Police Officer

Police Officer

Amherst Campus
Full Time
JR5017

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Police Officer position. The Police Officer is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $24.00/hour with an expected starting of $29.00/hour for Massachusetts Certified police officers. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

Adhering to the principles of community engagement and community oriented problem solving, the Police Officer works to intentionally build community within a diverse community, and enforces federal and state laws, municipal ordinances, and Amherst College rules/regulations. Investigates reports of crimes, accidents, and incidents. Provides emergency response to criminal activity, fires, fire alarms, intrusion alarms, and patrols of the college properties and surrounding properties by cruiser or by foot. Exercises the authority and duties of a police officer appointed under MGL 22C-63 (special state police officer) and MGL 37-3 (deputy sheriff).

The Police Officer position is considered an essential position meaning the employee is expected to report to work even if the College is closed for weather related or other reasons. Some overtime, weekend and occasional shift change work is required. Due to the nature of the position, must respond to emergencies as needed.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION - Enforce federal, state and municipal ordinances and college policies. Protect civil rights, provide intervention and mediation to disputants, provide intervention, protection and assistance in domestic violence cases. Detect criminal activity and take appropriate action against violators. Identify, collect and preserve evidence. Process arrested individuals, including determining charges, fingerprinting, photographing, initiating NCIC check, searching, removing and inventorying personal belongings and transporting arrested persons to lock-up; monitoring all prisoners in jail lockup, according to Massachusetts law. Apply for and serve arrest warrants; process paperwork on arrests and activity reports; serve court papers; provide court testimony. Upon request, provide assistance to the local police off campus.
  
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - Engage the diverse community on a daily basis on a non-law enforcement level: inclusive of engaging students in casual conversation, work and train with the residence life professional and student staff, meet with groups and departments on campus, provide formal safety lectures and classes (such as RAD). Make public presentations regarding crime prevention and safety to a diverse audience.
  
• SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL LIFE STAFF - Provide support to professional and student residential life staff as needed. When requested by residential life staff respond along with them to noise complaints or other disturbances. Respond with residential life staff to emergency mental health calls with a potential for physical violence or the need for involuntary commitment.
  
• MEDICAL EMERGENCIES - Respond to all accidents or injuries occurring on College property and assess medical needs. Provide emergency first aid/CPR in life-threatening situations until relived by emergency medical personnel. Assist ambulance personnel in any way necessary, including lifting equipment and stretchers; provide evaluation and care for intoxicated persons. Provide intervention, support and arrange for medical assistance in mental health emergencies. Arrange transportation for the sick and injured to appropriate medical facility.
  
• FIRE PREVENTION and RESPONSE - Respond to and investigate causes of fire alarms and when cleared by AFD, reset alarms. Monitor proper evacuation for all fire alarms, conducting room-to-room searches, if necessary, and reporting offenders name to appropriate authority. In the event of fire or other potential disaster, participate in evacuation activities.
  
• PROVIDE SERVICES - In the absence of Community Service Officers (CSOs) and/or Custodial staff open buildings when they are closed to permit use by authorized individuals. In the absence of CSOs and/or Custodial activate and deactivate intrusion alarm systems to allow for opening or security of a building. Crowd control at various events. Give directions and routine information to College community. Work in the Dispatch Center and perform all duties and responsibilities of a dispatcher when assigned. Provide protection for and transportation of College funds on campus and to local banks. Investigate intrusion alarms. Is an integral component in the College's Emergency Preparedness Action Plans, e.g bomb threat or other potential disasters.
  
• PREVENTIVE PATROL - Patrol buildings, grounds, and other facilities.
  

Qualifications:

Required

• Ability to gain certification as a Massachusetts Special State Police Officer. Certification requires:
  
  • Successful completion of a full basic Massachusetts recruit academy or written authorization from MPTC indicating approval of an out of state academy. OR
    
  • Ability to successfully complete a Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) certified basic Police Recruit Academy and
    
  • obtain and retain Special State Police powers in accordance with MGL Chapter 22C, section 63.
    
• Massachusetts License to Carry a Firearm.
  
• Current CPR/1st Aid/Defibrillator/Epi-Pen/Narcan.
  
• Completion of required annual in-service training, including MPTC on-line, MPTC firearms, defensive tactics, and legal updates.
  
• Successful medical and psychological screening.
  
• Valid Driver's License and be credentialed in accordance with college policy.
  
• Attention to detail.
  
• Strong problem-solving and time management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task.
  
• Demonstrated interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills, as well as exercise diplomacy, and function efficiently under extreme conditions.
  
• Requires sensitivity to issues of confidentiality.
  
• Commitment to, experience with, and/or ability to work effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, staff, public officials, civic and community groups, and the general public.
  

Preferred

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
  
• Related experience in college or university law enforcement.
  
• Previous work on bias, with an understanding of anti-bias practices.
  

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume, cover letter, and the names of three professional references online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.


To apply, visit https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Police-Officer_JR5017


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