age 21
Citizenship US Citizen
High School Grad/ GED Yes
Driver's License Required Yes
Felony Conviction(s) as an Adult Will be carefully reviewed on a case by case basis.
Felony Conviction(s) as a Juvenile Will be carefully reviewed
Ability to Read, Speak & Write the English Language Yes
Vision Requirements Correctable to 20/20
College Requirement No
Basic Law Enforcement Academy Certification To be considered for the Lateral Police Officer position, the applicant must have a current PATROL certification from Idaho POST, or the equivalency from their state. 
Prior Experience Requirement

To be considered for the Lateral Police Officer position, the applicant must have a current certification from Idaho POST, or the equivalency from their state, and currently serve as a sworn officer. Starting pay for lateral applicants is dependent upon epereience and years of service. 

Multiple Scores from Same Applicant We consider the highest score received within the past one year

Post Falls Police Department - Lateral Patrol Officer Disqualifiers

The following are automatic and potential disqualifiers. Applicants should not apply to our agency if they indicate any of the automatic disqualifiers. Potential disqualifiers will be considered on a case by case basis.

Category Disqualifier
Driving
Automatic

An applicant is ineligible if he/she does not possess a valid driving license from the applicant’s state of residence and is unable to qualify for an Idaho driver’s license.

An applicant is ineligible if he/she has a misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence offense(s) within two (2) years immediately preceding application, or two or more (2) misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence offenses within five (5) years immediately preceding application. 

Drug Usage
Automatic

- Marijuana use of any kind within one year of application

- While employed as a law enforcement officer, in a prosecutorial position, or in a position of public safety, regardless of when the use occurred.

- An applicant is ineligible if he/she unlawfully used any prescription drug or a legally obtainable controlled substance within the past three (3) years, unless: a.) The applicant was under the age of eighteen (18) at the time of using the controlled substance, or b.) An immediate, pressing, or emergency medical circumstance existed to justify the use of a prescription controlled substance not specifically prescribed to the person.

- An applicant is ineligible if he/she, while eighteen (18) years old or older, violated any provision of the Idaho Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Section 37-2701 et seq., Idaho Code, whether charged or not, that constitutes a felony, or of a comparable statute of another state or country, if the violation occurred: a.) Within three (3) years immediately preceding application; b.) While employed as a law enforcement officer, in a prosecutorial position, or in a position of public safety, regardless of when the illegal use occurred.

Criminal Activity
Automatic

INELIGIBILITY BASED UPON PAST CONDUCT. An applicant is ineligible to attend a basic training academy and for certification under the following circumstances.

- Criminal Conviction. An applicant is ineligible if they were convicted of:

- A felony, if the applicant was eighteen (18) years old or older at the time of conviction.

- A misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence offense(s) within two (2) years immediately preceding application, or two or more (2) misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence offenses within five (5) years immediately preceding application.

- A misdemeanor crime involving domestic violence, if the relevant law enforcement discipline requires the applicant to possess a firearm in the course of their duty, or if the conviction occurred within 5 years immediately preceding application.

- A misdemeanor crime of deceit, as defined in these rules, or a misdemeanor sex offense, if the conviction occurred within five (5) years immediately preceding application.


Financial
Potential Failure to pay income tax or child support.
Potential Current credit accounts, or unresolved accounts in collection will be carefully reviewed.
Other
Automatic

Not legally able to possess a firearm.

Not a United States Citizen.

An applicant is ineligible if he/she received a “dismissal,” “bad conduct discharge” (BCD), “dishonorable discharge” (DD), or administrative discharge of other than honorable (OTH) from military service.

An applicant is ineligible if he/she has been denied certification; his/her certification is suspended in another state or jurisdiction, denied, revoked or applicant is not able to obtain certification in another state or jurisdiction; or his/her basic certificate has been revoked by the Council in this state or the responsible licensing agency in any other issuing jurisdiction, unless the denial or revocation has been rescinded by the Council or by the responsible licensing agency of the issuing jurisdiction

Contact Information

Post Falls Police Department - Lateral Patrol Officer

1717 E. Polston Avenue
Post Falls, ID 83854 Kootenai County
2087733517

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Agency Test Requirements
Written Examination: No, not required
PAT: No, not required (may be required later)

PST Personal History Statement: Yes, required within 14 days of passing required exam(s)


Other Post Falls Police Department positions

Patrol Officer