Police Officer 2 - Full Time - (PN: 20080777)

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health; Athens (OH); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Ohio Department of Behavioral Health is seeking a full-time Police Officer 2 in Athens, Ohio. The role involves patrol, security, and enforcement duties across hospital grounds and facilities, with duties including responding to emergencies, traffic control, and assisting care staff.

Orientation lasts four weeks with potential weekend work. Starting pay is $28.25 per hour plus a $1.25 shift differential for nights; opportunities for increases follow six months of performance and annual raises.

Qualifications

• Official peace officer certification or completed OPOTC/related training.
• Active peace officer experience is preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver's license. Probationary period is one year.

Responsibilities

• Patrols property and enforces laws and regulations.
• Monitors traffic and parking; issues tickets as needed.
• Investigates complaints and reports major incidents to authorities.
• Performs security duties at events and assists staff and patients.
• Maintains logs, writes incident reports, and participates in drills and exams.

Skills

Law Enforcement

Education

Basic peace officer training

20 yrs active duty as peace officer

Tools

Surveillance

Security

Transportation

Job description

Organization

Behavioral Health - Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

Please note:

Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name—the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

What You’ll Do At DBH

• Patrols property for open doors, gates, windows, fires or other hazards; assists in emergency/disaster situations (e.g., evacuation of buildings, inclement weather, hospital codes); prevents crimes & enforces laws, rules & regulations; checks identity of persons on grounds & nature.
• Monitors traffic conditions & parking facilities to ensure efficient flow of traffic, checks parking permits, issues traffic tickets as necessary; apprehends & arrests violators; files affidavits; serves warrants & testifies in court as required.
• Investigates complaints, conducts criminal, administrative & accident investigations; cooperates with Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) & other agencies with authorized investigations by ex-changing information pertinent to efficient hospital operation, reports major incidents to OSHP & others as directed; conducts searches & patrols area for possible escaped or missing patients and return them to facility; makes inquiries, documents findings & communicates with hospital administration regarding sensitive issues.
• Performs variety of service functions (e.g., performs security duty at special events, responds to emergencies & makes emergency runs in patrol car, escorts, protects & assists visitors, assists nursing, medical or direct care personnel in handling/restraining, transporting & checking curfew of patients/clients, assists in opening/starting cars for staff & visitors having mechanical problems, secure patient valuables).
• Performs routine administrative duties related to police work (e.g., keeps log of security conditions, writes unusual incident reports, answers telephone, relays messages via radio & telephone, files & types of reports; assists with fire drills, key control & other safety/security inspection) & reviews changes in law enforcement & emergency procedures; performs fingerprint scan & facilitates background checks of potential DBH staff.

This is an hourly position covered by the State of Ohio Unit 2 bargaining unit, with a pay range of 10 on the Unit 2 Pay Range Schedule. This position is located within our Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare Facility at 100 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701. Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information

• Starting at $28.25 per hour
• Shift Differential supplement of $1.25 for every hour worked between 5:00pm-6:00am
• Must be able to complete a 4 week (business days Monday-Friday) full-time orientation.
• May work weekends and holidays; may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpredictable patient behavior.
• Training and development required to remain in the classification after employment.

Position Qualifications

Possession of certificate having successfully completed approved basic peace officer training program or completion of 20 yrs. active duty as peace officer per Section 109.78(D) of Ohio revised code; valid driver's license. Probationary period is one year.

Note

Applicant must be able to successfully perform Ohio Peace Officer Basic Training Program (OPOTC) Fitness Testing Entry Standards for New Recruits

Job Skills

Law Enforcement

Technical Skills

Behavioral Health, Communications, Security, Transportation, Surveillance

Professional Skills

Critical Thinking, Attention to Detail, Ethics and Values, Verval Communication, Written Communication

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.

Organization

Behavioral Health - Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare

Agency Contact Name and Information

[e-mail]

Unposting Date

Ongoing

Work Location

Appalachia Behav - Athens

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Athens County-Athens

Schedule

Full-time

Classified Indicator

Classified

Technical Skills

Surveillance, Behavioral Health, Communications, Security, Transportation

Professional Skills

Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking, Ethics and Values, Verbal Communication, Written Communication

Agency Overview

Police Officer 2

Police Officer 2 - Full Time

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders. We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office located in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, OH.

Who We Are

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

DBH Values

• Service-Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused)
• Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent)
• Value Driven
• Innovative (Yes Before No)
• Strong Sense of Urgency

Our team of highly qualified professionals advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. Join our collaborative, service-oriented environment, where you will be respected and valued.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is proud to be an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well-being of all employees, including those in recovery. We foster an inclusive, stigma-free environment where individuals impacted by mental health and substance use challenges are valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our workplace culture promotes wellness, second-chance hiring, and recovery-informed policies that reflect our mission to serve Ohioans with compassion and respect, both in the community and within our own team.