Public Safety Officer

Salary: $23.56 – $28.90 hourly

Position Summary:

The Public Safety Officer is a sworn law enforcement position which involves protecting life and property, and the preservation of peace and good order through the enforcement of laws, ordinances, and policy. Duties include responding to emergency and non-emergency police calls for service, responsibility for performing assigned police work of varying degree of difficulty, utilizing community-oriented/problem-solving techniques which include community engagement, resource development, the enforcement of laws and ordinances, crime prevention, detection and investigation, apprehension of violators, and other related police functions.

Essential Functions:

• Interacts and communicates with the public, co-workers, staff, students, and other police departments
• Reports complaints, unusual and/or hazardous conditions, broken/damaged equipment and other emergency information
• Enters, transcribes, records, stores, or maintains information in either written form or by electronic/magnetic recording
• Completes daily logs/work records
• May testify in court
Decision-Making Activities
• Reviews facts, literature, law books, etc., to draw conclusions regarding if laws have been broken or to determine if an arrest is warranted
• Observes and analyzes situations to determine appropriate responses
• Uses evidence collected at accident and emergency scenes to draw valid conclusions
• Reviews policy and procedural guidelines, manuals, and department records to determine appropriateness and conformance with rules and regulations
• Makes decisions on whether to terminate a vehicle pursuit
Staff Assistance Activities
• Provides back up for other officers
• Provides general assistance to other police officers, supervisors and other agencies
• Assists new officers in adapting to the department and instructs them in policing techniques
• Assists others in specialized areas of professional police work
Investigative Activities
• Investigates crimes and motor vehicle accidents
• Reviews criminal and non-criminal reports
• Collects evidence at accident and crime scenes by photographing, recording information, drawing diagrams and lifting fingerprints
• Administers blood alcohol, chemical and/or urine tests
• Complete fingerprinting as needed.
• Seizes and/or transports vehicles, evidence and/or property
• Applies for and verifies warrants
• Follows up on pending case investigations
• May coordinate investigation process
• Interviews victims and witnesses
• Interrogates criminal suspects and prisoners
Planning and Organizing Activities
• Develops plans to accomplish work
• Organizes time to meet assignment deadlines
Patrolling Activities
• Patrols campus
• Locates emergency scenes
• Cites for traffic and other law violations
• Completes accident reports
• Assists motorists with car problems
• Directs and controls traffic
• Controls parking at special events
• Cleans and fuels patrol car
• Provides security during transportation of large sums of cash and/or other valuables
• Maintains key control and/or access to secure and restricted locations
• Provides 24-hour escort service to students, faculty, staff, and guests of the university
Controlling Situations/Activities
• Protects property from unnecessary damage
• Calms distraught persons at emergency scenes
• Responds to violence and crime scenes
• Responds to disturbance calls
• Enforces laws and coverage of special events such as sporting events and concerts
• Restrains suspects and makes arrests when appropriate
• Provides medical assistance to the injured or sick
• Establishes barricades around event parameters
• Performs crowd control activities
• Participates in building checks
Equipment Use
• Patrol officers may use the following machines and equipment:
• Telecommunication equipment (e.g., phone, 800Mhz MPSC Radio)
• Radar unit
• Handcuffs
• Video/audio recording equipment (e.g., copier, facsimile, computer)
• Emergency/first aid equipment (e.g., defibrillator, fire extinguisher)
• Firearms
• Chemical substance (e.g., pepper spray)
• Security checking devices

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Applicants must be MCOLES certified or licensable as a police officer as defined by MCOLES at the date of hire.
• Applicants must possess a valid Michigan driver’s license.
• An associate’s degree in criminal justice or related field is desirable.