Sergeant for Community Safety (P.O.S.T. Certified)

Mental Health Crisis Intervention: Recognizing that we do encounter people with mental health challenges, officers act in coordination with other services and staff, using de-escalation tactics and connecting individuals to mental health services rather than just the criminal justice system.

Trauma-Informed Care: Officers are trained to identify trauma, particularly in students and community members, to minimize further harm and help them regain a sense of security throughout the District and community.

Preventive Social Service Involvement: Police often take on social work roles, providing resources for addiction treatment, coordinating with homeless shelters, conducting welfare checks, and offering support to community members in crisis.

Public Education and Engagement: Engaging in outreach, community meetings, and providing a holistic style of training on various activities from de-escalation, First Aid, CPR, AED, and other safety measures to empower community members.

Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Serve as a supervisor for the Community Safety Department, including the supervision of Community Safety Services Assistants, Dispatchers, and Cadets; performs various administrative duties to assist in the overall smooth operation of the department.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel; maintain discipline among department members; schedule shifts and assignments of assigned personnel to maintain a fully operational patrol schedule.
• Conduct training and briefing sessions for Community Safety Department meetings.
• Receive and respond to complaints from faculty, staff, students, and the public regarding Community Safety services, campus operations, and other issues; investigate serious personnel complaints against members of the department; advise campus managers on criminal activity and complaints.
• Perform duties as a Community Safety Officer; respond to calls for service and emergencies, make arrests, prepare reports, and appear in court as needed.
• Prepare and maintain a variety of records and reports related to assigned activities and personnel; approve reports and departmental paperwork submitted by Community Safety Officers and other department support staff.
• Operate and assure proper maintenance, use, and operation of equipment, supplies, and materials used in the department, including a vehicle, firearm, body-worn camera, taser, baton, radio, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency equipment, and various other patrol and office equipment.
• Intervene in disputes between students and instructors and determine appropriate action.
• Conduct classroom presentations regarding personnel and property safety related to the campus community and the surrounding community.
• Participate in the evaluation, acquisition, and procurement of equipment for the department.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Possess a California P.O.S.T. Basic Certificate and three (3) years of full-time law enforcement experience required.
• Associate’s degree or sixty (60) units from an accredited college; OR relevant experience in lieu of a degree, and/or possession of a P.O.S.T. Intermediate Certificate preferred.
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, psychological examination, polygraph test, and medical exam.
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age.
• Valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge/Areas of Expertise:

• Public safety, investigation, law enforcement, and security methods, practices, and procedures.
• California Penal, Vehicle, and Education Codes, District regulations, and other laws, codes, rules, and regulations related to assigned activities.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Principles and practices of supervision and training.
• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, de-escalation, patience, and courtesy.
• First Aid, CPR, and AED methods.
• Use and maintenance of a firearm and other non-lethal instruments.

Ability to:

• Serve as a supervisor for the Community Safety Department.
• Provide security and protection to students, personnel, equipment and property of the district.
• Enforce laws and ordinances.
• Administer first aid in emergency situations.
• Conduct training and briefing sessions and various safety-related classroom presentations.
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
• Respond quickly, effectively, and efficiently in emergencies or crisis situations.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Plan and organize work.
• Prepare comprehensive narrative and statistical reports.
• Direct the maintenance of a variety of reports and other paperwork related to assigned activities.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Candidates with a degree in modern policing from a California community college may receive hiring preference.
• Associates or Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, or administration of justice, or a relevant field of study.
• Experience in working within an educational setting, preferably in community colleges.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, linguistic, ethnic backgrounds and disabilities of community college students, faculty, and staff.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Reliable, responsible, dependable, and a good team player 10. Ability to participate in meetings, workshops, events, and other college functions as needed and to be able to represent the department.
• Good organizational skills.
• Willingness to work extended hours or start early when required.
• Ability to work and perform job duties effectively under pressure.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail to ensure consistent accuracy and prioritize workload with frequent interruptions
• Effective experience in conflict resolution in person, virtually, by email, and/or by phone. Ability to take initiative, problem solve, and work independently with good judgment about when to seek direction.
• Understanding of regulations related to the handling of confidential student information.

Supplemental Information

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application material that they meet the minimum qualifications of the position. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the positions may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant's skills, training, and experience for the position.

The employment application must be completed and submitted online. Applicants must list current and past work experience. Do not indicate “See Resume”.

Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees must be submitted online with your application. Applicants are responsible for attaching proof of education, certification, and/or license to each position for which they apply.

The following documents are required for this position:
1. Resume

2. P.O.S.T. Certificate
2. Transcripts verifying completion of a Associate's degree

3. List of three references

4. Cover Letter

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. This evaluation must be submitted by the application deadline.

Failure to provide all required documents will result in elimination from the selection process. Official transcripts will be required prior to appointment.

Please note, the District’s preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference/background check (to include a conviction record) and may be required to pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination including a drug/alcohol screening depending upon job classification. New employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Marshniel Chandra at mchandra@peralta.edu.