Law Enforcement Officer (Finance)
Dept Number/Name: 3-5149-000 / University Police
College/Division: USFSP - Administration & Financial Services
Salary Plan: Staff
Hiring Salary/Salary Range: $58,000.00 - $63,000.00
Job Code/Title: 8515 / Law Enforcement Officer
Organizational Summary:
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency dedicated to providing a safe environment for and in partnership with the community, while remaining committed to assisting with personal and professional development of department members, and to the principle of being community minded and service driven.
The department is led by a command staff comprised of sworn and non-sworn members of the rank of captain and higher, a communications/ records manager, all of whom report to the chief of police through an established chain-of-command.
We are professional state law enforcement officers, drawing authority from State Statute 1012.97. We are here to serve the campus community as well as to protect it. All officers are certified by the state of Florida after completing training from the State Regional Police Training Academy.
Position Summary:
Law Enforcement officers provide preventive patrol of the campus and nearby areas enforcing laws, ordinances, and University rules; regularly investigate accidents/disturbances, make arrests, prepare necessary documentation, and testify in court; and interact with diverse groups of people within the community to render service and collect information. As a requirement for employment at the Police Department (PD) on the USF St. Petersburg campus, officers must meet the highest standards of their profession.
Officers must meet or exceed stringent educational, training, background, and physical requirements, as well as pass a process of personal interviews, oral boards, and psychological testing. Many of our officers have also brought to USF St. Petersburg a variety of experience and specialized training from other law enforcement agencies.
Special Requirements:
Must currently possess a valid law enforcement certificate from the State of Florida.
Responsibilities:
Patrols assigned area(s) to insure the personal safety of the university populace and to provide protection and security to facilities. Directs traffic. Investigates accidents, complaints, disturbances, and law violations by interviewing complainants, suspects, and witnesses; secures incident area; and collects and preserves evidence. Pursues, apprehends, and arrests law violators and suspected law violators. Issues traffic warnings and citations. Controls crowds during special events, catastrophes, riots, and demonstrations and demonstrations.
Conducts investigations into complaints and violations of Federal, State and Local Laws, and University policies. Interviews witnesses and victims, interrogates suspects, apprehends, arrests and processes criminal violators, searches for, locates, and preserves evidence; appears as affiant in legal and/or administrative processes. Identifies and analyzes problems and develops responses and solutions to resolve such problems. Expresses ideas and communicates information to citizens and colleagues. Takes formal statements and confessions. Demonstrates proper officer safety techniques. Successfully works with others. Uses equipment appropriately. Operates weapons and equipment properly. Responsible for actively participating in all phases of Community Oriented Policing, including individual or team projects. Follows departmental policy, mission, values, and goals.
Monitors problem traffic areas and initiates corrective action. Maximizes crime deterrence through conspicuous aggressive and focused patrol of grounds and facilities. Patrol will be conducted on foot, in a mobile capacity, or through the use of special purpose vehicles as assigned. Composes reports, using appropriate forms, when documenting crimes, incidents, and activity. Operates weapons properly and qualifies at the range. Properly uses less than lethal weapons. Utilizes the radio and (MCT) Mobile Computer Terminal in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
Reduce theft or damage of state and university property by providing continuing security and safety analysis of facilities and making written recommendations for improvement. Report observations with regard to environmental health, safety, security, and fire code hazards and/or violations.
Achieves agency and university goals. Maintain police community relations by focusing on information and education, which culminates in community action and crime reduction. Organized in daily work activity. Accepts additional responsibility and meets set deadlines. Properly uses policy and procedure manuals. Attends training and duty activities.
Uses available agencies, departments, and support groups to assist citizens. Interacts in a service-oriented manner with courtesy and integrity. Respectful of others. Develops contact with others that instills confidence in the police department. Provides non-law enforcement public service as authorized by law and consistent with good police practices.
Testifies in a concise and accurate manner. Files cases in the proper manner. Conveys verbal information / instructions / directives / commands. Demonstrates appropriate officer safety techniques. Aware of, alert, and remains calm in stressful situations. Takes appropriate action to protect officer, co-workers, and others from harm. Successfully defends oneself using the defined use of force policies and protocols.
Position Qualifications:
Minimum:
- Must possess a current Florida Law Enforcement Certification through The Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
- This position must meet the requirements of Chapter 943.13, Florida Statutes. Must be at least 19 years of age, must possess a high school diploma or equivalent, must have graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy, or currently accepted to a commissioned Florida Law Enforcement Basic Recruit Training Program (attendance must be within 4 months of applying). Graduates from law enforcement academies outside the state of Florida will be required to attend a program for Equivalency of Training (EOT: transitional academy).
Preferred:
- Have one year of prior law enforcement, military, or security experience.
- Appropriate college coursework may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience.
- Prior Law Enforcement experience at an Institution of Higher Education.
Special Skills/Training:
Must currently possess a valid law enforcement certificate from the State of Florida. Knowledge and ability to understand and accurately apply laws, rules, regulations and policies.
Employees in this classification are required to maintain all mandatory job-related certifications to include but not limited to firearms qualification, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and Florida State driver's license.
Additional Information for Applicants:
Applicants must be 19 years of age and a U.S. citizen; must possess a high school diploma or equivalent; must have no felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude (as required for Florida State Law Enforcement Certification).
Applicants must not have used illegal drugs in the last 3 years and pass a physical ability test. Applicants also must pass a post-offer physical and psychological examination. Applicants are subject to a rigorous background investigation which includes driving record, credit history check, FBI fingerprint check, and a truth verification examination.
The selected candidate must have a current work authorization in the United States. This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
***This job posting will potentially be utilized to fill more than one (1) law enforcement officer position.
Emergency Operations
This position has been designated as Essential Personnel. Essential Personnel may be required to participate in preparedness/response/recovery activities outside of normal work hours, including University closings, in response to a major emergency or natural disasters affecting University operations.
USF St. Petersburg
Information for Applicants
This position is subject to a Level 2 criminal background check.
Job Opening Number: 38830
Posting Date: 03/04/2025
Posting End Date: Open until position is filled.
How to Claim Veteran's Preference:
This position allows eligible veterans and their spouses to claim Veterans' Preference pursuant to Florida Statute 295.
Applicants claiming preference are responsible for providing required documentation AT THE TIME OF SUBMITTING APPLICATION; such documentation is required for eligibility determination.
Supporting documentation, in addition to the DD214, may be required based on eligibility criteria. If you are submitting a DD 214, please ensure the social security number and date of birth is redacted/removed.
For information on obtaining a DD 214 visit http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/ or call 1-866-272-6272.
How To Apply
Click on the Apply Now button. When applying to an opening you will have the opportunity to upload a cover letter and resume.
Apply online by completing the required information and attaching your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME, PLUS ANY OTHER REQUESTED MATERIAL, MUST BE IN ONE ATTACHMENT. Only online applications are accepted for this position.
Click here for additional tutorial information.
To request an accommodation with the application or interview process, please contact Central Human Resources by telephone: 813-974-2970 or email HR-ADA-Request@usf.edu .
Equal Employment Opportunity
USF is an equal opportunity, equal access academic institution that embraces diversity in the workplace.
The University of South Florida does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sexual harassment. Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator. Reports may be made at any time either online or directly to the University's Title IX Coordinator.
Federal Rights
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) , Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) .
Work Location
Campus map and location overview: USF - St. Petersburg Campus
About USF
The University of South Florida is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. Over the past 10 years, no other public university in the country has risen faster in U.S. News and World Report's national university rankings than USF. Serving more than 50,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee, USF is designated as a Preeminent State Research University by the Florida Board of Governors, placing it in the most elite category among the state's 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Working at USF
With more than 16,000 employees at USF, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay region. At USF you will find opportunities to excel in a rich academic environment that fosters the development and advancement of our employees. We believe in creating a talented, engaged and driven workforce through on-going development and career opportunities. We also offer a first class benefit package that includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, tuition program and generous leave programs and more.
To learn more about working at USF please visit: Work Here. Learn Here. Grow Here .
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