Village Public Safety Officer

Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska; Alaska; On-site; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) to enhance community safety in Southeast Alaska. This vital role encompasses law enforcement, fire prevention, and emergency medical response, ensuring the well-being of the community. The VPSO will engage in proactive crime prevention, conduct safety inspections, and coordinate search and rescue operations, all while working closely with local agencies. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a culturally rich environment, providing essential services that foster community trust and safety. If you're passionate about public safety and community service, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien with intent to become a citizen.
• Must be 21 years of age or older with good moral character.

Responsibilities

• Ensure public safety through law enforcement and emergency medical response.
• Conduct fire safety inspections and maintain firefighting equipment.
• Participate in community-wide Search and Rescue planning.

Skills

Law Enforcement

Emergency Medical Response

Fire Prevention and Suppression

Search and Rescue Operations

Cross-Cultural Communication

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

Emergency Medical Vehicles

Firefighting Apparatus

Job description

Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Job Description

Job Class: Village Public Safety Officer
Department: Public Safety
Salary Grade(s): Starting at $36.29
Location of Work: Southeast Alaska
Status: Active
Type of Position: Non-Exempt
Covered Position: Yes
Employment Category: Regular

PURPOSE
The Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) is responsible for ensuring public safety within the community. Primary responsibilities include law enforcement, fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical response, probation and parole monitoring, search and rescue operations, and other related public safety services.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports to: Public Safety Coordinator and RPSOs

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Law Enforcement
   - Respond to calls for services, secure scenes, and gather evidence.
   - Interview victims and witnesses.
   - Enforce state laws and local ordinances through patrol duties.
   - Investigate felony and misdemeanor crimes along with traffic violations.
   - Assist Alaska State Troopers as needed.
   - Complete required reports and documentation.
   - Implement crime prevention and community policing strategies.
2. Fire Prevention, Safety, and Suppression
   - Develop and provide training for the volunteer fire department.
   - Operate and maintain firefighting apparatus and vehicles.
   - Conduct home and public building fire safety inspections.
   - Maintain inventory and schedule maintenance for firefighting equipment.
3. Probation and Parole Monitoring
   - Conduct bi-monthly personal contact with assigned probationers and parolees.
   - Obtain and document urine samples, reporting results to the District Probation Office (DPO).
   - Provide updated photographs of supervised sex offenders annually or upon physical appearance changes.
4. Emergency Medical Response
   - Maintain EMT I or ETT certification as required.
   - Administer basic first aid and CPR when needed.
   - Operate and maintain emergency medical vehicles and equipment.
   - Coordinate with EMS teams and participate in emergency medical response efforts.
5. Search and Rescue Operations
   - Develop and participate in community-wide Search and Rescue planning.
   - Establish contacts with external agencies such as Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard.
   - Serve as a liaison for search and rescue operations.
6. Other Public Safety Services
   - Participate in public safety training and development initiatives.
   - Maintain detailed logs and reports related to VPSO activities.
   - Work a minimum of 37.5 hours per week, including office hours, patrol duties, fire inspections, and school visits.
   - Remain on call 24/7 unless alternative arrangements have been approved.

NECESSARY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
- Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding programming matters.
- Adhere to the APIA Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.
- Comply with Alaska State Troopers VPSO SAR Manual.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Community Services Program Coordinator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien with intent to become a citizen.
- Must be 21 years of age or older.
- Must possess good moral character.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Must pass a medical evaluation confirming physical, visual, and hearing ability to perform VPSO duties.
- Must hold a valid Alaska Driver’s License.
- Must pass a thorough background and a psychological evaluation.

MAY NOT HAVE
- Any felony conviction.
- A misdemeanor conviction within the last five years.
- A misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.
- A misdemeanor assault conviction within the past ten years related to domestic violence.
- A history of illegal controlled substance use (excluding marijuana use over one year ago).
- Two or more Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) convictions.
- Previous denial or revocation of VPSO certification.
- Discharge or forced resignation from a law enforcement position for cause.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Run 1.5 miles in less than 17 minutes.
- Perform a minimum of X push-ups.
- Perform a minimum of X sit-ups.
- Lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
- Demonstrate basic swimming skills.
- Successfully complete Alaska Law Enforcement Training (ALET) within one year of hire.

UNUSUAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OR RESTRICTIONS
- Heavy physical effort (lifting/carrying up to 50 lbs.).
- Reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, turning, twisting.
- Standing and walking for extended periods.
- Occasional sedentary work.

VISION REQUIREMENTS
- Far acuity: Ability to see clearly at 20 feet or more.
- Near acuity: Ability to see clearly at 20 inches or less.
- Depth perception: Ability to judge distances accurately.
- Color vision: Ability to distinguish and identify different colors.

CONDITIONS OF HIRE
All employment at Tlingit & Haida is “at will”. This means that the employee or Tlingit & Haida may terminate employment at any time and for any reason. Unless specified in writing, no term of employment is expressed or implied for this position.
Tlingit & Haida is a non-tolerance workplace. All regular employees may be required to pass pre-employment and subsequent random drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
Tlingit & Haida requires a criminal background check to be conducted on all employees. All employment offers are conditional until federal criminal background check results verify your eligibility to work for Tlingit & Haida.