Community Service Officer

Department

DSS Police: Patrol Services

About the Department

The Department of Safety and Security (DSS) includes the following functions: Emergency Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Professional Accountability, Campus Safety, Transportation and Parking Services, and the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD). DSS is a unit within the Division of Office of Legal Affairs, reporting to the General Counsel and Vice President for Legal Affairs. The Department is tasked with the development and implementation of comprehensive safety strategies that serve the University community, strengthen collaborations between the DSS and students, faculty, staff and neighbors, and are appropriately aligned with institutional values and priorities. By long tradition, the University works with the city of Chicago providing safety and security options in Hyde Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Deputy Chief within the University of Chicago Police Department, the Community Service Officer will assist students, faculty, staff and visitors in a University campus environment and maintain a safe and secure environment for the entire Campus community; deliver a combination of safety and security functions including conducting foot patrol and providing presence on Campus grounds; participate in investigation of incidents in coordination with University of Chicago Police law enforcement personnel, maintaining accurate and up-to-date reports; provide security and emergency training; and supportive of the mission of the University by recommending security strategies and assisting with special duties and projects.

Employees in these positions are designated as 'essential staff'. Essential staff members are required to report to work to ensure that University operations continue uninterrupted during emergencies, inclement weather, or conditions that require the University of Chicago to close or restrict operations. Essential staff may be required to report for an unscheduled shift and work more than his/her regularly scheduled hours.

Responsibilities

• Assists students, faculty, staff, and visitors whenever needed and works to maintain a safe and secure environment for the entire community.
• Patrols campuses on foot and inspects hallways, stairways, and all other public areas for fire/safety hazards. Reports any unusual condition or malfunctioning equipment.
• In conjunction with the University Police Department, assists with investigations of all criminal and suspicious occurrences on school campuses and act/reports same.
• Responsible for the visitor management function including checking identification and logging visitor information and monitoring incoming personnel and visitors after hours.
• Works with guidance counselors and other student support staff to assist and provide services to students involved in situations where referrals to service agencies are necessary.
• Enforces photo ID policy and parcel inspection policy along with all other University of Chicago policies.
• In the event of emergencies, requests emergency services assistance; obtains necessary information and notifies appropriate personnel giving nature and location of the incident. Evacuates persons from dangerous areas, secure buildings or areas, and/or assist in disaster situations.
• Responds to non-hazardous, non-emergency and other calls for service in lieu of a police officer, such as lost property, requests for safety escorts, building close procedures, and motorist assistance.
• Writes reports documenting incidents and calls for service and prepares other written correspondence as needed.
• Maintains various logs and records; gathers information and prepares routine reports as assigned; enters input, and retrieves a variety of information using a computer.
• Supports a variety of administrative functions for the department and assists with projects as needed.
• Provides traffic control at traffic crashes, school dismissal periods, special events, and as necessary.
• Supplies information and assistance to the general public; answers citizen inquiries and responds to complaints and requests for services.
• Observes activity and traffic in the assigned area to enforce University rules/regulations; alerts visitors of infractions; removes unwanted or disruptive individuals from University property.
• Assists in conducting security-related drills.
• Openly supports the mission and vision of the Department of Safety and Security.
• Provides safety escort services upon request.
• Provides information to students, faculty, staff, and visitors including directions, information about crime prevention, community services, programs, and practices.
• Establishes and maintains a close partnership with school administrators and other security personnel.
• Performs a variety of specialized and technical non-sworn law enforcement duties in support of the University of Chicago Police Department in the areas of patrol, community services, training, and other areas as assigned.
• Conducts live monitoring of video cameras (video patrol) and License Plate Recognition Cameras (LPR) and video reviews as assigned.
• Notifies the ECC of any incident or observations requiring UCPD or other emergency services.
• Monitors incidents in real-time as they are called into the UCPD Emergency Communications Center and reviews video of an incident immediately after the occurrence.
• Coordinates with other UCPD units to conduct video patrol of designated mission areas.
• Personnel will conduct video reviews of non-criminal incidents as assigned in accordance with the University of Chicago Use of Security Camera policy.
• Reports camera outages or other technical and maintenance issues to the Department of Safety and Security- Security Systems team.
• Conducts video reviews and patrols while maintaining a fair and impartial mindset and completes their assignment without considering race, ethnic background, national origin, age, gender, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other individual characteristics or distinctions.
• Maintains various logs and records; gathers information and prepares routine reports as assigned; enters input, and retrieves a variety of data using a computer.
• Openly supports the mission and vision of the University of Chicago Police Department.
• The CSO reports to a designated UCPD supervisor.
• Responds to non-hazardous, non-emergency and other calls for service in-lieu of a police officer, such as lost property, requests for safety escorts, building close procedures, and motorist assistance.
• Writes reports documenting calls for service and prepares other written correspondence as required.
• Provides traffic control at traffic crashes, school dismissal periods, special events, and unusual occurrences.
• Provides information to students, faculty, staff and visitors including directions, information about crime prevention, community services, programs and practices.
• Maintains a variety of clerical and administrative functions in support of the Department and assists with projects as needed.
• Fingerprints citizens for employment and licensing.
• Maintains various logs and records; gathers information and prepares routine reports a assigned; enters input, and retrieves a variety of information using a computer.
• Openly supports the mission and vision of the University of Chicago Police Department.
• Completes incident reports and makes appropriate notifications to the proper parties, completing work with a moderate degree of supervision.
• Assists with fire alarm drills or dissemination of information regarding fire alarms.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Associates degree from an accredited college.

Experience:

• One year of successful experience performing in a position which requires a high level of service-oriented public contact.
• Prior security and law enforcement experience working in a K-12 academic environment. 

Certifications:

• Valid driver's license; good driving record.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Use a desktop computer, pager, two-way radio, fingerprint equipment, camera, copy machine, and telephone.
• Comprehend technical documents.

Preferred Competencies

• Commitment to serving the interest of the University community and the strategic goals of the Department of Safety and Security.
• Absorb and interpret information given while maintaining perspective on the goals of the department.
• Maintain professionalism, credibility and good customer service skills when dealing with all contacts, internal and external.
• Remain calm and objective throughout stressful and unpleasant situations.
• Make timely and sound decisions and accept concomitant responsibility; communicate effectively and consistently with others using tact when necessary; knowledge of importance/priority in determining what should be communicated to supervisors; and negotiate compromises between others.
• Evaluate the job performance of employees through observation and/or review of work product.
• Effectively deal with a variety of unpleasant circumstances and unusual human conduct associated with and/or arising from emergency situations including, but not limited to, physical trauma, mental and/or physical stress, panic, etc.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and enforcement officials, general public and members of the University community.
• Work with people of various ages and backgrounds and with diverse constituencies, including students, parents, faculty, and staff.
• Build consensus and credibility across the campus.
• Resolve conflicts and manage sensitive emergency situations appropriately required; demonstrate self-restraint in challenging and/or difficult situations.
• Demonstrate good moral character.
• Mentally and physically react effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during times of conflicts and emergencies.
• Initiate, implement and follow through on projects, programs or assignments with completed staff work.
• Think critically.
• Communicate verbally.

Working Conditions

• May work 8, 10 or 12 hour shifts.
• Exposure to human blood, human blood components, and/or products made from human blood.
• High-stress environment.
• Walking, standing and sitting for prolonged periods of time.
• Frequent stooping, bending kneeling, crouching, reaching, lifting and twisting.
• Operate vehicles and bicycles safely.
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination.
• Work in inclement weather or weather extremes, outdoor weather exposure.
• Requires use of personal protective equipment.
• Operate equipment necessary to perform job.
• Perform strenuous physical exertion at times. 
• Stand for 4 hours or more.
• Bend, climb, crouch, or stoop.
• Ability to run.
• Sit for 4 hours or more.
• Walk for 4 hours or more.
• Use computers extensively for 4 hours or more.
• Travel to various off-campus locations.
• Travel to various on-campus locations.
• Use standard work station equipment. 
• Use standard office equipment.

Mental Demands:

• Aware of safety hazards and take appropriate precautions.
• Communicate in writing.
• Communicate orally.
• Condense complicated issues into simple summaries that can be understood by a variety of constituents.
• Create and deliver presentations.
• Develop and manage interpersonal relationships.
• Exercise absolute discretion regarding confidential matters.
• Follow written and verbal instructions.
• Give directions.
• Handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Learn and develop skills.
• Maintain a high level of alertness.
• Pay attention to detail.
• Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• React effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during conflicts and emergencies.
• Read and comprehend information.
• Train or teach others.
• Work effectively and collegially with little supervision or a member of a team.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Comfortable interacting with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Active listening skills.
• Decision-making skills.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Math skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Planning skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Quantitative and analytical skills.
• Reasoning skills.
• Time management skills.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• Three References Contact Information (required)

Job Family

Police & Security

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Yes

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$18.00 - $20.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.