POLICE OFFICER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Once completing the P.O.S.T. Accredited Alexandria Regional Police Academy and a Four phase, six month Field Training Program, all newly hired Police employees will be required to work full time shift work consisting of 12 hour rotating days/night shifts, working on alternating weekends and some holidays. New Police Officers are required to conduct initial criminal investigations and are expected to have a vast working knowledge of all City, State and Federal laws. In order to complete these investigations, the Police employee is required to make arrests, issue summonses or forward the investigation for further follow-up to other Police Department Divisions.

Police Officers are expected to conduct proactive traffic enforcement activities on a daily basis and investigate minor and major traffic crashes, which may involve injuries, fatalities and DWI offenders. Police employees are sometimes called upon to apprehend dangerous felony offenders and are required to be physically fit to perform these duties. Police employees must be proficient in modern law enforcement principles, procedures and techniques as well as demonstrate proficiency in computer skills.

The Police Officer must be able to exercise sound judgment on calls where immediate action is required within department guidelines and state law and posses effective communications skills. Additionally all Police employees are required to successfully complete 40 hours of annual "In-Service" job related training.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• 21 years old or over
• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED
• Your physical ability must enable you to perform the duties of a police officer
• No significant criminal history  (See “Disqualifiers” below)
• Valid driver's license
• Honorable discharge from military (if applicable)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for employment with the Alexandria Police Department, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

Age
You must not be less than 21 years of age.

Residency
Upon application, you must be a citizen of the United States, will be a qualified elector of the State of Louisiana and maintain a permanent address where you can be contacted.

Education
You must be a high school graduate, or have a state high school equivalency certificate approved by any recognized State Board of Education.

Physical Ability
You must meet and maintain any medical standards designed to demonstrate good health, to perform the duties of the position, as determined by a qualified physician and physical readiness testing.

Military Experience
You must have received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions.  A photo-copy of your military discharge will be required (DD Form 214).

DISQUALIFIERS

Felony Convictions
Automatic disqualification.

Misdemeanor Criminal Convictions
One may be disqualified after review of conviction. Any misdemeanor conviction regarding Domestic Violence Crimes permanently disqualifies the candidate for consideration of employment.

DWI/OWI/DUI
No convictions within 5 years prior to application.

Driver's License
You must have a valid Louisiana License or a current license from another state. Must not have excessive moving violations on your record. NOTE: Automatic disqualification will result should the applicant's driving record show 5 moving violations; or 2 serious violations with accidents.

Pending Civil Litigation
If an applicant is involved in litigation, said applicant may be placed in a pending status until all civil litigation has been concluded. The applicant will be required to bring a certified photocopy of documentation from the respective jurisdiction where the proceedings were held, indicating that all proceedings have concluded.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Submit a complete application
• For employment purposes, all applicants must have taken and passed the Louisiana Entrance Police Officer Exam.  Information of the testing process can be found at the Louisiana Office of the State Examiner.
  
  • Physical Fitness Testing (1.5 mile run, push ups, and sit ups)
  • Background Investigation
  • English Comprehension Exam
  • Oral Interview
  • Polygraph / C.V.S.A. Examination
  • Psychological Examination
  • Medical Examination / Drug Screen

BENEFITS

Salary
Currently, the annual salary for an entry-level Police Officer is $36,000.00 per year.  The City also pays a supplemental benefit of $6,000.00 for the first year until the police officer becomes eligible for the State Supplemental pay.  Following the first year, the City stops paying the supplemental benefit, and instead the officer may received $6,000.00 per year in State Supplemental pay.  Applicants hired with a P.O.S.T. Certificate and receiving State Supplemental Pay will receive $40,000.00 per year, inclusive of State Supplemental Pay.

Vacation
Vacation is earned at the following rate; 1 year but less than 10 years, 180 working hours; 10 years but less than 15 years, 216 working hours; 15 years but less than 20 years, 240 working hours; 20 years or more, 264 working hours. The initial earning of leave and future increases will begin on the first day of the first pay period after completion of 1 year of continuous service and thereafter, the applicable continuous service anniversary date.

Retirement
Police Officers with the Alexandria Police Department belong to the Municipal Police Employees Retirement System (MPERS). The current retirement plan is:   

• 3% accrual rate
• 5 year or 60 month average final compensation
• 25 years of service at any age – Regular Retirement
• 12 years of service at age 55 – Regular Retirement
• 20 years of service at any age reduced from 55 – Early Retirement
• 30 years of service shall equal 3 1/3% of average final compensation
• DROP/IBO must be eligible for Regular Retirement only to participate

View more information on MPERS.

College Tuition Assistance Program
The City of Alexandria recognizes the importance of education and offers an excellent tuition reimbursement program to its officers.

Equipment
GLOCK 9-mm-caliber handgun, uniforms, ballistic vest, ballistic shield package, all leather gear and rain gear.

Sick Leave
Each employee is entitled to sick leave with full pay for any illness or injury, not brought about by his own negligence or culpable indiscretion, which prevents his attendance at duty for a period of 52 weeks.

Health Insurance
Health insurance is extended to police officers/employees along with a free life insurance policy.  The City of Alexandria pays 85% of police officers/employees Health Insurance

Deferred Compensation
The City of Alexandria offers an employee the opportunity to become a member of 457 deferred compensation plan program. This is a pre-tax dollar plan that is designed to supplement retirement income.

Holidays
The City of Alexandria recognizes 10 holidays per year. These holidays are listed below:

• New Years Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day
• Any new holidays proclaimed by the City Council 

Life Insurance
The City of Alexandria provides life insurance for the police officer.

• Free Basic Life Benefit:  $10,000 plus an additional $10,000 accidental death benefit

Notice to Military services members and college students:

• As you are nearing the end, you must consider a new career. Because the process of becoming a Police Officer is time consuming, you should begin the test phase two (2) months prior to your departure from military service or college.