Certified Police Officer

Salary: $58,729.00 - $75,606.38 Annually
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01388
Department: Police
Opening Date: 05/04/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, responsible for performing a variety of law enforcement and crime prevention duties and may be assigned to any functional area to include patrol, investigations, or administration. Reports to the Police Sergeant.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Provides general public assistance involving non-criminal activities such as traffic accidents, street hazards, and other potential problems and hazards requiring law enforcement intervention; and collaborates with the community in addressing problems.
Patrols and responds to a variety of criminal activities requiring law enforcement, intervention such as homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, property crimes, domestic violence, vice andnarcotics related activities, crimes by and against juveniles, and other crimes; evaluates situation and determines the most appropriate course of action.
Pursues or apprehends suspects and criminals; makes arrests which may involve physically restraining or subduing individual(s) and possible use of deadly force; interviews and interrogates victims, witnesses, suspects, and other contact persons; and protects the crime scene for processing; and processes suspects.
Assists senior officers at crime scenes; makes detailed search and analysis of crime scene using various technical procedures, including photography, fingerprint detection and identification, casting of footprints, etc.
Performs administrative duties in law enforcement, planning, and operations including preparing and presenting court testimony; training; maintaining associated case files; preparing and completing forms, narrative reports, and correspondence; appears in court as witness to give testimony in court concerning investigation results and evidence obtained.
Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: The employee has a general knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures and investigative techniques, as well as having knowledge of local, state and federal laws relative to civil and criminal processes and procedures. The officer must have a command of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the city. The employee has a general knowledge of both the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them. He or she is skilled in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment, as well as being able to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action. The employee is able to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations. The employee is able to prepare clear and concise reports. The employee must be able to present court testimony effectively, as well as be able to exercise tact and firmness in contact with the general public. The employee must maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meeting job responsibilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Sergeant, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Graduation from high school or GED; and at least 1 year of credited service as a police officer.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Selected applicants must be available to work all assigned shifts. This will include day shift or night shift.
Requires a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Certification.
If certified out of state, then must be able to obtain a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Certification within one (1) year of employment.
Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; sex offender registry and credit check.

Requires satisfactory results from a medical, psychological evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.
Must obtain and maintain for continued employment U.S. Citizenship prior to appointment as a Police Officer; all State requirements for Police Officers as specified in Virginia Code; all federal and state requirements to carry a firearm; may require certifications such as Breathalyzer certification.
A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Must be able to wear a standard issued duty belt with all applicable gear.

Physical Demands
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a motor vehicle, a variety of firearms and defense devices, a two-way radio, typewriter, calculator, copier, etc. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical requirements of the job are those rated for Heavy Work.
Data Conception: Requires the 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.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions and/or directions to the general public. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, records and memorandums. Requires the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, clarity, voice control, and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid and coherent conclusions. Requires the ability to access critical situations and establish methods to resolve such situations in absence of direct supervision.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal and medical terminology, and emergency response codes.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages, as well as interpret graphs.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated weaponry. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, weapons, etc. Must have high levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via two-way radio.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including: medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit
01

How many years of law enforcement management experience do you have? This experience must be detailed on your application.)

• I do not have any experience.
• 1-2 years of experience
• 2-3 years of experience
• 3-4 years of experience
• 4-5 years of experience
• More than 5 years of experience

02

Have you at any time participated in any illegal act arising from the possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any narcotic, controlled substance or dangerous drug, as defined by state or federal law, excluding misdemeanor marijuana?

• Yes
• No

03

Have you illegally possessed or consumed Adderall more than 3 times and/or withinthe last 3 years, or illegal possession of any Schedule I or Schedule II drug, orderivative thereof, within the last ten (10) years (excluding misdemeanormarijuana)?

• Yes
• No

04

Have you illegally used and/or possessed anabolic steroids within the last five (5) years

• Yes
• No

05

Have you been convicted of a felony as defined in the Code of Virginia, or a crime of comparable nature in any other jurisdiction.

• Yes
• No

06

Are you a U.S. Citizen?

• Yes
• No

07

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
08

Human Resource Management relies primarily on email to maintain efficient and effective communication with applicants. A current email address must be indicated on your employment application in order to receive time-sensitive information pertaining to the application process.

• Yes
• No

09

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 must be attached to your application).

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran

10

Have you been convicted of drunk driving or driving under the influence within the past 5 years?

• Yes
• No

11

Has your driver's license been suspended within the past 12 months due to moving violations?

• Yes
• No

12

Have you ever been convicted of any criminal violation?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Salary: $58,729.00 - $75,606.38 Annually
Location : Portsmouth, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Regular
Job Number: FY2025-01388
Department: Police
Opening Date: 05/04/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under general supervision, responsible for performing a variety of law enforcement and crime prevention duties and may be assigned to any functional area to include patrol, investigations, or administration. Reports to the Police Sergeant.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Provides general public assistance involving non-criminal activities such as traffic accidents, street hazards, and other potential problems and hazards requiring law enforcement intervention; and collaborates with the community in addressing problems.
Patrols and responds to a variety of criminal activities requiring law enforcement, intervention such as homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, property crimes, domestic violence, vice andnarcotics related activities, crimes by and against juveniles, and other crimes; evaluates situation and determines the most appropriate course of action.
Pursues or apprehends suspects and criminals; makes arrests which may involve physically restraining or subduing individual(s) and possible use of deadly force; interviews and interrogates victims, witnesses, suspects, and other contact persons; and protects the crime scene for processing; and processes suspects.
Assists senior officers at crime scenes; makes detailed search and analysis of crime scene using various technical procedures, including photography, fingerprint detection and identification, casting of footprints, etc.
Performs administrative duties in law enforcement, planning, and operations including preparing and presenting court testimony; training; maintaining associated case files; preparing and completing forms, narrative reports, and correspondence; appears in court as witness to give testimony in court concerning investigation results and evidence obtained.
Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Knowledge of Job: The employee has a general knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures and investigative techniques, as well as having knowledge of local, state and federal laws relative to civil and criminal processes and procedures. The officer must have a command of the locations of streets, roads, highways and the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the city. The employee has a general knowledge of both the content and purpose of legal papers and the practices involved in serving them. He or she is skilled in the use of firearms and other law enforcement equipment, as well as being able to exercise sound judgment in emergency and routine situations and to adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action. The employee is able to apply interpretation of laws to specific situations. The employee is able to prepare clear and concise reports. The employee must be able to present court testimony effectively, as well as be able to exercise tact and firmness in contact with the general public. The employee must maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Quality of Work: Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all co-workers and the general public.
Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."
Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.
Attendance: Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.
Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meeting job responsibilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.
Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.
Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc.
Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with supervisor for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, to project a good city image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Sergeant, professionals and the general public.
Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.
Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.
Education, Experience & Special Requirements
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Graduation from high school or GED; and at least 1 year of credited service as a police officer.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Selected applicants must be available to work all assigned shifts. This will include day shift or night shift.
Requires a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Certification.
If certified out of state, then must be able to obtain a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Certification within one (1) year of employment.
Requires a comprehensive background investigation to include a local, state and federal criminal history check; sex offender registry and credit check.

Requires satisfactory results from a medical, psychological evaluation and pre-employment substance abuse testing and is subject to random alcohol and controlled substance testing.
Must obtain and maintain for continued employment U.S. Citizenship prior to appointment as a Police Officer; all State requirements for Police Officers as specified in Virginia Code; all federal and state requirements to carry a firearm; may require certifications such as Breathalyzer certification.
A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Must be able to wear a standard issued duty belt with all applicable gear.

Physical Demands
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a motor vehicle, a variety of firearms and defense devices, a two-way radio, typewriter, calculator, copier, etc. Must be able to exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Physical requirements of the job are those rated for Heavy Work.
Data Conception: Requires the 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.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions and/or directions to the general public. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.
Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, records and memorandums. Requires the ability to prepare reports, correspondence, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, clarity, voice control, and confidence.
Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid and coherent conclusions. Requires the ability to access critical situations and establish methods to resolve such situations in absence of direct supervision.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including legal and medical terminology, and emergency response codes.
Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide. Must be able to utilize decimals and percentages, as well as interpret graphs.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated weaponry. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle.
Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, weapons, etc. Must have high levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations.
Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via two-way radio.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.
The city of Portsmouth offers a complete and comprehensive benefit package to full-time employees including: medical, dental, vision, legal, Flexible Spending Accounts, basic and optional life insurance, short-term disability insurance, Virginia Retirement System (includes a mandatory 5% employee contribution), holidays, vacation, sick leave, deferred compensation plan, and Chartway Credit Union. To learn more details, visit
01

How many years of law enforcement management experience do you have? This experience must be detailed on your application.)

• I do not have any experience.
• 1-2 years of experience
• 2-3 years of experience
• 3-4 years of experience
• 4-5 years of experience
• More than 5 years of experience

02

Have you at any time participated in any illegal act arising from the possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any narcotic, controlled substance or dangerous drug, as defined by state or federal law, excluding misdemeanor marijuana?

• Yes
• No

03

Have you illegally possessed or consumed Adderall more than 3 times and/or withinthe last 3 years, or illegal possession of any Schedule I or Schedule II drug, orderivative thereof, within the last ten (10) years (excluding misdemeanormarijuana)?

• Yes
• No

04

Have you illegally used and/or possessed anabolic steroids within the last five (5) years

• Yes
• No

05

Have you been convicted of a felony as defined in the Code of Virginia, or a crime of comparable nature in any other jurisdiction.

• Yes
• No

06

Are you a U.S. Citizen?

• Yes
• No

07

Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
08

Human Resource Management relies primarily on email to maintain efficient and effective communication with applicants. A current email address must be indicated on your employment application in order to receive time-sensitive information pertaining to the application process.

• Yes
• No

09

Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 must be attached to your application).

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran

10

Have you been convicted of drunk driving or driving under the influence within the past 5 years?

• Yes
• No

11

Has your driver's license been suspended within the past 12 months due to moving violations?

• Yes
• No

12

Have you ever been convicted of any criminal violation?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

• 

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