Police Officer Recruit

About the role

The primary purpose 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.

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;
• Counsels and educates the public regarding laws, rights, and responsibilities;
• 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;
• Thorough 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;
• 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;
• 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;
• Provides support and assistance to victims, witnesses, and persons in need of services;
• 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;
• 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.

Qualifications

• 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 a favorable review;
• Successful completion of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy and Department field training program;
• High school diploma or equivalent;
• 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;
• Experience working with the public and/or customer service experience;
• Knowledge of law enforcement practices and terminology;
• Knowledge of basic law enforcement concepts and fundamentals;
• Excellent interpersonal, problem solving, and verbal/written communication skills;
• Excellent public relations/customer service skills;
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills;
• Ability to pass a rigid background check;
• Ability to pass a physical fitness examination and psychological examination;
• 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 independently.