The preferred hiring range is between $24.07 and $30.21 an hour ($50,065.60 to $62,836.80 annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, non-exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

• Enforces local ordinances and state laws regulating the keeping of animals.
• Makes routine patrol in designated district to preserve law and order, identify and solve problems, prevent and discover crimes, and enforce laws.
• Receives and investigates citizens' complaints relating to dogs and other animals, including but not limited to animal bites, animal neglect or cruelty, stray animals, or rabies cases.
• Receives and responds to general police calls for service from the community and from radio dispatchers, including but not limited to automobile accidents, disturbances, alarms, or other crimes, when necessary.
• Searches and gathers evidence, locates and/or interviews witnesses and suspects.
• Conducts preliminary and follow-up investigations.
• Secures crime scenes, administers first aid, makes arrests, issues summons, and obtains/serves warrants.
• Partners with community residents, business owners, and other City employees to solve problems of crime, safety, and disorder.
• Provides information and advice to the public on related laws, ordinances, and crime prevention and participates in Community Policing Activities.
• Acts as a liaison between the Police Department and the SPCA.
• Locates, captures, and transports abandoned or stray dogs and other animals.
• Sets up traps and maintains log on trap locations.
• Documents, prepares, and maintains concise and details reports and records.
• Documents animals taken in and submits appropriate reports and records to the State Veterinarian.
• Appears in court to present and testify on a variety of cases, including but not limited to those involving enforcement of Animal Control state and local laws and ordinances.
• Uses computer systems to obtain, track, and report information in the performance of duties.
• Maintains proficiency with firearms and self-defense.
• Participates in mandatory and elective training.
• Directs traffic when necessary.
• Drives and safely operates police vehicles.
• Operates vehicle in the transportation of persons, animals, and/or property; may provide police escort when necessary.
• Takes part in field and/or other trainings as required.
• May be required to report to work on scheduled days off, or report back to work, should a disaster or emergency arise.
• Performs all duties with the highest degree of confidentiality and personal and professional integrity.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma, GED, or equivalent required.
• Some knowledge/experience involving the care of animals, OR some experience as a law enforcement officer, OR any combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge and abilities of the position may be deemed equivalent.

• Must be at least 21 years of age by police academy graduation.
• Must be a US citizen or be a permanent resident alien who, in accordance with the requirements of the USCIS, is eligible and has applied for citizenship (proof is required). Note: an application for waiver of minimum qualifications (citizenship) must obtained and approved by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
• By employment start date, possession of a valid appropriate driver's permit issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Must successfully complete the police academy and field training.
• Must obtain and maintain: Certification as a Law Enforcement Officer by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services; Certification in the Virginia Crime Information Network (VCIN); Certification in firearms proficiency.
• Must successfully complete the basic animal control course, as approved by the Code of Viriginia, within one year from the date of hire; as well as obtain necessary re-training.
• Must be able to successfully and satisfactorily pass all phases of the screening process, to include but not limited to a written exam, physical agility test, oral interviews, completion of a comprehensive background investigation, a polygraph exam, psychological and medical exams, and pre-employment drug screening.
  • Written examination may be waived for currently Certified Law Enforcement Officers.
• Must sign a Condition of Employment Agreement acknowledging the prohibition of the use of tobacco products on and off duty.

• Any felony convictions or serious misdemeanor convictions of domestic violence, sex offenses, or crimes involving moral turpitude, including but not limited to perjury, larceny, embezzlement, check fraud, or income tax evasion.
• Convicted of DUI or Hit & Run in the past 3 years.
• Use of marijuana after date of application, regardless of location of use (includes states/countries where usage may be legal).
• No non-prescription/unauthorized drug use after date of application, including but not limited to Adderall, Xanax, etc.
• Pattern of illegal use or misuse of prescription drugs in the last 3 years.
• Illegal experimental use of club drugs, such as Ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, MDMA (Ecstasy), steroids, mushrooms, peyote, or aerosols within the last 3 years.
• Experimental use of any schedule I, II, III, or IV drug within the last five (5) years not covered above.
• Dealing (as an adult): manufacturing, cultivation, supplying, transporting, distributing, or selling any controlled, illegal or dangerous substance other than marijuana.
• Military dishonorable discharge or bad conduct discharge.
• Under criminal investigation or have criminal charges pending.
• Any previous revocation or denial of certification as Police Officer or a suspension of current certified status.
• Any body art, tattoo, or other modification (such as branding or gauges) that violates departmental policy.
• Failure to provide a fully completed, honestly reported, Personal History Statement.

Must be in satisfactory health, that would not restrict the ability to perform and safely complete academy training, field training, and performance of essential job functions. (Reasonable accommodations may be made and will be considered on a case-by-case basis)

This is a safety sensitive position subject to drug and alcohol testing for pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, post-accident and random testing.

Work Schedule: requires flexible shift hours (to include holidays, nights and weekends); sometimes remaining on assignments for prolonged periods. Position is subject to emergency call.

Work Environment: A majority of time spent in this position involves outside work. Work is performed in varied environments utilizing department assigned clothing and equipment (personal protective equipment, body armor, and other specialty equipment). Work may be performed in challenging terrain, tight or confined spaces, remote settings, and unprotected heights. Work may be performed in extreme temperatures, extreme brightness or darkness, and in traffic/roadways. Work may involve exposure to chemicals, explosives, electrical hazards, fumes, gases, allergens, blood-borne pathogens, and animals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Physical Demands: May be involved in numerous physically demanding activities in the police academy, during on-the-job training (field training), and throughout the work shift. These may include: extensive walking, standing, and running; sitting for extended periods of time; working in stressful and sometimes life threatening conditions; pursuing and arresting aggressive/hostile suspects; physically searching suspects; performing rescues from potentially hazardous environments; performing CPR and first aid procedures; controlling crowds; operating a motor vehicle under normal and emergency conditions; carrying and demonstrating proficiency with firearms; qualifying annually with firearm and other less-lethal weapons.

Requires identifying hazards, persons, and evidence:

Vision: Distance-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better binocularly with at least 20/40 in each eye. If glasses or hard contacts are worn, uncorrected distance vision must be 20/100 or better binocularly. Near-corrected visual acuity in the better eye of no less than 20/40. In addition, candidates must be able to accurately and quickly name colors, and must be free from other visual impairments that would restrict the ability to perform law enforcement duties (e.g., identify house numbers, license plates, vehicle descriptions, suspect/victim descriptions, evidence, status of brake and traffic lights, body language, potential weapons, and weapons qualifications).

Hearing: Must be able to understand speech in noisy areas, understand whispered speech, and localize sounds (e.g. conversations, radio communications, alarms, requests for assistance).

Smell: Must be able to smell hazardous materials, and contraband (e.g., alcohol on the breath).

Touch: Must be able to touch (feel) concealed weapons, heat, moisture.

SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Updated July 1, 2022


Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.


1. LEAVE:

• Vacation:
  • 3.09 hours accrued biweekly - 0 - <3 years
  • 3.85 hours accrued biweekly - 3 - <5 years
  • 4.62 hours accrued biweekly - 5 - <10 years
  • 5.40 hours accrued biweekly - 10 - <15 years
  • 6.16 hours accrued biweekly - 15 - <20 years
  • 6.93 hours accrued biweekly - 20 - <25 years
  • 7.70 hours accrued biweekly - 25+ years
• Sick:
  • 4.62 hours per biweekly pay period, approximately 120 hours a years, no limit on accumulation
• Holidays:
  • 14 paid holidays per calendar year (13 observed and 1 floating)

• Aetna Medical –
  • Choose from three options with different premiums and levels of coverage and coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire:
    • HMO: $0 premium for employee only coverage
    • POS 1: Employee-only premium of $36.28 per biweekly pay
    • POS 2: Employee-only premium of $13.02 per biweekly pay
      • (Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.)
  • Prescription Card ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand, $55 higher cost name brand)
  • Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60 lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand)

• Dental (Delta Dental)
  • No cost for employee only coverage. Dependent coverage is available but the cost of the premium is not subsidized.
  • Diagnosis and Preventive - 100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care - 80%; Major Dental Care - 50%
  • Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20
  • Prosthetic & Complex Restorative - $50 deductible, 50/50
  • $1,500 maximum annual benefit
  • $1,000 Orthodontic Benefit
• MetLife Vision Plan: Optional
  • Employee only coverage: $2.50 bi-weekly; Dependent coverage also available at differing rates.
  • Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay;
  • $130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.
• Life:
  • Two times annual salary (paid by the City)
  • Optional supplemental life available for employee, spouse, dependents (paid by employee)
• AFLAC: Optional
  • Cancer/accident/short term disability/intensive care insurance (paid by employee)

• Long Term Disability
  • Protection from income loss due to long-term illness or injury (paid by the City)

• Pension:
  • Choose from two options:
    • A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee's earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5 year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
    • A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual's account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note that: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees)

• Supplemental:
  • Deferred Compensation (457) - employee contribution

• Flexible Spending Accounts:
  • Health Care Expenses
  • Dependent Care Expenses
  • Parking/Mass Transit Expenses
  • Parking Subsidy of $50 per month
• Wellness Programs:
  • Gym Reimbursement Program
  • Monthly On-Site Nurse and Annual Flu Shots
  • Health Screenings and Fairs, Education Sessions, & Weekly Fitness Classes
  • Weight Watchers at Work
• Bike Commuter Program:
  • Reimbursement of up to $20 per month for reasonable bike commuting expenses
• Employee Assistance Program:
  • A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program:
  • Up to $1,500 for undergraduate OR Up to $3,000 for graduate level tuition per fiscal year per employee.