Public Safety Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Public Safety Officer reports directly to the Director of Public Safety and will be responsible for all security activities involving campus patrol, requests for service, opening/closing of facilities, responding to emergency calls, parking requests, and monitoring, and all other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Respond to calls for service. 
• Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and public safety departmental members regarding campus policies, procedures, emergency processes.
• Answer and monitor telephone and radio systems.  
• Respond to emergency-based assignments and directives by supervisors and other institutional administrators.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with all members of the department, and other campus constituencies.  
• Be familiar with, locate and communicate information in the Salem student handbooks, employee manuals, and Emergency Response Plan manual.
• Computer skills necessary to complete incident reports create campus identification cards, email correspondence, parking registration, payroll system, etc.  
• Be familiar with and able to operate all fire alarm systems and burglar alarm systems on campus.
• Maintain current knowledge of buildings and properties including but not limited to safety hazard checks, security checks, floor plans, and employees that maintain offices in each facility.
• Perform facility-type maintenance work as needed.

• Ability to work rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, during inclement weather, and during other circumstances requiring public safety staffing.  
• Provide constant foot patrol to the entire campus.  
• Ability to use physical force to protect yourself or others if necessary and legitimately permissible.
• Be familiar with and use all issued equipment as required/needed.
• Have a thorough knowledge of campus properties and be able to provide direction to access locations.
• Performs and completes any other special tasks, responsibilities, and duties as assigned.

POSITION KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Excellent communication, oral, interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of law enforcement/security best practices and procedures.
• Analytical skills and objective observance of situations and quick decision-making.
• Skill in managing situations firmly, courteously, tactfully, and impartially.
• De-escalation skills
• Ability to multi-task and work independently with demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship between diverse operating organizations.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to cope with changing requirements, and goals (sometimes rapid changes).

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
• Ability to pass a background check
• Working knowledge of basic security techniques
• Previous security-related work experience preferred
• Ability to stay level headed and respond quickly in stressful situations
• Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, Salem students, staff, administration, and community
• Subject to random drug testing
• Ability to pass a background check
• At least 21 years of age
• Valid driver's license

Physical/Environmental requirements:

• Bend, squat, stand, kneel, walk, run, crawl, and climb.
• Regularly ascend/descend stairs.
• Walk for long distances and sit for varying lengths of time.
• Reach above shoulders, handle keys/tools/objects, push, pull, carry, or lift objects over 40 lbs.
• Work may necessitate accessing and working in confined spaces or high spaces.
• Must be physically able to operate the equipment required to perform duties.
• Work in an indoor/outdoor environment subject to changing temperatures.