School Safety Officer

POSITION SUMMARY: The School Safety Officer (SSO) supports and facilitates the educational process within the Confluence Academies school system by providing a safe and secure environment through building and establishing meaningful relationships with students and staff and proactively interacting with the school community. The SSO will patrol campus property to protect students, staff and visitors from physical harm and prevent loss to campus property resulting from criminal activity. 

 ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

•  Patrol campus property for suspicious activity, unauthorized persons on campus, or unauthorized vehicles.
• Serve as a visible and active safety officer on campus dealing with areas such as drugs, traffic, trespassing, fighting, and thefts. Enforce campus rules and regulations.
• Conduct routine patrols of campus to include buildings, parking lots, playgrounds, storage facilities, etc. Operate network equipment to include alarm systems and surveillance equipment.
• Take safety enforcement action to protect against unwanted intruders.
• Identify and prevent (through counseling and referral) delinquent behavior including substance abuse.
• Make arrests only when necessary to protect students, staff and school property.
• Work collaboratively with public safety agencies to serve as liaison between school and community to deter criminal and delinquent behavior.
• Monitor and instruct students, visitors, and campus personnel on proper and lawful campus or facility behavior. Help to define and maintain a respectful code of conduct.
• Assist other law enforcement agencies with incidents involving local criminal activity that may impact the safety of the environment for students and staff. Serve as the initial first responder and school safety coordinator for campus emergencies during school hours and scheduled extra-curricular activities.
• Subdue offenders and criminals by using the minimum amount of force needed to protect the officer and other persons.
• Provide instructions and directions to others as it pertains to matters of safety and emergency situations.
• Conduct security building assessments for schools; guard check and secure doors, rooms, buildings, and equipment.
• Operate a two-way radio and qualify for private security weapons use to include baton, firearm, and chemical agent. Confluence will determine the need for baton, firearm, or chemical agent use on campus.
• Perform other duties as assigned by appropriate supervisory personnel and school administrators.
• The School Safety Officer may be assigned to other schools within Confluence Academies on a temporary or permanent basis depending upon need and circumstances.
• Assist administrative staff personnel in maintaining orderly conduct during school hours
• Conduct, coordinate and evaluate emergency drill practices/procedures, for fire, tornado, earthquake and active intruders.
• Inventory and issue keys and alarm codes as required.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education/Experience:  High school diploma or equivalent, plus two (2) years’ experience and successful completion of course work in police administration; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience working with students, and administration in a culturally

diverse public school environment required.                

Certification:  Private Security License.

Language Skills:  Ability to effectively communicate. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret incident reports. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from staff, students, co-workers, and the general public.

Reasoning Ability:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions and act accordingly. 

Other Skills and Abilities:  Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form.  Ability to perform duties with awareness of all school system requirements and Board policies.  Ability to utilize technology to assist in day-to-day operations for students, programs, and staff.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.  The position requires meeting deadlines, interacting with the public and staff, irregular or extended work hours.  The employee is responsible for safety, well-being, and work output of him/herself.  Must be able to meet demands from several people at one time.