Job Description

Posting number: 01307

Department: Office of Public Safety

Division: Law Enforcement

Job classification: Police Corporal

Posting type: Open

Categories: Public Safety

Summary

Don’t just join a department. Help build one.

We’re looking for experienced, service-driven professionals who want to be part of something from the beginning.

This is more than an opportunity to take the next step in your career. As a Police Corporal, you’ll have the opportunity to help establish the culture, traditions, standards, and expectations that will shape the department for years to come.

• Be a Founding Team Member — Join during a defining moment and help shape the department from the ground up.
• Lead by Example — Help set the tone for professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and exceptional service.
• Help Build the Culture — Bring your experience, ideas, and perspective to a department establishing its identity and traditions.
• Make an Immediate Impact — Your leadership and daily interactions will directly influence both the team and the community we serve.
• Build Something That Lasts — Help establish practices, expectations, and standards that future members will inherit.
• Grow With the Department — Join an organization at the beginning of its story and have the opportunity to grow as the department develops.

What You’ll Do:

As a Police Corporal, you’ll serve as both an experienced law enforcement professional and a front-line leader. You’ll help support officers in the field while contributing to the development of a new department and the standards that will define it.

In this role, you’ll:

• Perform the full range of law enforcement duties while serving as a leader and resource for fellow officers
• Lead by example and reinforce expectations for professionalism, integrity, accountability, and service
• Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to officers
• Assist with coordinating daily operational activities and field response
• Help ensure policies, procedures, and department standards are consistently followed
• Exercise sound judgment and provide guidance during complex or challenging situations
• Build positive relationships with residents, businesses, community partners, and fellow City employees
• Work collaboratively with supervisors and other members of the department
• Bring your experience and perspective to a department developing its practices, traditions, and organizational culture
• Help establish the standards future officers and leaders will carry forward

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for experienced officers who are ready to take on a greater leadership role and who understand that leadership starts with setting the example.

The ideal candidate brings strong law enforcement experience, sound judgment, integrity, initiative, and the ability to communicate effectively with both the public and fellow officers. We’re looking for individuals who can mentor and support others, remain composed in challenging situations, and contribute positively to a team.

Joining a new department also requires flexibility, collaboration, and a willingness to help build systems and traditions rather than simply step into ones that already exist.

If you’re ready to lead from the front, serve the community, and help establish the foundation of a new police department, we encourage you to apply.

Salary/Step Placement: The salary range listed for this position reflects the full range of the applicable salary step schedule. The starting salary and step placement for the selected candidate will be determined based on verification of the candidate’s current salary step, relevant experience, education, certifications, qualifications, and other applicable factors. Placement within the salary range is not guaranteed and may vary based on the selected candidate’s verified qualifications.

Please review the job description and the documentation requirements indicated below.**

APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITHOUT PROPER REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION MAY BE DEEMED INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Candidates receive further communication via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

This is a senior sworn law enforcement and lead-officer classification. A Police Corporal performs the complete duties of a police officer while providing field leadership, mentoring, coordination, and supervisory support to assigned personnel. The Corporal may serve as an acting first-line supervisor, field training officer, team leader, or coordinator of a specialized function. Regardless of rank or assignment, the incumbent remains responsible for performing full police officer duties whenever called upon or operationally required.

Examples of duties

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions listed below represent the primary duties of this classification. The City and Department may assign additional job-related functions as operational needs require.

• Perform the full duties and responsibilities of a sworn police officer whenever assigned or operationally required, regardless of rank, division, unit, or normal duty assignment.
• Patrol assigned areas; respond to calls for service; protect life and property; preserve the peace; enforce federal, state, and local laws and ordinances; and take lawful enforcement action when appropriate.
• Investigate criminal activity, suspicious circumstances, traffic crashes, and other incidents; interview victims, witnesses, and suspects; identify, collect, protect, and document evidence; and prepare complete and accurate reports.
• Detain, search, arrest, transport, and restrain persons when legally authorized, and use only the level of force objectively reasonable and consistent with law, policy, and training.
• Operate police vehicles in routine and emergency conditions, including emergency response and pursuit when authorized; direct and enforce traffic; and assist motorists and members of the public.
• Pursue fleeing suspects, conduct searches of persons, vehicles, buildings, and areas when legally authorized, and participate in rescue, evacuation, and emergency operations.
• Exercise sound independent judgment when determining reasonable suspicion, probable cause, enforcement options, officer-safety measures, and appropriate courses of action.
• Provide constitutional, unbiased, and professional police services; safeguard the rights and dignity of all persons; and use de-escalation and sound communication practices whenever feasible.
• Engage residents, businesses, visitors, and community partners; identify recurring public-safety or quality-of-life concerns; and participate in collaborative problem-solving and crime-prevention efforts.
• Testify in court, depositions, administrative proceedings, and other official forums; present facts clearly and accurately; and maintain the integrity of reports, evidence, and official records.
• Maintain proficiency with firearms, less-lethal systems, emergency vehicle operations, defensive tactics, communications equipment, information systems, and other assigned equipment.
• Respond during critical incidents, disasters, civil disturbances, severe weather, special events, and other emergencies, and perform duties within the Incident Command System or other established command structure as assigned.
• Comply with Department policies, City rules, lawful orders, training requirements, records requirements, safety practices, and applicable accreditation standards.
• Uphold rigorous standards of integrity, accountability, discipline, ethical conduct, professionalism, and public trust.
• Serve as a senior field officer and provide day-to-day leadership, guidance, and operational support to police officers and other assigned personnel.
• Assist the Sergeant with roll call, daily deployment, assignments, staffing needs, inspections, equipment accountability, and communication of operational priorities.
• Serve as acting supervisor when designated and exercise appropriate supervisory authority until relieved by a Sergeant or higher-ranking officer.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, remedial guidance, and on-the-job instruction; serve as a field training officer or evaluator when qualified and assigned.
• Coordinate the initial response to significant incidents, establish scene organization and officer-safety priorities, request necessary resources, and provide an effective transfer of command when relieved.
• Review reports, arrest documentation, crash reports, evidence submissions, and other work products when assigned for completeness, accuracy, legal sufficiency, and policy compliance.
• Identify performance, training, safety, or conduct concerns and promptly communicate them through the chain of command.
• Assist with community concerns, recurring calls for service, special details, problem-solving initiatives, and unit or squad projects.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants for sworn law enforcement classifications must meet the following common minimum standards:

• Be at least nineteen (19) years of age at the time of appointment.
• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Possess a high school diploma or equivalent recognized by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC).
• Meet all minimum qualifications for employment or appointment as a Florida law enforcement officer under section 943.13, Florida Statutes, and applicable CJSTC rules, including requirements related to criminal history, military discharge, fingerprints, good moral character, background investigation, physical examination, controlled-substance screening, required affidavits, training, examination, and continuing training or education.
• Possess a valid Florida law enforcement officer certification issued through FDLE/CJSTC at the time of application, OR be eligible and able to obtain Florida law enforcement officer certification no later than the date of appointment. Applicants who are not currently Florida-certified must successfully complete the applicable CJSTC certification, equivalency-of-training, reinstatement, or other authorized process, including the State Officer Certification Examination when required, before appointment.
• Possess a valid driver license from any state equivalent to a Florida Class E license and obtain a valid Florida driver license within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Be legally eligible to possess and use firearms and other law-enforcement equipment required to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Successfully complete all City and Department selection, background, and post-offer requirements applicable to sworn law enforcement personnel.
• Maintain all licenses, certifications, qualifications, and mandatory retraining required for continued service as a Florida law enforcement officer.

Classification-Specific Minimum Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of full-time sworn law enforcement experience after completion of basic recruit training or equivalent qualifying experience. Prior lead-worker, field training, instructor, specialty assignment, or acting-supervisor experience is desirable but not required.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate degree, sixty (60) college credits, or higher education from an accredited institution.
• Field Training Officer, instructor, or comparable coaching/mentoring experience.
• Completion of recognized leadership or first-line supervision training.
• Demonstrated experience in patrol operations and one or more specialized law-enforcement functions.

Supplemental information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, constitutional principles, court decisions, ordinances, and rules applicable to law enforcement.
• Knowledge of modern policing principles and practices, criminal investigation, arrest and search procedures, evidence handling, report writing, traffic enforcement, emergency response, officer safety, and community policing.
• Knowledge of Department and City policies, procedures, rules, and organizational expectations applicable to assigned work.
• Ability to observe, assess, and analyze rapidly changing situations; identify lawful options; make sound decisions under stress; and clearly articulate the factual and legal basis for actions taken.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, orally and in writing, with persons from diverse backgrounds and in routine, emotional, hostile, or emergency circumstances.
• Ability to prepare, review, and maintain accurate reports, records, electronic documentation, and case information.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, City personnel, criminal justice partners, community members, elected and appointed officials, and the public.
• Ability to operate police vehicles, radios, computers, body-worn camera systems, mobile technology, and other law-enforcement equipment and software.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, follow lawful orders, accept accountability, maintain confidentiality, and adapt to changing operational priorities.
• Skill in conflict resolution, de-escalation, interpersonal communication, customer service, and problem-solving.
• Ability to demonstrate conduct consistent with the City and Department mission, vision, values, ethics requirements, and standards of professional conduct.
• Knowledge of principles of team leadership, field supervision, coaching, mentoring, and performance feedback.
• Ability to coordinate personnel and resources at routine and significant incidents until relieved by a higher-ranking supervisor.
• Ability to review reports and field activity for completeness, legal sufficiency, policy compliance, and quality.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

The work requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, climbing, and operating a motor vehicle. The employee must be able to physically respond to emergency situations and may be required to run, pursue, restrain, apprehend, or assist in controlling individuals; enter or exit vehicles quickly; climb stairs, fences, or other obstacles; and work in confined or uneven areas. The employee may be required to lift, carry, push, pull, drag, or otherwise move objects or persons, including under emergency conditions. The work may require the use of physical force consistent with applicable law, Department policy, and training.

The employee must possess the physical coordination, agility, strength, balance, and endurance necessary to safely perform essential law-enforcement functions. The work may require wearing a duty uniform, body armor, duty equipment, and other protective equipment for extended periods.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Unavoidable hazards refer to job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though reasonable precautions have been taken.

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors in a variety of environments and under conditions that may be unpredictable and potentially hazardous. The employee may be exposed to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, traffic, loud or disruptive noises, hazardous substances, bodily fluids, communicable diseases, weapons, hostile or aggressive individuals, physical confrontations, and other potentially dangerous situations.

Work may be performed at crime scenes, traffic-crash scenes, residences, businesses, public facilities, roadways, parks, waterways, special events, and other locations throughout the City or outside the City when authorized.

WORK HOURS

Varies. The position may be required to work days, nights, weekends, holidays, extended shifts, special events, emergency activations, call-back assignments, and other schedules necessary to meet the operational needs of the City and Department.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE

The City of Deerfield Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss accommodation needs through the appropriate City process.

ESSENTIAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS

It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with established policies, procedures, training, and safe work practices; properly use and maintain required personal protective equipment; and promptly report unsafe conditions, work practices, injuries, or illnesses.

Employees assigned supervisory responsibilities are responsible for enforcing applicable safety rules and regulations, promoting safe work practices, ensuring required training is completed, and taking reasonable action to maintain a safe work environment.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

During emergency conditions, all City employees are considered emergency service workers and may be required to report for duty or remain on duty during disasters, hurricanes, civil emergencies, critical incidents, or other emergency conditions. Sworn personnel may be assigned any lawful emergency service or law-enforcement duty consistent with operational needs.

The City of Deerfield Beach values the service veterans and their family members have given to our country and supports the hiring of returning service members and military spouses.