Police Officer (Certified Lateral)
City of Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Posted Date
5/10/2026
Description
SIGNING BONUS
- SIGNING BONUS
- SIGNING BONUS
- $10,000 to each new hire who successfully completes their one-year probationary period.
40 Hours of Recognition Leave
The City of Suffolk is looking for some excellent Certified Police Officers to transfer to our growing police force! As an already certified police officer, you will receive the following:
Minimum credit of 50% of your current years of service for salary determination purposes
Only 1 year with our department to be eligible to apply for Specialty units.
No Recruit Academy - Modified post Academy and Field Training for the City of Suffolk instead
Excellent promotional opportunities
Out of state applicants welcomed and encouraged to apply! (May be required to attend an abbreviated Academy.)
Learn more about our Police Department here: /288/Police
Under general supervision performs general and specialized law enforcement work for the City Police Department. Work involves protecting lives, property, and rights of the public; investigating criminal activity; serving criminal process papers; and assisting in community functions. Employee is also responsible for preparing files, reports and records and testifying in court. Employee must exercise tact and firmness in frequent public contact. Employee is expected to exercise independent judgment and initiative in performing assigned tasks. The employee is subject to the usual hazards of law enforcement work. Job functions may vary based on area of assignment within the Police Department.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Patrols an assigned area of the City using a police vehicle to detect and deter criminal activities; monitors radio calls; inspects troublesome areas and checks security of business establishments; answers complaint calls and investigates crimes and disturbances; interviews witnesses; gathers evidence and transports to the lab; interrogates suspects and makes arrests; prepares investigation reports.
Serves legal papers such as summons and warrants and civil process papers; explains briefly the meaning of the papers served and makes arrests when necessary.
Prepares various reports and forms such as case files, offense reports, accident reports, tow sheets and cards, property vouchers, lab requests, etc.
Receives and handles citizen complaints and inquiries.
Transports prisoners and mental patients as required; serves mental papers.
Investigates accidents; performs first aid; secures and clears accident scenes; directs traffic; investigates fatalities of accidents.
Investigates misdemeanor and felony crimes; conducts building checks; reports traffic hazards.
Processes minor crime scenes including collecting, packaging, and vouchering evidence, photographing, and sketching; prepares felony case reports.
Monitors vehicle speeds with radar; conducts criminal and driving checks; issues summons for violations; operates breathalyzer machine.
Conducts surveillance using relevant techniques.
Assists State and Federal agencies in conducting various investigations; prepares affidavits and search warrants; testifies in court.
Teaches programs based on topic areas of assigned units; prepares visual aids, lesson plans, handouts, etc.; participates in extracurricular activities; builds a rapport with program participants to accomplish program intent.
Performs duties relating to the recruitment of new officers; coordinates and participates in training sessions; administers physical agility tests; coordinates appointments for oral review board, polygraph and employment physicals; conducts background checks.
Answers confidential "crime line" public access phone for reporting crime and other information; provides reports to crime stoppers international; maintains records of calls received and numbers calls; meets with Board on approval of the "crime line".
Acts as media contact; provides interviews and materials to the media; attends major media functions.
Orders and issues uniforms and equipment for departmental personnel.
Processing arrest information; notes warrant has been executed; updates communications division files.
Retrieves warrants from magistrate's office and the courts; assigns warrant number; logs warrants in warrant book; prepares card for communications division files; files warrants; purges felony and misdemeanor warrants as required by law; executes state and local criminal warrants.
Coordinates policing efforts with civic leagues and community groups; attends civic league and PTA meetings; participates in community functions; acts as liaison between schools and Police Department.
Monitors interior and exterior of school buildings; develops a rapport between police and students to deter crime in schools.
Prepares brochures and other documents to promote the Police Department.
Counsels teachers, students, parents, etc.; maintains security during school events.
Teaches boating safety and conducts marine patrol.
May provide security services for all city owned facilities; council meetings/work sessions; city functions; and escort services for city personnel.
May organize and conducts security assessment drills.
May develop, implement and maintain physical security systems for city owned facilities as directed.
May maintain security access database and assists with issuance of new security cards.
May provide miscellaneous administrative and support assistance to the Police Department as directed.
May develop and update emergency plans as directed.
May conduct CEPTED analysis of facilities and office spaces.
May conduct security awareness programs for employees.
May works in conjunction with Risk Management on items of shared interest.
Escorts funeral processions, parade, public figures and other special assignments; coordinates traffic patterns.
May investigate communicable diseases and exposure; coordinates initial and follow up medical care for exposed employees; maintains medical records, testing, and training.
May assist disabled motorists with simple repair work such as changing flat tires, unlocking doors, or by contacting others for assistance; may provide directions, answer simple inquiries, etc.
Reports unsafe conditions in city streets, sidewalks, public facilities, etc.
May participate in special public information programs such as seat belt safety campaigns, child fingerprinting projects, etc.; speaks at public and community functions; prepares classes for community participation.
Notifies next of kin of deaths and accidents.
Trains and supervises new officers in the field; may act as general instructor for the Police Academy.
Maintains police vehicle and issued equipment; maintains proficiency in skilled use of firearms.
Performs other related duties as required.
Graduation from high school and one to two years of experience in law enforcement work, or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Must be a Certified Virginia police officer or able to gain reciprocity. Must possess a valid driver's license with negative 3 or higher point value (or equivalent). Must complete 40 hours of in-service training every two years.
Applicants who successfully pass the initial application process will be required to participate in the physical agility testing. The location, date and time will be released with your invitation to test.
Ability to provide credible testimony in a court of law.
Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments and/or directions to subordinates or assistants.
Ability to read a variety of reports, records and memorandums.
Ability to prepare reports, correspondence, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques.
Ability to make independent judgments in absence of supervision.
Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal and medical terminology, and emergency response codes.
Ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages.
Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations.
Knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures and investigation techniques.
Knowledge of local, State and federal laws relative to civil and criminal processes.
Knowledge of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the City.
Knowledge of the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them.
Skill in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment.
Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action.
Ability to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations.
Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
Ability to present court testimony effectively.
Ability to exercise tact and firmness in contact with the general public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Disqualification:
Automatic Disqualifying Factors for Sworn & Non-Sworn Applicants
The following list includes all items for which an application for a sworn and non-sworn position will be automatically disqualified.
Criminal History
Conviction of any felony
Conviction of domestic violence
Any conviction regarding the involvement in the sale or distribution of illegal drugs
Conviction of any Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor (or the Virginia State Law equivalent) within the last five years, excluding traffic violations (minor offenses may be looked at on a case-by-case basis)
Embezzlement or misappropriation of funds from a former employer
Founded child/elder abuse or neglect case
Illegal possession of a schedule I or II drug or any derivative thereof within the last five years (excluding marijuana)
Illegal use and/or possession of anabolic steroids within the last five years
Illegal use of any drug classified as a hallucinogen within the last five years
Driving History
Four or more negative points on a Virginia Operator's license (or the equivalent for out-of-state residents). Points may be negated by attending defensive driving school offered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) prior to the one on one interview with the background investigator.
Conviction of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol within past five years
Eluding police within past five years
Leaving the scene of an accident within past two years
Multiple convictions of DUI
No valid driver's license and/or inability to obtain a Virginia license
Refusal to take a blood or breath test related to suspected
DUI/DUID
within past five years
Suspension or revocation of license or conviction of reckless driving within the last twelve months
Other Disqualifications
Two or more bankruptcies
Any "Dishonorable Discharge" or discharge "other than Honorable", from the military resulting from disciplinary action (Case by case as determined by disposition code).
Cheating on any examination or testing associated with this position
Crimes of moral turpitude (lying, cheating, stealing)
Ineligibility to possess a firearm in Virginia
Intentional omission on the application/background process for this position. Intentional lying on the application/background process for this position
Having any visible tattoos, brands, piercings, intentional scarifications (intentional scarifications are those that did not occur accidentally/naturally) or other body modifications anywhere on the face, head, front half of the neck in front of the ears (50% of the neck behind the ears)
Offensive tattoos are prohibited
(Full tattoo sleeves ARE allowed)
Full sleeve tattoos, including the hands, are allowed, but tattoos or body art displaying the following are prohibited: racism, sexism, or sexually suggestive or explicit, obscenity or profane, gang or drug related, or undermining City or Department values.
City of Suffolk is a proud participant of the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program and we welcome Veterans to apply.
Salary
58,494.00 - 89,766.00 Annual
Field
Police
Highest Educational Degree Required
High school diploma
