Position Details
Police Officer – Multiple Positions
Department of Police & Public Safety
The NIU Department of Police and Public Safety is comprised of 55 sworn officers and additional support staff who protect and serve our campus community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The Northern Illinois University Department of Police and Public Safety is devoted to the relentless pursuit of excellence in service to our campus community and the broader DeKalb community. Our mission is to serve and protect the university community in support of the advancement of knowledge and student-career and life success.
NIU focuses on an educational experience that prepares students with a broad set of rich liberal arts knowledge and skills as well as depth in their disciplinary interests. We intend to see that our students can pursue this experience with an abiding sense of security. We accept our stewardship with pride, serving others with integrity, honor, and the highest ethical standards to maintain public confidence and to protect our community.
The department uses a collaborative approach to proactively address public safety issues such as crime and the fear of crime. Standards of ethical behavior in law enforcement are based on the commitment to follow core values rooted in the history of policing and public safety.
To realize our vision and accomplish our mission, we "C.A.R.E." and hold these values as our basis for ethically-inspired leadership.
- Commitment: We are committed to providing exceptional service to our community through teamwork, engagement, and listening in an open exchange of ideas.
- Accountability: We are accountable to our community and will maintain the highest standards of integrity by taking responsibility for our actions and promoting excellence in service to others.
- Respect: We respect the socially rich and diverse people that we serve by treating all people with fairness and dignity. We also recognize that our greatest resource is our people and that our commitment to excellence in service is achieved by having a work environment of trust and mutual respect.
- Education: We will proactively educate the community in crime prevention and personal safety, empowering people to have a shared responsibility for safety and security in the community.
Primary Function:
The position of Police Officer is a responsible professional public safety position with full executive law enforcement authority. Individuals working in this capacity protect the safety and security of persons, property, equipment and facilities, and protect and preserve individual civil rights in and around Northern Illinois University controlled lands. Police personnel enforce all applicable Federal, State and local laws, rules, regulations and University policies and procedures. Police officers maintain the public peace and order and assist in facilitating the adjudication of infractions of the University judicial Code and State or Federal Criminal or Civil Code violations.
General Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of a police officer include but are not limited to:
- Enforce fair and impartial State criminal, traffic and motor vehicle laws, and adopted edicts from the University Board of Trustees through a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Illinois State Statutes and the University's policies, procedures, rules and regulations and how they should be applied.
- Collecting information relative to civil and criminal investigations.
- Preparing cases for and providing testimony in court and preparing detailed reports on assigned complaints and communicating the outcomes in formal judicial and informal non-judicial settings effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Assist other jurisdictions upon request in non-emergency or emergency circumstances as provided for in the parent agency policies.
- Operate communications equipment while temporarily functioning as a telecommunicator, observing all of the policies and procedures pertaining to that position and caring for and maintaining the equipment in their control.
- Promote exceptional relationships with the university community.
- Performing building security and parking regulation enforcement.
- Police officers in their capacity as First Responders are required to render effective medical assistance within their level of certification and expertise as may be necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of anyone requiring such assistance.
- Police officers are, at a minimum, required to function as First Responders and maintain such certification throughout the term of their employment. Cost of initial certification and regular maintenance will be provided by the department, if necessary.
- Preventing death or injury and protecting property while preserving the public peace, order and tranquility through the use of sophisticated technologies, aggressive mobile and foot patrols, covert and overt surveillance initiatives and the employment of appropriate investigative strategies.
- Operating and maintaining department equipment in accordance with agency policy and procedures including but not limited to: emergency vehicles, RADAR, LIDAR or other speed measuring devices, breath/alcohol analyzers, mobile computing systems, automated defibrillators and office machines.
- Engaging in regular foot and mobile patrol activities, responding to alarms, handling emergency complaints, serving warrants as required, engaging in self-initiated police activities and transporting prisoners.
- Directing motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, conducting motor vehicle accident investigations, preparing required state motor vehicle accident reports and maintaining complete accurate, articulate accident investigation documents.
- Performing other related duties as may be required by supervisory or command personnel.
Minimum Required Qualifications:
CREDENTIALS TO BE VERIFIED BY PLACEMENT OFFICER:
- High school graduation or equivalent.
- Possession of a valid driver's license.
- No record of conviction of a felony or misdemeanors as identified in the Illinois Police Training Act (50 ILCS 705 et seq.), or a crime involving moral turpitude.
- Eligibility for bonding, if required by the employing institution.
- Successful completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Officers Training course as prescribed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board, if required by the employing institution. All recruit law enforcement officers who successfully complete this course after September 1, 1984 are required to successfully pass the Law Enforcement Officers Certification Examination. (Applicants lacking such training at time of appointment will be required to complete such requirement during, and as a part of, their probationary period of employment in this class.)
- Must be at least 21 years of age upon employment. (This requirement may be further defined by local recruitment, examination, and employment policies, provided age requirements have been met with regard to all other applicable state and federal regulations in this respect.)
Conditions of Employment:
There will be a 50-mile Residency Restriction. All employees must live within 50-miles of the agency (straight line), prior to completing their one-year probationary period.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):
- Integrity (Being honest and ethical.)
- Knowledge of Principles, Practices, and Procedures of Police Work (Ability to develop and maintain working knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of police work (such as Illinois Criminal Statutes, Illinois vehicle code, local ordinances, University rules and regulations, and civil law related to the police mission.))
- Verbal Communication (Ability to verbally communicate effectively during normal as well as stressful and emergency circumstances; ability to communicate clearly in writing, using correct grammar and spelling.)
- Decision Making and Problem Solving (Ability to analyze information and evaluate the potential results to choose the most appropriate solution.)
- Verbal Comprehension (Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions.)
- Information Seeking (Ability to pay attention to detail; gather and arrange information; and prepare complete, concise, and accurate reports.)
- Conflict Management (Ability to handle complaints, settle disputes, and resolve grievances and conflicts.)
- Knowledge of areas such as (but not limited to) psychology and customer service
- Defensive Techniques (Ability to develop and maintain skill in the use of firearms and other defensive techniques (armed and unarmed).)
- Vehicle Operation (Ability to operate a vehicle in a safe manner during normal as well as stressful and emergency circumstances.)
- Computer Skills (Ability to use computer hardware and software (such as charting, data base, and word processing software).)
- Ability to develop and maintain working knowledge of University community geography.
- Ability to enforce laws, ordinances, rules and regulations with tact, impartiality, and firmness.
- Ability to mentally and physically react effectively, quickly, calmly, and rationally during time of conflict and emergencies.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Police officers must possess a comprehensive understanding of the State of Illinois Criminal Code, Illinois Vehicle Code and the policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the university.
- They must have a basic understanding of the human anatomy and current life supporting interventions and practices.
- Police officers are required to have a thorough knowledge and understanding of how to engage in effective mediation, facilitation, negotiation and de-escalation activities.
- Every officer must have the cognitive capacity to read, understand, interpret and apply the appropriate legal texts and academic documents that provide the information necessary to develop the knowledge and skills mentioned above.
LATERAL CANDIDATES (already certified police officers, please follow this link / copy paste if needed):
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/71172
The position will include a 50-mile residency restriction, prior to completing your 12-month probationary period.
Application Procedures:
For more information on The Department of Police and Public Safety please visit:
https://www.niu.edu/publicsafety/index.shtml
Please complete your new officer/original entry application profile at:
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/74927
Upload all required documents as necessary. Incomplete materials will not be considered. Applications may be reviewed, and interviews may occur immediately but will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
To ensure full consideration, submit your completed materials online by January 7, 2024. Faxes, mail, or hand deliveries will not be accepted.
EEO Statement, ADA Accommodation, Clery Information, and Visa Policy:
In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Acting Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator Altgeld Hall 238 TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu 815-753-5560 Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education Citigroup Center 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475 Chicago, IL 60661-4544 312-730-1560 OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to provide accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. This form can be obtained by contacting the Office of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) at 815-753-8399.
NIU provides information regarding campus security, personal and fire safety, including topics such as: crime prevention, emergency response procedures and crime reporting policies, in addition to crime and fire statistics for the most recent three calendar years.
The Annual Security Report containing security and safety information is available at www.safety.niu.edu/clery or by contacting the University Police Department and Public Safety Department at 815-753-9628 to receive a hard copy.
The Annual Fire Safety Report is available at www.niu.edu/clery/fire_report.pdf or by contacting the Environmental Health and Safety Department at 815-753-0404 to receive a hard copy.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document from upon hire.
