POLICE COMMUNITY OUTREACH LIAISON

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Chief of Police, plans and implements community outreach programs and information campaigns; provides reciprocal communication between the Police Department and the community; assists in public information campaigns; performs related work as required.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Develops, implements, maintains, and coordinates the media activities of the Police Department as it relates to community outreach programs and public information campaigns; provides reciprocal communication between the Police Department and the community.
• Maintains an awareness of local issues of community interest, concerns, and media coverage; disseminates information to the Chief of Police, department staff employees, City Mangers’ Office, and others as needed.
• Assists with communication between the Police Department and the media regarding community outreach programs, public information campaigns, and other departmental functions, activities and issues of general public interest; establishes and maintains diplomatic relations with the media and the public; assures the accurate dissemination of information from the Police Department.
• Develops and implements methods for communicating information to the public by way of webpage updates, emails, news releases, public presentations, fact sheets, or other appropriate medium.
• Provides public information about department operations, division responsibilities and other departmental functions.
• Attends departmental and community meetings and makes presentations to groups as needed.
• Conducts tours of the police department facilities and activities.
• Makes public presentations as requested or directed on topics of community interest and concern.
• Prepares and disseminates departmental information flyers, bulletins and newsletters to the public, media, agencies, and organizations.
• Responds to requests for information from the City Council and various boards and commissions at the direction of the Chief of Police.
• Coordinates with Police Department public information officers regarding issues and events of current media interest.
• Conducts research on assigned topics as directed by the Chief of Police.
• Prepares periodic reports to the Chief of Police relative to public affairs activities and events.
• Attends community-based meetings on behalf of the Chief of Police, including but not limited to neighborhood meetings, advocacy group meetings, citizen advisory group meetings, etc.
• Provides excellent customer service to City employees, members of the public, the media, and other agencies and organizations.
• Provides bilingual services as required.
• Performs other duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of City government.
• Principles, practices and methods of delivering municipal police services.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and office equipment including computers and supporting applications necessary for the position.
• Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Public relations and customer service techniques.
• Mathematical principles.
• Basic principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Public speaking techniques.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Certified bilingual skills.

Ability to:

• Develop, implement, promote and maintain a positive department image.
• Develop, implement and maintain a system of best practices in the area of communication and public relations.
• Work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and its various departments, and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations and policies.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies.
• Research, compile, analyze, and interpret data.
• Participate in the preparation of a variety of administrative and financial reports.
• Prepare correspondence, memoranda and electronic mail.
• Implement and maintain standard filing systems.
• Keyboard at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer and various software packages.
• Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person.
• Exercise good judgment in maintaining critical and sensitive information, records, and reports.
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in writing and orally including public presentations to small and large audiences.
• Coordinate the activities of others.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the media, community and public officials, the general public, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Perform bilingual services for the Police Department and the City.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Additional college or university course-work in communications, marketing, journalism, public administration or a similarly related area of study is highly desirable.

Experience: Two years of experience with a municipal police or sheriff’s department disseminating and communicating information to the public. Prior work experience in the field of public relations, journalism, marketing, or television broadcasting is highly desirable.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Standard office setting. Exposure to dust from paperwork. Work schedule is 9/80 with alternating Fridays off in a biweekly period. Work environment is both formal and informal, team and autonomy-oriented, having variable tasks, pace and pressure.

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. CONTINUOUS sitting, upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity and light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls, and other office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils. FREQUENT side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending and stooping, pushing/pulling, twisting at waist, moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. OCCASIONAL squatting, kneeling, reaching above and at shoulder height, moderate grasping to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Date: September 2008
MH/Department