Public Safety Officer

For best consideration, please submit application materials by August 2, 2026. 

Job Summary
Performs general public safety duties to protect life and property throughout the college.  Responds to and takes appropriate action in the event of disturbances, crimes, fires, or medical emergencies, utilizing established procedures. Conducts foot and vehicle patrols on the college property to enforce state, federal, and local laws, college policy, and regulations related to Public Safety.

Essential Duties

1. Conducts foot and vehicle patrol of college property, makes inquiries regarding incidents, conducts surveillance, issues warnings and citations, and conducts crowd control as needed. 
2. Applies and understands criminal law. Conducts preliminary investigations of crimes, accidents, and other incidents occurring on college property which includes interviewing witnesses and victims and ensures appropriate disposition of such incidents. Evaluates the effectiveness of practiced protocol, and suggests improvements. 
3. Places individuals under citizen’s arrest when necessary; provides appropriate custody of persons, conducts consent searches, inventories property, and uses limited force when appropriate as defined by use of force policy. 
4. Performs security and safety checks of college grounds and buildings, and provides authorized access to college facilities.
5. Identifies safety hazards, and assists first responders in cleanup of hazardous material incidences. 
6. Takes appropriate action in response to maintenance, intrusion, fire, and panic alarms. 
7. Acts as first responder to fires, medical emergencies, and potentially dangerous situations. Evaluates circumstances, coordinates outside responses, secures hazardous area, and performs as an emergency first responder providing first aid and CPR to injured person. Serves as initial on-scene incident commander in emergency situations and broadcasts emergency messages utilizing appropriate notification systems.
8. Provides jump starts, vehicle unlocks, and safety escorts to students, employees and visitors. Completes department equipment inventories and maintenance.
9. Prepares incident, crime, medical, and other special reports for college and law enforcement use as necessary. Maintains records and logbooks as required. Keeps a positive and collaborative relationship with local emergency services.
10. Participates in judicial proceedings such as appearing in court as arresting officer or witness and providing testimony; appearing at college administrative hearings to give testimony; and delivers all property, evidence and relevant information to appropriate agencies.
11. Enforces the college motor vehicle regulations and other public safety rules. Assists other jurisdictions while they are on college property.
12. Completes special assignments such as safety inspections, conducts data analysis, creates templates and data bases, changes alarm codes, upkeep security cameras, monitors sex offenders, maintains graffiti and alarm data bases, and drafts standard operating procedures.
13. Participates in a variety of meetings and committees as requested to ensure that safety and security issues are appropriately addressed. 
14. Maintains current certification, training, and knowledge of public safety methods and practices. Provides public education and assists with training new employees.

Additional Duties

1. Enforces animal, alcohol, and tobacco free regulations. 
2. Participates in college emergency drills.
3. Provides information and direction to the general public, and delivers emergency messages.
4. Provides coverage and assistance for the communication dispatcher as needed.
5. Performs other related duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• One (1) year of experience in public safety officer at a post-secondary educational institution, military police, corrections, law enforcement, police reserves, or Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training certified armed/unarmed security position.
• Current driver license, insurance, and the ability to be insured by the college insurance carrier. Must be at least 19 years old in order to operate college vehicles and have at least three (3) years of driving history.
• Intermediate knowledge of word processing, email, and spreadsheet applications, preferably in the Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills with fluency in English and Spanish, Russian or other language that meets college needs.
• Experience with campus public safety, military police, law enforcement or active police reserve.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS) training.
• Experience in behavioral threat assessment, community policing, or emergency management.
• Experience using report writing, access control, or video surveillance systems.
  

Additional Qualifications

• Must be able to obtain within 90 days of hire:
  • Department of Public Safety Standards & Training (DPSST) unarmed professional certification.
  • CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) certification.
  • First Aid certification .
  • AED (Automated External Defibrillator) certification.
    

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of state and local law enforcement rules and regulations related to Public Safety, including laws governing arrest, search and seizure and investigative techniques.
• Ability to de-escalate hostile situations including interacting with uncooperative individuals to ensure the safety of the college community.
• Ability to interact with diverse populations in a positive, objective, and consistent manner.
• Ability to interact tactfully yet firmly with individuals.
• Ability to provide courteous customer assistance to students, employees, and visitors.
• Ability to demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills to communicate clearly and effectively with others and write detailed reports and memos.
• Ability to accurately apply and explain public safety related policies, procedures, and systems.
• Ability to research records and information using internal/external databases.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with individuals as well as in a small group environment.
• Ability to use sound judgment and good observational skills.
• Ability to think clearly, analyze situations, and perform effectively in stressful or emergency situations.
• Ability to maintain accurate and complete records.
  

Working Conditions
This is an on-site position. Mt. Hood Community College Public Safety Officers work five 8-hour shifts to include day-shift, night-shift, or swing-shift. After training, the selected candidate will begin by working a swing-shift of Thursday-Monday 3:00pm-11:00pm. 

Must be able to work inside and outside in extreme weather conditions.  May be exposed to stressful or potentially dangerous situations or incidents. Must be able to adapt to rapidly changing environments and continual interruptions during shifts.  May be required to work overtime.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to walk, ascending and descending steps and ramps, stand for long periods of time, sit, communicate, reach and manipulate objects, tools or controls. The position requires mobility and the ability to patrol the campus in a motorized vehicle and on foot. Occasionally transport up to 35 pounds for at least 20 feet. Manual dexterity and coordination are required over 50% percent of the work period while operating equipment such as computer key boards, motorized vehicle, etc. Position may require employee to carry, drag or restrain individuals from 50 to 300 pounds. 


Salary Placement
Initial salary placement will be based on years of relevant full-time equivalent experience at the sole discretion of the College, per the guidelines in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. Please include all relevant full and part-time experience (including unpaid and volunteer experience) in your application that you want the College to review towards potential placement.  Hired employees will not have an opportunity to update past experience or appeal initial placement after the time of hire.