Job Description

Posting number: 01310

Department: Office of Public Safety

Division: Law Enforcement

Job classification: Police Sergeant

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. It’s an opportunity to help establish a department’s culture, traditions, standards, and future.

Why join us from the start?

• Be a Founding Team Member — Join during a defining moment and help shape the department for years to come.
• Shape the Culture — Help create an environment centered on professionalism, integrity, accountability, teamwork, and service.
• Develop the Team — Coach, mentor, and support officers while helping establish expectations for performance and professional growth.
• Make an Immediate Impact — Your leadership and decisions will directly influence department operations and the community we serve.
• Help Establish the Standard — Bring your experience and perspective to the development of practices, expectations, and traditions future members will inherit.
• Grow With the Department — Join an organization at the beginning of its story and play an important role in its continued development.

What You’ll Do

As a Police Sergeant, you’ll serve as a front-line supervisor responsible for leading personnel, supporting daily operations, and ensuring officers have the direction and resources they need to provide exceptional service.

In a new department, your role goes even further. You’ll have the opportunity to help establish how we lead, communicate, solve problems, develop our people, and serve our community.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Work directly with residents, businesses, and City departments
• Manage projects and responsibilities that have a direct community impact
• Solve problems and recommend practical solutions
• Collaborate with a diverse team of professionals
• Use your expertise while continuing to develop professionally

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for experienced law enforcement professionals who understand that effective supervision is about more than managing a shift. It’s about developing people, setting clear expectations, making sound decisions, holding yourself and others accountable, and creating an environment where employees can succeed.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership skills, sound judgment, integrity, initiative, and the ability to communicate effectively with employees, leadership, and the community. We’re looking for supervisors who can coach and develop others, address challenges professionally, and build trust within their teams.

Joining a new department also requires adaptability and a willingness to help create—not simply inherit—the systems, expectations, and traditions that guide the organization.

If you’re ready to lead people, help build a strong team, and play a meaningful role in establishing the foundation of a new police department, we encourage you to apply.

**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.

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.

This is a first-line sworn supervisory law enforcement classification. A Police Sergeant directs and evaluates the work of Police Corporals, Police Officers, and other assigned personnel while ensuring effective, lawful, professional, and accountable delivery of police services. The Sergeant is responsible for field supervision, personnel leadership, incident management, report and activity review, training, performance management, and implementation of Department priorities. 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.
• Supervise, direct, coach, and evaluate Police Corporals, Police Officers, and other assigned personnel; establish clear expectations and hold personnel accountable for lawful, ethical, professional, and productive performance.
• Conduct roll calls and briefings; assign and deploy personnel; monitor staffing and workload; coordinate breaks, relief, overtime, and special assignments; and adjust resources based on calls for service, crime trends, community needs, and officer safety.
• Respond to and supervise significant incidents, including crimes in progress, critical incidents, pursuits, uses of force, major crashes, barricades, emergencies, and large-scale events; establish command, control, communications, and resource coordination until relieved.
• Review reports, arrests, probable-cause documentation, use-of-force reports, pursuit documentation, crash reports, evidence submissions, case activity, and other work products for accuracy, completeness, legal sufficiency, and policy compliance.
• Conduct or direct preliminary administrative inquiries, respond to complaints and service concerns, document performance or conduct issues, and initiate corrective, remedial, or disciplinary processes consistent with authority and policy.
• Complete performance evaluations; identify training needs; provide counseling, recognition, and performance feedback; and support employee development, field training, and succession planning.
• Ensure personnel maintain required certifications, equipment, uniforms, reports, body-worn camera compliance, training, and readiness.
• Coordinate with investigators, dispatch, Fire Rescue, neighboring agencies, City departments, and other partners to resolve operational issues and support public-safety objectives.
• Monitor community concerns and recurring problems; direct problem-solving activities; and ensure appropriate follow-up with residents, businesses, victims, and stakeholders.
• Participate in policy implementation, inspections, accreditation activities, training, special events, emergency management, and other Department initiatives.
• 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 five (5) years of full-time sworn law enforcement experience, including at least one (1) year of formal first-line supervisory, corporal, acting-supervisor, or substantially equivalent documented leadership experience acceptable to the Department.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate degree or higher education from an accredited institution; bachelor degree preferred.
• Completion of recognized first-line supervisor or law-enforcement leadership training.
• Field Training Officer, instructor, specialty-unit, investigative, or accreditation experience.
• Demonstrated experience supervising patrol operations or another operational law-enforcement function.

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 first-line supervision, performance management, employee coaching, corrective action, workplace documentation, and supervisory accountability.
• Knowledge of field command, critical-incident response, staffing, scheduling, resource deployment, and operational risk management.
• Ability to review police reports, arrests, searches, uses of force, pursuits, and other enforcement activity for legal sufficiency and policy compliance.
• Ability to lead personnel through routine operations, high-risk incidents, conflict, change, and organizational priorities.

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.