Police Officer

Department: Executive Administration

Classification: Law Enforcement Officer 1

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Pay Band: 03

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Financial Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

Works with Minors check: Yes

About the Department:

The primary purpose/objective/mission of the University Police Department is to provide a safe and secure environment for all university employees, students, and guests. Embracing the principles of community policing, the department works collaboratively with academic and administrative units, individuals, and organizations in furtherance of the mission of the university. The department delivers a comprehensive program in law enforcement to provide the highest level of safety, security, and service for the students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the university, as they pursue their daily work and study activities, consistent with the laws of the commonwealth, and the policies of the university.

About the Position:

The primary purpose or objective of a George Mason University Police Officer position is to exercise general police power within a specific jurisdiction in order to perform law enforcement, crime prevention, security and related public safety functions while maintaining department standards in community outreach efforts. The job is considered Essential/Designated personnel and is required to work a variety of schedules in a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week configuration which includes nights, weekends, holidays, and during and following natural disasters and emergency situations.

Responsibilities:

• Enforces Laws and Investigates Crimes and Traffic Crashes
  • Enforces all applicable state and local laws and university regulations to ensure the proper protection of all University personnel, visitors, and property;
  • Arrests violators of laws, issues summonses, issues written and verbal warnings when appropriate, ensures data collection forms for the 2020 Community Policing Act are issued when required;
  • Exercises discretion in a safe, fair, and balanced manner;
  • Provides law enforcement presence and crowd control at assigned activities and/or locations;
  • Demonstrates professional demeanor and safety techniques during traffic control;
  • Responds to radio calls and assignments made by dispatchers and supervisors, answers calls and complaints, and provides assistance to fellow law enforcement officers;
  • Investigates traffic crashes and provides assistance to the injured, control crash area, and ensure the safety of other traffic until area is clear;
  • Conducts interviews and writes detailed and accurate reports in a timely manner; is well-versed in laws of arrest and search and seizure;
  • Provides complete preliminary and follow-up investigations of all incidents in a professional, caring and timely manner;
  • Preserves crime scenes and collects and processes evidence from a variety of sources such as citizens, witnesses, suspects, crime scenes and incidents that pose a potential liability to the University;
  • Uses a variety of methods to obtain information and evidence, including interviews and interrogations; and
  • Prepares for and attends court to provide complete testimony and the presentation of evidence. 

• Provides Public Services and Assistance to Community Members
  • Provides assistance to the community by utilizing sound decision making and customer service practices;
  • Ensures that the public is dealt with in a courteous and professional manner, displays no bias, and works to overcome communication barriers;
  • Displays appropriate compassion and empathy, providing law enforcement services with a high standard of care;
  • Looks beyond the initial problem and seeks opportunities to provide exceptional customer service;
  • Demonstrates competency and employs proper safety procedures with handling a variety of customer service issues with tact and diplomacy in a confidential manner;
  • Through problem solving methodologies, provides solutions or the resources to solve any problem confronting the public;
  • Proactively follows up on contacts and referrals;
  • Exercises sound judgement; decisions take into consideration department and university policy, law, and fact; and
  • Renders aid and assistance to citizens, fellow officers, and other public safety partners. Responsive to requests for mutual aid. 

• Conducts Patrols and Participates in Crime Prevention Activities
  • Provides proactive deterrence and high visibility patrols of all University property by vehicle, foot, and/or bicycle with a community policing philosophy;
  • Utilizes unallocated time in a productive manner, demonstrates effective time management and ability to plan and organize a daily work routine, and contributes in a positive manner to department’s mission;
  • Operates police vehicle and conducts foot/bike patrols to observe for and confront violations of traffic laws, suspicious activities or persons, and disturbances of public peace;
  • Reports and addresses hazardous conditions;
  • Motivates productivity and takes initiative to improve job knowledge and skills through conducting proactive patrols and engaging with the community;
  • Maintains public peace and provides the University community with the most current crime prevention technology and methods;
  • Participates in and documents community outreach activities and events as part of daily patrol routines; and
  • Works effectively and proactively with Community Outreach unit to identify and participate in activities, events, and training opportunities. 

• Provides Support and Assistance to Victims, Witnesses, and Persons in Need of Services
  • Maintains a professional working relationship with the University Administration, University Life, and the University community, as well as with other elements of the criminal justice system including the courts, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Community Services Board (CSB), and other law enforcement agencies to render assistance to victims, witnesses, and persons in need of resources or services;
  • Provides assistance to crime victims by rendering sensitive and caring support;
  • Provides victims and witnesses information on cases, court procedures, and protective order statuses;
  • Updates victims and witnesses on case statuses, arrests made, and service of processes/warrants;
  • Assists victims and witnesses with identifying and utilizing available support resources;
  • Recognizes situations and incidents requiring crisis intervention and/or mental health resources and utilizing available resources when appropriate and employing proper safety procedures in custodial situations. Executes and serves Emergency Custody Orders and/or Temporary Detention Orders as required;
  • Submits written referrals in a timely manner to the Office of Student Conduct and/or support resources for incidents involving students for university compliance with the Drug Free Schools & Communities Act, as well as written referrals to Human Resources for employee matters; and
  • Complies with Clery Act and serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA), providing written reports of all crimes as defined under Clery Act in conjunction with, or addition to, those defined by state code. 

• Practices personal accountability and follows code of conduct, laws, policies, and procedures and is in compliance with training and certification required of position;
• Reviews, follows, and maintains a working knowledge of all laws, state, university, and department policies;
• Complies with FBI, VCIN, and CJIS policies safeguarding confidential/criminal justice information;
• Follows department’s professional police standards and code of conduct;
• Maintains a professional police appearance in compliance with grooming, hygiene, body art, and uniform standards;
• Maintains a level of physical fitness which meets the daily requirement of the law enforcement profession demonstrating ability to respond to calls for service in accordance with the Position Requirement’s physical activities and physical requirements;
• Maintains all certifications and qualifications for the position of Police Officer;
• Complies with state, university, and department leave policies;
• Submits written leave requests with reasonable notice, utilizing leave only as approved by supervisor/ department, and for the purpose for which it is intended. Demonstrates punctuality and reports on time for roll call, court, training, and other duties;
• Follows assigned work schedule, requests, enrolls in, and attends training, obtains approval to work overtime from supervisor, complies with requests to work overtime, and reports to work during emergencies/call-back as an essential/designated employee;
• Promotes a positive, professional image and practices personal accountability and responsibility, demonstrating energy, enthusiasm, and commitment;
• Devotes full effort to job responsibilities during work hours performing assigned duties and responsibilities with the highest degree of public trust;
• Conducts themselves at all times in a manner that supports the mission of their agency and the performance of their duties;
• Reports circumstances or concerns that may affect satisfactory work performance to management, including any inappropriate (fraudulent, illegal, unethical) activities of other employees;
• Works cooperatively to achieve work unit and agency goals and objectives;
• Demonstrates respect for the agency and toward agency coworkers, supervisors, managers, subordinates, residential clients, students, and customers;
• Demonstrates professional and ethical conduct, honesty, and truthfulness at all times; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience working with the public and/or customer service experience;
• Knowledge:
  • Knowledge of law enforcement practices and terminology;
  • Knowledge of basic law enforcement concepts and fundamentals;
• Skills:
  • Excellent interpersonal, problem solving, and verbal/written communication skills;
  • Excellent public relations/customer service skills;
  • Excellent judgment and decision-making skills;
• Abilities:
  
  • Ability to pass a rigid background check;
  • Ability to pass a physical fitness examination and psychological examination;
  • Ability to successfully complete the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy and department field training program;
  • Ability to provide professional/caring community-oriented service;
  • Ability to communicate respectfully to internal and external customers, appreciate diversity and respects differences, maintain confidentiality;
  • Ability to identify options and develop solutions for unique or unprecedented situations;
  • Ability to work with teams or independently with minimal supervision at times;
  • Ability to perform well under stress in a calm, efficient manner;
  • Ability to analyze all emergency situations to determine course of action and solve problems;
  • Ability to communicate verbally with adequate radio voice with no speech limitations;
  • Ability to work independently and solve problems involving many variables;
  • Ability to be compliant with Virginia State Police/FBI/Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) policies;
• Other Attributes:
  
  • Having a dependable work ethic, and a high level of integrity, honesty, and accountability;
• Required to obtain and maintain NCIC/VCIN operator certification in compliance with Virginia State Police and FBI regulations. Must have legal authority to carry and possess issued firearms; required to obtain and maintain Virginia DCJS firearms proficiency/qualifications on an annual basis, at minimum. Required to maintain biennial in-service education credits regulated by Virginia DCJS Law Enforcement Officer recertification process;
• Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/.  The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon favorable review; and
• Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Law Enforcement Officer certification or successful completion of police academy and field training program is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in related field;
• Preferred experience working in a law enforcement agency that is accredited or is in the process of seeking accreditation;
• Prior security, public safety, or military experience is preferred;
• CIT training is highly desired;
• Substantive knowledge of law enforcement/public safety and emergency management practices;
• Public speaking skills and abilities.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Police Officer at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a resume and cover letter for review.

Posting Open Date: August 22, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  September 22, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes