Job Description

Posting number: 26-00216

Department: Police

Division: 26 PD - Operations

Job classification: Animal Management Officer/Senior Animal Management Officer

Posting type: Open

Categories: Animal Control

Summary

The Animal Management Officer/Senior Animal Management Officer position is responsible for securing and maintaining compliance with applicable city ordinances and state laws. Animal Management Officers are responsible for the enforcement of specific sections of the Westminster Municipal Code and state laws. This is a safety-sensitive position.

The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage, and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.

Examples of duties

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: The City of Westminster provides high-quality core services and fosters resilience in order to promote a safe and thriving community. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – People – Integrity – Respect – Innovation – Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Police Department, which is “To Provide Law Enforcement Excellence in Community Safety and Service through Vigorous Policing, Professionalism, Leadership, and Innovation.” The Department is responsible for enforcement of state laws and Westminster Municipal Ordinances pertaining to criminal and traffic issues, and to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the State of Colorado, and the Charter of the City of Westminster. The Department is primarily focused on public safety, maintaining peace and order, prevention of crime, and the apprehension of criminals.

Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and builds trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support and promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of law enforcement procedures including concepts of investigation, sources of information, and courtroom testimony
• Properly interpret state statutes, city ordinances, and rules and regulations pertaining to animals and the City's contracted animal shelters
• Demonstrate knowledge of the care and characteristics of all species of animals
• Maintain a high level of self-motivation and initiative while working with little or no direct supervision
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and a willingness to be pro-active and accept new challenges
• Deal tactfully with citizens who may be angry, demanding, and uncooperative in the resolution of difficult problems
• Analyze situations quickly, and make independent decisions based on sound reasoning, good judgment, established procedures and proper interpretation of city ordinances
• Work with violators through education, cooperation, and reasonable agreement to gain compliance
• Communicate and present ideas effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to accurately enter data into a software system with 25 wpm speed
• Establish effective working relationships with peers and supervisors
• Analyze situations quickly, and remain calm during stressful situations
• Make independent decisions based on sound reasoning, good judgment, and established procedures
• Develop effective problem-solving skills
• Apprehend and confine animals that are sick or injured, including domestic pets, exotic pets, livestock, and indigenous wildlife
• Evaluate animal injuries, provide first aid and transportation to veterinary facilities or, in the case of wildlife, perform field euthanasia
• Work with, and provides assistance to, peers, as well as police officers and other police/Fire/EMS department employees
• Successfully complete job-related training assignments
• Work hours are subject to change dependent on unit needs to include weekends and holidays

Qualifications

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

Animal Management Officer

1. Must be able to effectively use legal and department knowledge, including:

• Demonstrating working knowledge of laws, codes, and legal procedures in all areas of law enforcement and animal management
• Testifying in civil and criminal court on behalf of the police department
• Serving summonses, and notices
• Demonstrating working knowledge of department policies, regulations, and procedures
• Maintaining current knowledge of accepted department procedures and conduct
• Keeping current on laws and relevant legal opinions
• Participating in all required training
• Adhering to an exemplary code of conduct while on or off duty in dealing with other department members, as well as the City and public
• Functioning effectively within the prescribed chain of command

1. Responsible to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing while providing appropriate public service and interaction, including:

• Participating in community-oriented programs, homeowners associations, business groups, and City task force groups
• Promoting public education regarding responsible pet ownership, care, dog licensing, and related regulations
• Using appropriate verbal and written communication to provide animal management enforcement information and explanations
• Maintaining appropriate courtesy while with the public
• Providing assistance and appropriate referrals
• Advising victims, complainants, violators, parents, etc.
• Mediating disputes
• Presenting a neat, clean, well-groomed, professional appearance and demeanor
• Preparing effective written reports, memos, citations, activity logs, etc.
• Demonstrating effective oral communication skills with the public and other members of the department
• Demonstrating effective communication via the police radio and other portable devices; ability to use standard office equipment, personal computer and job-related computer applications including electronic mail

1. Performs tasks related to enforcement of animal management ordinances, and investigates citizen complaints of City code violations, including:

• Responding to dispatched calls for service, and self-initiating investigations in the field
• Completing necessary investigative reports, documenting, investigations, citizen contacts, and actions taken
• Issuing verbal and written warnings and summonses to violators
• Handling and controlling a variety of animals to include livestock, exotic and some species of wildlife, and injured, diseased, or dead animals
• Investigating reports involving animal abuse and neglect
• Controlling animals that pose a health hazard by humane trapping
• Quarantining animals per CDPHE Rabies Prevention and Control Policy, which may include decapitation of animals for rabies testing
• Maintaining professional composure in unpleasant situations and demonstrating tact in emotional situations, including situations that may involve unpleasant smells including vomit, feces, and skunk smells
• Safeguarding public from dangerous animals

1. Must be able to safely and proficiently use required vehicles and equipment, including:

• Maintaining and inspecting all equipment
• Inspecting all animal enforcement vehicles
• Safely operating vehicle under routine and emergency conditions
• Using required weapons under training and emergency conditions

1. Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Senior Animal Management Officer

1. Coordinates efforts for emergency situations during their supervisor’s absence, when delegated
2. Responsible for mentoring and training of new animal management officers
3. Senior position, when delegated, assist in daily tasks during their supervisor’s absence
4. Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities

1. Occasional overtime may be required, or call out in emergency situations
2. Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job; other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion
3. Conduct occasional property inspections for sanitation and fencing requirements for prosecutor, probation officer and/or health department

Supplemental information

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications

Required:

• Must be 21 years of age
• Graduation from high school or possession of GED
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record
• Possess critical thinking skills
• Demonstrate or have knowledge in conflict resolution
• No felony convictions
• Six (6) months of animal handling, capture and/or animal behavior training (personally owned animals/pets do not qualify)
• Senior position requires three years as full-time animal management/control officer
• Senior position requires one or more additional certifications in the animal control field; IE: Cruelty investigator, National Animal Control certification, etc.
• Senior position requires euthanasia certification
• Senior position requires Colorado State Animal Control certification; out of state applicants that meet the senior officer criteria have one (1) year to obtain state certification

Preferred:

• One (1) year prior Animal Management or customer experience
• Related college level and/or law enforcement education or experience
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, team building, problem-solving, and strong people skills
• Experience in government animal management or code enforcement

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements

Must demonstrate the ability to meet the physical demands of the job to include:

• Occasional sitting to perform office tasks and patrol for loose or dangerous animals; frequent standing, walking, and running while chasing animals on all types of terrain in different weather conditions
• Frequent crouching, squatting, bending, and twisting to detain animals to place in cages and load in vehicles; must be able to tolerate awkward movements such as resisted twisting, bending, or lifting; frequent reaching below shoulder level and occasionally above shoulder level to load and unload captured animals; occasional kneeling, climbing, and balancing on fences and stairs, and jumping to escape animals
• Frequent firm grasping and occasional light grasping, pinching, and fine motor skills
• Constant near acuity and depth perception are requirements for vision, as is the ability to consistently hear and communicate via phone and two-way radio systems
• Frequent lifting of 50 pounds from ground level to shoulder height and 20 pounds from ground level to overhead; frequent carrying of 50 pounds for a distance of 25 feet; frequently pushing and pulling of 100 pounds
• Frequent stepping up/down and actuate mechanism to enter/exit and safely operate vehicles

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is constantly performed outdoors and occasionally indoors with frequent exposure to extreme temperatures. Work is performed year-round with occasional exposure to wet and/or humid conditions, loud noise, dust, fumes, mist, chemicals, and all types of animals and situations including impoundment, quarantine, carcass removal, and euthanasia. Due to the nature of the position, periods of high activity and stress in emergencies under demanding conditions will exist, along with the handling of dangerous animals.

Required Materials and Equipment

Operates a city vehicle as well as mobile and two-way portable radio systems and computer system to communicate with dispatch and other officers. Requires use of animal handling equipment such as Kevlar gloves, a leash, ketch pole, humane trap, snake tongs, snare, nets, cages, and a euthanasia pole. Personal protective equipment includes Ballistic Vest, the use of asp baton, Taser, OC spray, traffic vests, and latex, leather or Kevlar gloves, Body Worn Camera. Must be able to operate standard office equipment including a multi-line telephone system, computers (both desktop and mobile), copiers, printers, fax machines, etc.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references, criminal history, credit check, psychological examination and education verification
• Must be able to pass a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) background investigation and be fingerprinted for this job; a felony conviction is generally considered grounds for denial of CJIS access; outstanding arrest warrants can also lead to being disqualified from CJIS certification
• Valid driver’s license and maintenance of safe driving record
• Pre-employment drug screen and polygraph
• Pre-employment physical
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States