§ 78-196. Patrol officer.

(a)

General statement of duties. A patrol officer enforces the law to protect and serve the public and provides aid to citizens while rendering basic police services to the public.

(b)

Distinguishing characteristics of work. A patrol officer patrols a specified area of the city to preserve law and order, to prevent and discover the commission of crime and to enforce motor vehicle operations and parking regulations. The patrol officer shall assist in personnel-related issues, crime prevention tasks, training programs and other specialized assignments.

(c)

Examples of work. The patrol officer shall investigate and report criminal offenses, shall assist in the investigation of misdemeanor and felony offenses, shall apprehend suspects and shall assist in the prosecution of offenders. A patrol officer prepares educational programs and classes for the public on crime prevention and for the academy. A patrol officer shall perform administrative duties as assigned.

(d)

Qualifications. A patrol officer shall have the ability to work under stressful conditions and the ability to deal courteously with the public. A patrol officer shall have knowledge of civil, traffic and criminal laws and city ordinances and shall have knowledge of geography. The patrol officer shall have a high school diploma and 45 semester hours of college or shall have successfully completed academy training from a certified program or shall have prior police officer experience as a certified peace officer. A patrol officer shall have basic police officer certification obtained from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), shall have a valid Texas driver's license and shall have all other qualifications of a patrol officer as established by V.T.C.A., Local Government Code § 143.001 et seq. and the civil service rules of the city.

(Ord. No. 560, §§ 1, 2, 10-8-59; Ord. No. 661, § 1, 10-25-62; Ord. No. 710, § 1, 10-10-63; Ord. No. 877, 6-13-67; Ord. No. 6627, §§ 1, 2, 5-13-93; Ord. No. 12,990 , § 3, 10-8-15)