School Safety & Community Resource Officer

Town of Pagosa Springs; Pagosa Springs (CO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Pagosa Springs is seeking a Community Resource Officer to support a safe school environment by patrolling district property, building relationships with students, staff, and the community, and enforcing laws and campus rules.

The role involves collaboration with administrators and safety teams, providing training, and acting as a liaison with public safety agencies to deter crime and protect lives.

Qualifications

• Valid Colorado Driver's License
• Colorado P.O.S.T. certification required or provisional
• Pass physical and psychological exams, background checks and drug testing as per requirements

Responsibilities

• Patrol district property for suspicious activity and unauthorized entry.
• Provide in-service training to help administrators handle security matters.
• Collaborate with school leadership on safety protocols and procedures.
• Serve as a visible law enforcement officer on campus and enforce campus rules.
• Respond to crimes in progress and conduct preliminary investigations; prepare reports.

Skills

Law enforcement knowledge

Communication skills

Emergency response

De-escalation techniques

Education

Colorado P.O.S.T. or provisional certification

Tools

Radar

Cameras

Fingerprinting

Job description

The Community Resource Officer supports and facilitates the educational process by providing a safe and secure environment through building and establishing meaningful relationships with students and staff and proactively interacting with the school community to ensure the enforcement town and state laws, preservation of public order, protection of life and prevention, detection, or investigation of crime. The incumbent will work effectively with students, parents, school personnel and community agencies to support teaching and learning in the schools. The Community Resource Officer will patrol district property to protect students, staff and visitors from physical harm and prevent loss to district property resulting in criminal activity.

Essential duties of the Community Resource Officer include, but are not limited to:

• Patrol district property for suspicious activity, unauthorized persons on campus, or unauthorized entry after hours.
• Provide in-service training to help administrators be better prepared to deal with security related matters and serve as a wrap-around services team member to support student success.
• Work closely with the principal and staff of the school to foster a better understanding of the law enforcement function to maintain a secure learning environment. Proactively work with the school's leadership team and collaborate with school's administrative team on safety protocols and procedures.
• Serve as a visible and active law enforcement officer on campus dealing with law-related areas such as drugs, traffic, trespassing, fighting and thefts. Enforce campus rules and regulations.
• Conduct routine patrols of assigned facilities to include buildings, parking lots and district owned, leased, or rented property; Operate district equipment to include alarm systems and surveillance equipment when necessary.
• Take law enforcement action to protect against unwanted intruders. Identify and prevent (through counseling and referral) delinquent behavior, including substance abuse. Make arrests only when necessary to protect students, staff and school property.
• Work collaboratively with public safety agencies to serve as a liaison between school and community to deter criminal and delinquent behavior.
• Conduct courses and workshops for students, staff and parents to promote social awareness, relationship skills, self-management, self-awareness and responsible decision making.
• Coordinate security for crowd and vehicle control at extra-curricular activities and special events. Monitor and instruct students, visitors, and district personnel on proper and lawful campus or facility behavior. Help to define and maintain a respectful code of conduct.
• Assist other law enforcement agencies with incidents involving local criminal activity that may impact the safety of the environment for students and staff. Serve as the initial first responder and school safety coordinator for campus emergencies.
• Respond to calls on crime against person or property in progress, report crimes that have already occurred, and intrusion/fire alarms; perform preliminary investigation at the scene by gathering and preserving evidence, taking statements. Prepare written reports, maintain daily logs, and obtain and serve arrest and search warrants as necessary; testify in court as required.
• Subdue offenders and criminals by using the minimum amount of force needed to protect the officer and other persons.
• Provide classroom presentations on crime prevention and fundamental concepts and structure of the law. Teach law related education, de-escalation techniques, and conflict resolution to students and staff.
• Provide instructions and directions to others as it pertains to law enforcement matters and emergency situations.
• Conduct security assessments for schools; guard, check and secure doors, rooms, buildings, and equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Eligible candidates should meet the following requirements:

• possess a valid Colorado Driver's License
• possess a Colorado P.O.S.T or provisional certification; and
• be able to pass physical and psychological exams, background checks and drug testing, as provided for by State and Town requirements and policies.

Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques and equipment; applicable Federal, State, County laws and Municipal ordinances and departmental rules and regulations; NCIC, UCR/IBR codes and their proper application; methods of arrest; legal liabilities associated with arrest, use of force, and law enforcement; practices and procedures for emergency vehicle operation; specialized equipment such as that needed to document field sobriety tests, radar, radio, camera, finger printing, evidence collection, etc.; hazardous waste classifications and emergency procedures; investigative procedures and practices; courtroom procedures, testimony, and laws of evidence.
Proficient Skill in the use of firearms, non-lethal weapons, police vehicle/emergency vehicle operation, emergency equipment, which may include breath test devices, radar units, and restraining devices.
Ability to react effectively in emergency and stress situations; exhibit imagination, initiative and problem-solving capability in coping with a variety of law enforcement situations; follow standard safety practices and procedures common to law enforcement work; perform work requiring good physical condition; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public.