Police Officer I

Reports to: Chief of Campus Police • Campus Location: Cleveland, Tennessee • Salary Range: $42,809–$51,371 • Position Status: Non-Exempt / Full-Time

About the role

Cleveland State Community College is a two-year post-secondary institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The college is committed to providing open access and quality education to all students and seeks individuals who share its values of building strong minds, careers, and communities through exceptional teaching and learning, workforce development, and service.

Responsibilities

• Campus Patrol Duties and Traffic Control (50%)
  • Conduct regular patrols on foot, bicycle, and in a police vehicle.
  • Direct and control traffic flow, manage intersections, monitor parking areas, and ensure compliance with traffic regulations.
  • Issue citations for traffic and parking violations.
• Response and Investigation (40%)
  • Respond to accidents, assess scenes, gather information, and determine probable cause.
  • Investigate reported crimes, collect evidence, interview witnesses, and prepare detailed reports.
  • Make arrests in accordance with legal protocols and document actions accurately.
  • Provide testimony in court or legal proceedings as needed.
• Operation and Maintenance of Law Enforcement Equipment (5%)
  • Properly operate and maintain radios, vehicles, and other essential law enforcement tools.
• Non-Essential Functions (5%)
  • Provide backup to various unit functions.
  • Serve on college committees and participate in administrative decision-making.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or High School Equivalency Diploma.
• At least eighteen (18) years of age.
• Citizen of the United States.
• Meets the requirements of a Certified Police Officer per TCA 38-8-107, including completion or attendance and completion within one year of a POST-approved law enforcement academy curriculum.
• Meets the requirements of TCA 38-8-106, Qualifications of Police Officers.
• No felony convictions or guilty pleas; no convictions or pleas for violations related to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor, or controlled substances.
• Honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, if applicable.
• Fingerprints on file with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
• Passed a physical examination by a licensed physician.
• Good moral character as determined by a thorough investigation.
• Certified by a Tennessee-licensed healthcare provider as free from any impairment that would affect essential job functions.
• Valid Tennessee operator’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the court system and evidence presentation.
• Familiarity with campus policies and local, county, and state laws.
• Understanding of effective investigative methods.
• Awareness of campus geography.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies and determine appropriate courses of action.
• Proficient in gathering facts through personal contact, observation, and record examination.
• Ability to explain and interpret laws, ordinances, and regulations.
• Capable of enforcing laws firmly, tactfully, and with respect for others’ rights.
• Willingness to learn to operate necessary law enforcement equipment.
• Ability to meet bonding, arrest authority, and weapon-use requirements.
• Strong ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, the public, and employees.

Work Activities & Equipment

• Operate two-way radios, computers, printers, cell phones, and other necessary law enforcement equipment.
• Conduct vehicle patrols using the college’s police vehicle.
• Travel for trainings and conferences statewide and within the U.S.; occasional travel to off-campus sites within the college’s five-county service area.

Benefits

• Insurance: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability (long and short term), FSA/HSA.
• Wellness Incentive Program (if enrolled in health).
• Educational Assistance: Fee Waiver, Spouse/Dependent Discounts, Tuition Reimbursement.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Longevity Pay.
• Retirement Options: State of TN Pension (TCRS), 401a, 401k with $50 match, 403b, and 457.
• Fourteen (14) Paid Holidays per year.
• Sick and Annual Leave; Sick Leave Bank.
• State Employee Discount Program with over 900 merchants.