Public safety K-9 Armed Officer

Atrium Health; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Atrium Health in Winston-Salem is seeking a vigilant Public Safety Officer to patrol hospital entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, and parking structures, ensuring threats are neutralized and escalated through proper Public Safety procedures. You will assist during EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios, providing an additional Public Safety presence.

Responsibilities include coordinating with law enforcement, maintaining equipment and training, and delivering security education

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• K-9 certification with 16 hours monthly maintenance training; certification within 3 months from hire.
• IAHSS CHSO certification must be obtained within 2 years of appointment.
• Armed guard license mandated for NC teammates (NC), FOID for IL teammates, CCW for WI teammates.
• Must pass background, drug screen, and pre-employment screenings; ongoing compliance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct patrols at hospital entrances, EDs, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors.
• Assist during EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios.
• Support public safety operations including alarms, escorts, and responding to safety calls.
• Maintain training records and use of deployments and incidents per policy.
• Maintain K-9 related equipment and vehicle stewardship.
• Engage in liaison rounding and security education for staff and teams.
• Coordinate with local law enforcement and first responders to ensure policy compliance.

Skills

K-9 Certification

Armed Guard License

Verbal De-escalation

CPR Training

Conducted Energy Weapon (TASER)

Public Safety

Background check

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

• Conduct person-borne firearm-detection patrols at hospital entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors, ensuring threats are neutralized and escalated through proper Public Safety procedures.
• Assist during EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios providing an additional Public Safety presence.
• Support general Public Safety Operations including alarms, escorts, suspicious persons/property, and response to safety calls.
• Maintain accurate training and utilization for all deployments, alerts and incidents in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintain all assigned canine-related equipment and company-assigned vehicles consistent with departmental management policies.
• Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate close partnerships with all department and units. Delivers security awareness education to team members to leverage their assistance in the overall security of the site.
• Liaisons with state and local law enforcement and first responder agencies. Coordinates, briefs, and monitors every law enforcement prisoner patient guard to ensure policy compliance and prevent unsafe practices.
• Maintains current Department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, stabilization, CPR, application of clinical restraints, conducted energy weapon (Taser), to include training on any/all department-issued equipment and/or requirements identified in the Annual Training Plan.

Major Responsibilities

• Conduct person-borne firearm-detection patrols at hospital entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors, ensuring threats are neutralized and escalated through proper Public Safety procedures.
• Assist during EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios providing an additional Public Safety presence.
• Support general Public Safety Operations including alarms, escorts, suspicious persons/property, and response to safety calls.
• Maintain accurate training and utilization for all deployments, alerts and incidents in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintain all assigned canine-related equipment and company-assigned vehicles consistent with departmental management policies.
• Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate close partnerships with all department and units. Delivers security awareness education to team members to leverage their assistance in the overall security of the site.
• Liaisons with state and local law enforcement and first responder agencies. Coordinates, briefs, and monitors every law enforcement prisoner patient guard to ensure policy compliance and prevent unsafe practices.
• Maintains current Department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, stabilization, CPR, application of clinical restraints, conducted energy weapon (Taser), to include training on any/all department-issued equipment and/or requirements identified in the Annual Training Plan.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

• K-9 Certification through International Police Work Dog Association with assigned canine, with at least 16 hours of monthly K-9 related maintenance training (Certification must be received within the first 3 months from hire date.)
• Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) must be obtained on a one-time basis within two years of appointment to this role. Recertification is not required.
• For North Carolina teammates, an Armed Guard License issued by NC Private Protective Services maintained through training and competency assessments.
• For Illinois teammates: Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) issued by the Illinois State Police.
• For Wisconsin teammates: Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
• For Illinois teammates, must meet State of IL Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licensing requirements and be able to obtain a Firearm Control Card (FCC) for Proprietary Personnel within 90 days of hire.
• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicle.
• Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (e.g. TASER) use within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.

Education Required

• High School Diploma or GED

Experience Required

• 4 years of experience in a security or public safety role that includes experiences in responding to emergent situations and identifying and resolving issues that pose a potential risk to patients, visitors, staff and/or property; or completion of 30 credit hours in a Criminal Justice, Police Science, or similar course of study from an accredited college or university and 3 years' work experience with 1 year of experience in a security/safety role

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Illinois team members must have completed the State of Illinois 40-hour armed course with semi-automatic pistol endorsement.
• Willingness to carry a department authorized firearm while on duty.
• Illinois team members must annually achieve a passing score of 70% or greater on the State of IL Mandatory Annual Active Duty and Retired Officer Handgun Qualification Course of Fire, un-assisted. Probationary Officers must complete range qualification within their 90-day probationary period and must attend the first qualification date within their probationary period. (Only reflects Illinois requirements.)
• Demonstrated ability to exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning while maintaining a courteous and tactful demeanor in dealings with employees, visitors, and patients, even if they are verbally aggressive persons.
• Demonstrated experience in quickly assessing dangerous situations and taking appropriate action.
• Demonstrated ability in verbal and written communications.
• Ability to use a computer to document work (Microsoft Word, Excel, navigating a web page, and database entry).
• “Must successfully pass background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical and psychological screening assessment post-offer, pre-employment and periodically thereafter. Teammates already employed in Public Safety Officer position prior to “7-28-24” will have 18 months to comply.”
• Ability to defend self and/or others in case of physical confrontations when de-escalation efforts fail and there is cause to detain a non-cooperative person who is committing a criminal act or fleeing and possess the ability to physically restrain a person against their will.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people; ability to hear radio and telephone communications at both high and low decibels.
• Ability to communicate via radio and telephone with clear diction without impediments.
• Must have the ability to interact appropriately with all team members, patients and visitors, especially under difficult circumstances.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Have 20/20 vision in both eyes or correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
• May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, and radiation hazards. Protective clothing must be worn as necessary.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Frequent exposure to aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations.
• Must be able to handle personal stress and possible violence.
• Must be physically fit and able to walk all areas of the facilities and grounds, to restrain those who need restraint and be able to assist nursing staff with lifting patients of all sizes.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.