What are the responsibilities and job description for the Special Police Officer position at The City of Elkhart?
CITY OF ELKHART – JOB DESCRIPTION
DEPARTMENT
Police
POSITION
Special Safety Officer
DIVISION
Police / Community Support
STATUS
Full-time
CATEGORY
Salaried, Up to $60,600
FLSA
Non-Exempt
REPORTS TO
Police / Community Support Lieutenant
DATE
2025
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for patrolling downtown Elkhart, providing security at special events, parking enforcement assisting with downtown parking, transporting prisoners to and from city court, provide security for Elkhart City Hall, assisting with calls for service, to detecting and deterring crime.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Major responsibilities require understanding of and constant attention and commitment to implementation and performance of the agency’s mission.
- All assigned duties and tasks are expected to be performed in an effective, efficient and safe manner.
- The Special Safety Officer must accept the responsibility to support and promote this organization’s mission and comply with its directives.
- The Special Safety Officer’s personal conduct and behavior (on-duty as well as off-duty) must be such that it does not bring disrepute or unnecessarily endanger the public's trust or confidence in the agency or its members.
- This position requires a high level of problem-solving ability, self-initiative, and the ability and willingness to work a majority of the time without direct supervision.
- Handle VIN and Salvage inspections, serve summons
- Prepare and file reports.
- Prepare and transfer reports and documents to and from outside departments and agencies.
- Arrest Powers, while on duty only
- Assist Elkhart Police Officers on calls for service and traffic stops
- Conduct traffic stops and other patrol duties, as assigned
- Identifying, reporting, and addressing quality of life issues.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Major duties involve taking calls for service.
- Patrolling to deter and detect crime.
- Investigating complaints, citing and/or arresting law violators / City ordinances.
- Following up on pending reports and cases.
- Preparing and/or serving civil process.
- Protecting persons and property.
- Use proper care of city property while performing his/her duties.
- Securing and protecting prisoners.
- Transport prisoners to and from Elkhart City Court and county jail.
- Provide security for Elkhart City Hall and buildings they are assigned
- Greet and assist citizens with location their destinations within the building.
- Escort employees who transport money to and from their vehicles.
- It is the responsibility of the Special Safety Officer to treat with utmost confidence any personal matters pertaining to their interaction with citizens and officers any other information that they may learn or come across in the performance of their duties with respect to ongoing criminal matters or investigations.
- It is strictly prohibited for the Special Safety Officer to accept promise of loans, gifts or gratuity in any fashion from citizens.
- Special Safety Officer must possess the ability to be impartial, and non-discriminatory in the treatment of all prisoners and persons they come into contact without bias to race, religion, sex or national origin.
- Affect arrests that may be issued by the Elkhart City Court Judge
- The officer is expected to use self-directed work time in an efficient manner by self-initiating work on those task identified by the supervisory personnel.
- Other duties as directed by a supervisor.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Position requires a valid Indiana Driver’s License.
- Possess a high school diploma or HSE.
- Indiana Tier I Police Officer Certification or equivalent preferred, but not required
- Officers are required to attend and to successfully complete the Training at the Elkhart Police Department and other outside schools.
- Person holding position must successfully complete annually required 24 hours of training mandated by state law that would allow him/her to relate and review training given by departmental instructors.
- Meet certification requirements with IDACS – NCIC.
- Maintain proficiency in firearms.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Logical thinking to solve problems.
- Ability to read, write, interpret and verbally give or demonstrate work instructions.
- Skilled written and oral communication.
- Ability to relate to the public.
- Ability to reason logically.
- Ability to read, comprehend and comply with City and department policy.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, supervisors and other divisions of the department.
- Ability to perform the work according to established procedures in an efficient manner and time frame with minimal errors.
- The ability to operate a prisoner transport vehicle with good judgment and in obedience of traffic and occupant safety.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND VISUAL SKILLS
- Incumbent is walking, bending, standing, stooping and crouching daily.
- Job requires sufficient physical capabilities. Walking is required.
- Individual must have sufficient abilities to operate a motor vehicle and walk outdoors in inclement weather.
- Additionally required is the ability to bend, crouch, stand, reach and negotiate on a variety of surfaces.
- Clarity of vision with or without correction.
- Position may involve considerable physical exertion as well as lifting and/or securing individuals.
- Ability to operate weapons and restraints unassisted both right and left handed.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- The majority of tasks are performed outside while working from a police vehicle.
- Few tasks require heavy lifting, pushing, or carrying heavy loads.
- Flexibility is important because of the need to enter and exit vehicles frequently, inspecting or searching buildings, climbing over and around obstacles, sudden move out of the way of danger, etc.
- Mental alertness is very important because of the need to make fine discriminations and decisions concerning subtle cues of impending danger or to discover inconsistencies in witnesses or suspect’s testimonies, etc. However, as a special officer with the responsibility to enforce violation of law, physical and mental demands can change dramatically within a few seconds, taking the maximum of human endurance. Therefore, the special security officer must maintain a physical and mental state of fitness and readiness that enables him/her to handle (with minimal force and often without assistance) occasional contacts and involvement with dangerous and potentially dangerous people, animals and equipment.
- Work is performed in a 40 plus hours per week.
DRUG TEST REQUIRED
The City of Elkhart is a Drug Free Workplace. Therefore, a post offer, pre-employment drug screen is required. Random drug testing may be conducted after employment.
ADDITIONAL POST OFFER
- Truth Verification exam, producing satisfactory results.
- Full Criminal Background Investigation presenting suitable indications.
- Psychological exam, producing satisfactory results.
POLICY STATEMENT
- The incumbent is required to possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities, and the physical, mental, and visual skills described in this job description to perform the principal duties, responsibilities and essential job functions.
- This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent. Principal duties and responsibilities are intended to describe those functions that are essential to the performance of this job and “other” duties and responsibilities include those that are considered incidental or secondary to the overall purpose of this job.
- This job description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by the Chief of Police. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.
Salary : $60,600
