POLICE OFFICER

Duke Careers; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 60,195 - 95,907; Full time

Job summary

Duke University seeks a Police Officer to join a service‑oriented team protecting the Duke community. You will communicate with residents, supervisees, and peers, showing empathy and respect for all backgrounds while upholding constitutional rights and safety.

Applicants must hold NC Basic Law Enforcement Certification or be eligible, plus a valid NC driver’s license and a minimum age of 20. Vision requirements also apply. Duke offers comprehensive benefits and competitive compensation.

Qualifications

• Certified police officer with NC certification or eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively and respectfully with community members, supervisors, and peers.
• Display empathy and caring for Duke Community members and non-members.
• Treat all individuals with dignity, respect and fundamental fairness; uphold constitutional guarantees.
• De-escalate difficult, volatile, violent or threatening behaviour while remaining calm and empathetic.
• Resolve conflicts between individuals, groups, or between citizens and the University or government.
• Maintain physical fitness per POPAT standards and perform duties (traffic stops, recalls, investigations, events).
• Write reports and conduct preliminary investigations for criminal and non-criminal incidents.
• Testify professionally in court or proceedings and cooperate with investigations.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

De-escalation

Fairness and respect

Physical fitness

Education

North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Certification

North Carolina driver’s license

Job description

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Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives each member of our community brings. As a Police Officer, you’ll be part of a trusted, service‑oriented team dedicated to protecting the Duke community. You will play an essential role in ensuring safety, building relationships, and supporting individuals from all backgrounds with empathy, respect, and professionalism.

North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Certification; a valid North Carolina driver’s license; minimum age limit of 20 years; corrected vision shall be at least 20/30 (Snellen) for both eyes together using only soft contact lenses (SCLs); uncorrected vision shall not be worse than 20/200 (Snellen) for both eyes together.

Be Bold.

What You’ll Do:

As a Duke Police Officer, you will:

Communicate effectively and respectfully with members of the community, supervisors and peers. Display empathy and caring for both Duke Community members and non members. Treat all individuals with dignity, respect and fundamental fairness.Ensure the constitutional guarantees of all individuals. Uphold the sanctity of all lives in every encounter. De‑escalate difficult situations, volatile, violent or threatening behaviour while remaining calm, empathetic and maintaining impulse control.

Resolve conflict between individuals, groups, or between citizens and the University or the government.Maintain a level of physical fitness, consistent with the POPAT, that allows for:

• standing inside or outside for the duration of a shift
• running in response to calls for service
• climbing or descending multiple flights of stairs
• climb or descend any ladder
• perform CPR
• assist with the lifting or carrying of persons
• lift and carry a fire extinguisher up to 40 lbs
• lift and carry assorted job related tools, including but not limited to pylons, chains, traffic and directional signs and breaching tools
• Effect arrests, either by gaining compliance or by using the appropriate level of force and serve civil or criminal processes.
• Protect individuals in danger of physical harm and assist those who cannot help themselves, including the intoxicated, the addicted, the mentally ill, the physically disabled, the elderly and the young.
• Assist citizens in returning to normal after a crime or incident
• refer citizens to appropriate resources
• reduce fear
• Write reports and conduct preliminary investigations, consistent with expectations, for both criminal and non‑criminal incidents.
• Conduct follow up investigations when necessary and/or ensure that all pertinent information is documented and referred to appropriate investigating agency or department.
• Testify professionally in criminal and civil court proceedings, at employee grievance hearings, at student conduct hearing or otherwise cooperate with the court system or other departmental proceedings to resolve criminal or non‑criminal issues.
• Direct motorized, non‑motorized, and pedestrian traffic.Conduct traffic stops, checkpoints and safety checks.
• Ensure the free and safe flow of traffic on all public roads, private vehicular areas and sidewalks and pedestrian paths.
• Work a variety of assignments supporting sporting events, concerts, public demonstrations and other special events.
• Many of these assignments fall outside of the normal work schedule.Proactively assist community members to solve problems.
• Identify problems and conditions that have the potential for becoming more serious problems for individuals, the police, the university or the larger community.
• Engage in community activities and individual relationships that foster trust between the police department and others, and between peers and units within the police department.

Choose Duke.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $28.94 to USD $46.09. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family‑friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).