Police Department Parking Enforcement Officer I

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia, and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for a position as an Parking Enforcement Officer I.

An Overview

Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO's) patrol an assigned designated area of the City looking for various parking violations. Such violations include residential permit parking, meters, official sign, loading and timed zone violations of commuter ordinance. The Parking Enforcement Officer issues parking citations for all violations noted and testifies in court whenever necessary. PEO's may render incidental assistance to the general public by giving directions and/or assisting with other general municipal information. This position requires shift work to include: days, evenings, midnights, weekends, and holidays. PEO's are required to work outside for prolonged periods of time in all types of inclement weather conditions.

This position also provides an opportunity to learn more about the Alexandria Police Department and the law enforcement community. Candidates that are interested in a future law enforcement career may benefit from full time employment in this position. Those who complete the hiring process and successful completion of the mandatory probationary period of twelve (12) months as a Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO), and excellent work history with the Alexandria Police Department will be considered upon applying for Police Officer.

The Opportunity - Examples of Work

• Enforces City parking ordinances by patrolling metered, time-zoned, and/or restricted parking areas with a motorized vehicle or on foot, and issues Notices of Parking Violation to violators; Marks tires of vehicles in time-zoned areas, issues citations and/or arranges for towing of vehicles for a variety of violations including blocked sidewalks, driveways, loading zones, fire lanes and fire hydrants, double parking, and obstructing traffic and checks vehicle license plate numbers against outstanding parking citation lists;
• Responds to complaints regarding vehicles without current personal property stickers, reports citizens' complaints to supervisor, responds to calls for service relating to illegally parked or abandoned vehicles, issues citations and/or vehicle check notices as required; and answers questions from and provides information to the public;
• Utilizes NCIC (National Criminal Information Center)/VCIN (Virginia Criminal Information Network);
• Inspects parking meters, completes work orders requesting repairs for those found to be malfunctioning, inspects vehicle tags and inspection stickers for proper licensing and currency and cites violators and notifies Transportation Division about vandalized or missing meters, traffic signs and malfunctioning traffic signals;
• Prepares daily report after each tour of duty, listing work activities and reads daily bulletin; Testifies in court cases concerning citations which are contested and/or those which have gone unpaid and uncontested; Applies boot apparatus to vehicles with outstanding parking citations;
• Inspects vehicle before towing for damage, removes property, when accessible, from vehicles to be towed and transports to the Police Property Room; Utilizes mobile data terminals, hand-held computers, and personal computers in issuing citations, retrieving information, and downloading/uploading data;
• Makes field inspections of apartment complexes and City streets to discover vehicles without current City personal property stickers and in violation of City parking ordinances and issues citations also follows up on field inspections by conducting records checks, sending letters, telephoning and making personal visits;
• Performs minor vehicle maintenance such as checking fluid levels and tire pressure and ensures the vehicle is in clean condition; Assists with traffic and crowd control, parades, foot races, and other special events and directs traffic when ordered or during special and/or emergency situations;
• Utilizes observation skills to recognize possible criminal activity or hazardous situations and reports same to police communications or the appropriate city government agency and obtains tag listings, requests assistance and is dispatched when needed by use of a police radio; and
• Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The City of Alexandria Police Department is a nationally recognized and accredited law enforcement agency providing services to a diverse community. A group of talented professionals, the Alexandria Police Department is a dedicated team of people who, in partnership with the community, work to create and maintain a safe and secure environment for our residents, merchants, and visitors. We are a diverse organization, reflecting Alexandria's various cultures and offering many different career and promotional opportunities.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

High School Diploma or GED; one year of public contact work experience involving record-keeping duties; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities; *must be a United States citizen or be a lawful resident of the United States for the past ten (10) consecutive years.

*The Virginia VCIN/NCIC (Virginia Criminal Information Network/ National Criminal Information Center) mandates that all basic terminal operators be a United States citizen or be a lawful resident of the United States for the past 10 consecutive years as well as be employed by a criminal justice agency prior to applying for certification.

Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by their state of residence.

Preferred Qualifications

Basic computer skills. The ability to get along well with others, strong observational skills and the ability to work outdoors for prolonged periods of time during inclement weather. Good driving history, knowledge of city streets. Bilingual skills are a plus. Some public contact work experience involving record keeping duties. Must be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

Notes

This posting will close on the date listed above or once 200 applications have been received, whichever comes first.

Qualified applicants will be required to attend a mandatory orientation. The orientation will outline all aspects and requirements of the position and the hiring process. Department expectations and disqualifiers will be discussed as well as an opportunity for applicants to address questions.

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks to include, but not limited to:

Mandatory Orientation
Local and Federal Criminal Background Checks
Polygraph
Psychological Evaluation
Drug Screening
Medical
Driving Record - A poor driving record is disqualifying.