Police Sergeant

About the Department

The primary purpose 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 to further 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, consistent with the laws of the commonwealth and the policies of the university.

About the Role

The primary purpose of the George Mason University Police Sergeant 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. This position leads and directs staff and exercises supervisory responsibility over police personnel. The job is considered Essential/Designated personnel and will be 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. The Sergeant position also provides training to others to meet competency and accreditation standards.

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; provides assistance to the injured; controls crash areas; ensures the safety of other traffic until the 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.
• Prepares for and attends court to provide complete testimony and the presentation of evidence.
• Provides public services and assistance to community members; 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.
• 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.
• Maintains a professional working relationship with the university administration, university life, Title IX, 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, 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.
• 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.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides leadership, training, and direction to the officers assigned to their supervision; trains, gives direction, and provides support to each patrol officer or detective assigned to their supervision; maintains active trainer/instructor certification(s) and provides instruction to officers and/or detectives.

Requirements

• Employees in this position are required to operate university vehicles in accordance with George Mason University Vehicle Use Policy 1411.
• Applicants must possess and maintain an active, valid driver’s license that satisfies university requirements.
• Final candidates are subject to a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) review, and successful completion of the review is a condition of employment; minor or major driving violations may affect eligibility for employment.
• Maintains a level of physical fitness which meets the daily requirement of the law enforcement profession, demonstrating the ability to respond to calls for service in accordance with the position’s physical activities and requirements.
• Maintains all certifications and qualifications for the position of Police Sergeant.
• 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; reports to work during emergencies/call-back as an essential/designated employee.

Pay

$85,572 – $108,015, commensurate with education and experience.