Motor Officer

Job Summary

Under supervision of superior officers, perform full-time sworn police duties primarily assigned to motorcycle traffic enforcement, traffic collision response and investigation, collision report preparation, and issuance of citations for traffic violations. Protect life and property and promote roadway safety. Serve as a backup officer, respond to emergencies and calls for service, and temporarily fill patrol assignments during vacations, illnesses, training, staffing shortages, or other operational needs as directed.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

This information is intended to be descriptive of the principal duties and responsibilities of the position. The following examples do not identify all duties performed by any single incumbent.

• Conduct proactive traffic enforcement using a department motorcycle or police vehicle, emphasizing speeding, hazardous driving, impaired driving, distracted driving, intersection violations, school-zone violations, and other collision-related behaviors.

• Issue citations and warnings for violations of state traffic laws and applicable municipal ordinances; document enforcement actions accurately and promptly.

• Respond to and investigate injury and non-injury traffic collisions; secure scenes, arrange emergency assistance, interview involved persons and witnesses, gather evidence, and prepare complete and timely collision reports, diagrams, and supplements.

• Identify collision trends and problem traffic locations and conduct targeted enforcement to address roadway safety concerns.

• Direct traffic at collision scenes, roadway hazards, disabled traffic signals, construction areas, and special events; assist motorists and address public safety hazards.

• Provide authorized motorcycle support for parades, escorts, special events, and community activities; participate in traffic-safety education and outreach as assigned.

• Serve as a backup officer for patrol personnel on traffic stops, disturbances, arrests, high-risk calls, crimes in progress, and other incidents requiring additional officers.

• Respond to emergencies and calls for service; determine applicable laws and ordinances, take appropriate enforcement or protective action, and prepare related reports.

• Perform routine police enforcement and general patrol duties and temporarily fill patrol assignments during vacations, illnesses, training, staffing shortages, emergencies, or other operational needs as directed.

• Conduct criminal investigations arising from traffic stops or other enforcement activity; make lawful arrests, conduct legally authorized searches and seizures, collect and preserve evidence, and prepare reports.

• Testify in court regarding citations, collision investigations, arrests, and other enforcement activities; escort prisoners when assigned.

• Maintain proficiency in police motorcycle operation through required training and assessments; inspect assigned motorcycle and equipment and arrange maintenance or report deficiencies.

• Perform other duties as may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Experience, and Abilities:

Education, Certification and Experience Required:

• Possession of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum age of 21.
• Possession of a valid Texas driver’s license appropriate for assigned vehicles, including the required motorcycle endorsement before motorcycle operation.
• Possession of a Basic Peace Officer License issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement before assignment to independent sworn duties.
• Successful completion of required field training and department-approved police motorcycle operator training before assignment to independent motorcycle duties.
• Experience in traffic enforcement, collision investigation, impaired-driving enforcement, or patrol operations is preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of applicable traffic and criminal laws, municipal ordinances, department policies, traffic enforcement methods, and collision investigation procedures.
• Skill in preparing accurate collision reports, diagrams, citations, and criminal reports and in collecting and preserving evidence.
• Ability to safely operate a police motorcycle under varying traffic, roadway, and weather conditions and to use traffic enforcement equipment.
• Knowledge of proper care and use of firearms and skill in the use of protective equipment.
• Ability to successfully complete Kerrville Police Department qualifications testing and maintain required law enforcement and motorcycle proficiency.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, work independently, communicate professionally, and function effectively as a member of the patrol team.
• Ability to maintain physical condition necessary to operate a police motorcycle, effect arrests, subdue resisting individuals, pursue fleeing suspects, and provide emergency assistance.
• Ability to transition from traffic duties to emergency response or general patrol assignments and work a flexible and on-call schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids:

• Police motorcycle, police vehicle, computer and related software, radio, radar and other authorized speed-measuring devices, collision investigation tools, camera, emergency lights, firearms, handcuffs, restraints, helmet, and motorcycle protective equipment.

Special Requirements:

• Motor Officers work evenings, weekends, nights, holidays, special events, and emergencies as assigned.
• Maintain required peace officer licensing, driving privileges, motorcycle qualifications, and department training; safely maintain and operate assigned equipment.
• Motor Officer is a specialized assignment within Patrol. Traffic enforcement and collision response are the primary duties; patrol staffing and urgent public safety needs take precedence when directed by a supervisor. Assignment may include use of a police vehicle and temporary patrol coverage.

Physical and Environmental Conditions

Duties are generally performed within the city limits in indoor and outdoor settings; occasionally, services are performed outside the City. The physical demands and work environment are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Duties include prolonged motorcycle riding and sitting, frequent standing, walking, reaching, kneeling, and bending, and the physical effort necessary to balance and maneuver a police motorcycle. The employee must have vision, hearing, and understandable articulation sufficient to safely perform assigned duties. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects or persons weighing up to one hundred (100) pounds. Work involves exposure to heat, cold, rain, wind, traffic noise, vehicle exhaust, and roadway hazards. The employee may encounter dangerous and life-threatening situations, emergency vehicle operation, physical arrests, and persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The noise level ranges from generally quiet to loud. The employee must meet the physical requirements of general patrol duties and use required protective equipment.

At the City of Kerrville, we are proud to offer each eligible employee a competitive total compensation package. To maintain our competitiveness, market analysis’ are completed regularly to compare employee pay with market rates and make adjustments when needed and when our budget allows.

Full time employees are eligible for the following employee benefits:

• Medical: With budget approval, the City contributes 100% of the cost for employee only coverage and contributes a portion of the cost of dependent coverage.
• Dental: With budget approval, the City contributes 100% of the cost for employee only coverage and contributes a portion of the cost of dependent coverage.
• Vision: The employee pays 100% of the cost.
• Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Coverage: With budget approval, this is a City paid benefit for employee only coverage. Terms apply.
• Long Term Disability Insurance: With budget approval, this is a City paid benefit for employee only coverage. Terms apply.
• Longevity: With budget approval, employees earn $4.00 per month for each complete full month of continuous service. The employee must complete one full year of employment to be eligible. Maximum benefit is $1,200 annually.
• Voluntary Life Insurance: The employee may elect up to five times their base annual salary with a maximum of $250,000. Coverage for spouse and dependent children is also available for purchase. Terms apply.
• Voluntary AD&D: The employee may elect up to ten times their base annual salary with a maximum of $500,000. Terms apply.
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability: The employee may elect up to 60% of their base weekly salary with a maximum weekly benefit of $1,000. Terms apply.
• Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS): This mandatory retirement plan requires each employee to contribute 7% of their gross salary to the plan and the City matches contributions 2 to 1. An employee becomes eligible to retire with 20 years of service or with five years of service at a minimum of age 60.
• Optional Deferred Compensation: The employee may contribute to a 457 plan through Mission Square Retirement.
• Social Security: Current rate is 6.2% for both employee and employer
• Medicare: Current rate is 1.45% for both employee and employer.
• Vacation – 12 days annually during first five years of employment (accrued monthly)
• Sick Leave – 12 days per calendar year (accrued monthly)
• Holidays – 14 holidays plus two floating day