Police Officer

Salary: $27.75 - $38.43 Hourly Location : Bartow, FL Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 202500003 Department: Police Opening Date: 02/13/2026 Closing Date: 3/16/2026 8:00 AM Eastern Job Summary This is responsible Police work in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances. Work involves the responsibility for prevention, detection, and investigation of crimes and for maintaining law and order. Duties also consist of patrolling an assigned area, traffic regulation and direction, and involvement in crash, criminal, and other types of investigations. Duties may entail special assignments. Work involves an element of personal danger and may be performed in an automobile, on a motorcycle, or on foot during an assigned shift. Assignments are received from superior officers and are carried out under established policies and procedures. Employees in this class must exercise considerable judgment and skill in handling emergencies. Performance is reviewed through conferences, handwritten and computer-written reports, inspections, and observations by superiors. Essential Duties and Responsibilities • Patrols a designated area of the City to preserve law and order, to prevent and detect the commission of crime, and to enforce traffic regulations. • Responds to calls and complaints involving traffic accidents, misdemeanors, felonies, property crimes, crimes against persons, and disputes and takes necessary police action. • Serves warrants and makes arrests. • Conducts investigations at crime scenes, gathers evidence, locates and questions witnesses, takes detailed statements from witnesses and suspects, and testifies as a witness in court proceedings. • Investigates traffic accidents and administers first aid. • Investigates crimes and incidents and files cases with the State Attorney's Office. • Demonstrates proficiency in using and caring for firearms and other police equipment. • Supports and implements the community-oriented policing concept. • Prepares written police reports, memorandums, and other correspondence. • Enforces State, Federal, and local laws and ordinances. • Makes decisions and takes actions in stressful and dangerous situations taking into account legal, policy, and safety factors. • Requires active work that involves walking, running, and standing most of the time, exerting up to 150 pounds of force regularly, and routine keyboard operations. • Requires the ability to work 12 or 8.4 hour shifts, both midnight or day shifts, as determined by department needs. • Requires the ability to wear/carry up to 30 lbs. of equipment continuously. • Requires the ability to operate a vehicle in normal and emergency conditions, daytime, night-time, and adverse weather and have a valid Florida Driver's License or have the ability to obtain one prior to hiring. • Requires dexterity and grip strength to operate law enforcement equipment such as firearms, handcuffs, radios, batons, and personal protective equipment (PPE), including an air-purifying respirator. • Requires the ability to wear and/or operate personal protective equipment as required, including, but not limited to, belts, ballistic vests, ballistic shields, and ballistic helmets. • Requires the ability to sit and stand for prolonged periods. • Meets Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) requirements, including moral character (Florida Rule 11B-27.0011) • Hearing ability sufficiently to understand radio transmissions and conversations with other individuals in person and over a telephone. • Speaking ability sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person, over the telephone, and over the radio. • Must be able to pass mandated psychological testing to perform duties and responsibilities of the position. • Visual ability sufficient to operate a police vehicle both day and night, observe criminal actions and traffic violations, read and write reports and correspondence, etc. • Required to work overtime, or alternate hours, as necessary for the efficient operation of the department. • Position is designated as Emergency and Essential. • May serve as Acting Police Sergeant when assigned. • This role has emergency response responsibilities and may be considered essential during an emergency event. This position is subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than normal work locations, and may include duties other than specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions. • Performs related work as required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. Supervisory Responsibilities:None Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Extensive knowledge of First Responder First Aid. • Thorough knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, rules of evidence, and laws regarding search and seizure. • Knowledge of departmental policies, rules, and regulations. • Knowledge of principles, practices, and equipment used in police work. • Knowledge of the city's geography. • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, other public agencies, the media, City officials, and between bureaus, divisions, and units of the Police Department. • Ability to chase on foot in the course of law enforcement/criminal apprehension activities. • Ability to physically restrain persons in the course of law enforcement activities. • Ability to lift and/or move heavy objects or persons in the course of rescue activities. • Ability to work in conditions that are disagreeable with respect to exposure to the elements, exposure to hazardous materials or equipment, and the threat of bodily harm. • Ability to use various communication skills to interact formally and informally with various community and ethnic groups. • Ability to read, write, and speak the English language fluently. • Ability to use special techniques to establish and maintain professional contact with the public. • Ability to give talks before school and community groups on topics related to law enforcement. • Requires the ability to maintain a state of awareness and vigilance commensurate with officer safety responsibilities. Education and Experience:Must be at least 21 years of age on hire date. Must possess a high school diploma or GED from an accredited school or training facility. Qualified applicants MUST meet at least one of the following requirements as outlined in F.S. 943.13. Already hold an ACTIVE Florida Law Enforcement Certification from a Commission approved Basic Law Enforcement Academy, Correctional Officer Cross-Over Training to Florida Law Enforcement Academy or Commission Comparable Compliance Equivalency of Training Program. ENROLLED and ACCEPTED into or currently attending a Florida Commission approved Basic Law Enforcement Academy or Correctional Officer Cross-Over Training to Florida Law Enforcement Academy with an academy start date no later than 60 days from the date of application. Has met the requirements for the Commission Comparable Compliance Equivalency of Training Program or has been ENROLLED and ACCEPTED into or currently attending the Commission Comparable Compliance, Equivalency of Training Program with an academy start date no later than 60 days from the date of application. Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements:• Must possess a valid State of Florida driver's license or have the ability to obtain one. • Must maintain a valid telephone number. • Applicants will be required to pass an extensive background investigation which includes, but is not limited to, a Critical Voice Stress Analysis (polygraph exam), physical agility test, drug screening examination, physical exam, psychological testing, credit checks, and be of good moral character, etc., prior to being offered employment as a Bartow Police Officer. Physical and Mental Demands:The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, as established in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Essential Physical Skills:• Requires active work that involves walking, running, and/or standing most of the time, exerting up to one hundred fifty (150) pounds of force on an intermittent basis and routine keyboard operations. • Requires the ability to wear/carry up to 30 lbs. of equipment continuously. • Requires the ability to hear and comprehend police radio traffic. • Requires the ability to operate a vehicle in normal and emergency conditions, daytime, night-time, and adverse weather. • Requires dexterity and grip strength to operate law enforcement equipment such as firearms, handcuffs, radios, batons, and personal protective equipment (PPE). • Requires the ability to wear and/or operate personal protective equipment as required, including, but not limited to, belts, ballistic vests, ballistic shields, and ballistic helmets. • Requires the ability to sit and stand for prolonged periods greater than six (6) hours. • The job risks exposure to traffic, high levels of stress, electricity, violence, extreme weather conditions, pollen, dust, pathogens, chemicals, bodily fluids, heights, and unknown chemicals. • The job requires normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, color perception, sense of smell, depth perception, and texture perception. • Requires the ability to maintain a state of awareness and vigilance commensurate with officer safety responsibilities. Mental Demands:• Must be able to pass mandated psychological testing to perform duties and responsibilities of the position. • Required to use written and oral communication skills. • Requires the ability to read and interpret data, information and documents. Requires the ability to solve complex problems. • Requires the ability to work under deadlines with constant interruptions. • Requires the emotional and mental capabilities to safely and effectively perform the requirements of a Training Academy Recruit. • Requires the ability to maintain a state of awareness and vigilance commensurate with officer safety responsibilities. Supplemental InformationWork Environment:The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The job risks exposure to pathogens, extreme hot/cold temperatures, diverse weather conditions, heights, violence, dusts, pollens, traffic, and electricity. Work may require exposure to hazardous conditions and noxious chemicals. Other Duties:Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Performs other related duties as assigned. All City of Bartow employees are considered EOC essential in times of emergency. An e-role will be provided to each employee when an emergency is declared. As a City of Bartow employee, you are a public servant of a local entity and are responsible to adhere to the Florida State Statute governing the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees Florida State Statute Chapter 112. Additionally, all Bartow employees are subject to Chapter 119 of the Florida State Statutes which governs public records. Benefits are for regular full-time employees. Types of Benefits: Insurance: Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance Retirement: Pension, 457(b) deferred compensation plan Paid Time Off: Vacation, sick leave, holiday and personal time Other: Educational assistance program and wellness programs

Created: 2026-03-04