Sergeant - VUPS

About the Work Unit

Vanderbilt University Public Safety comes under the charge of the Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor/Chief of Police for the Division of Administration. The Public Safety Department includes a staff of over 300 people. The department is organized into two Bureaus:
Campus & Administrative, and VU Medical Center, which both are led by a Deputy Chief of Police. The Department employs commissioned officers, non‑academy‑trained officers for security‑related functions, and administrative personnel.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Performs and provides, at the shift level, direct field supervision of police, master police, and security officers in routine patrol, directed patrol, community policing, and special event activities.
• Reviews and assists officers as necessary on incident reports, accident reports, and any other such reports prepared by officers daily. Ensures the accuracy of all information on reports including case number, report number, and classification. Prepares routine and special reports as necessary. Submits reports to the appropriate supervisor for final review and approval.
• May train new police officers and evaluate as outlined in the Field Training Program.
• Monitor and coach others for improved work performance and participate in counseling sessions as necessary.
• Conducts performance evaluations fairly and impartially.
• Creates Operations Plans for various special events and law enforcement activities.

• First responder for all emergency calls to include but not be limited to the following: alarms (fire, panic, holdup), hazardous material spills and leaks, traffic crashes, criminal activity in progress, assistance for injured/sick, and crimes in progress.
• Responder for non‑emergency calls to include but not be limited to the following law enforcement or safety and security concerns:
  Situations that indicate potential for violence or potential volatility and Situations that require coordination between VUPD and other VU departments including members of the VU community who have orders of protection on file, no directory or alias patients, sensitive student, staff, or faculty issues.
• Responds to general calls for service such as accessing and/or locking buildings, assisting motorist, or providing personal safety.
• Provides escorts of money and persons for protection of such.
• Assists other agencies as requested.
• Provide backup for other officers as necessary.
• Assists medical personnel in the detention of psychiatric patients.
• Provides protection and secure transportation services for psychiatric patients to other facilities or courts.

• Serves the community through proactive patrol of assigned areas working with zone contacts to identify potential security‑related situations and develop crime prevention strategies.
• Identifies potential security‑related conditions and takes the lead in problem‑solving through partnerships to develop prevention strategies.
• Provides safety, crime prevention, and community policing information to contacts over the course of patrol duties.
• Coordinates with VPD Community Relations personnel regarding physical security, safety information, and other related crime prevention issues within their area.
• Develops rapport with members of the university community as well as surrounding areas; participates in community relations activities.
• Assists community members as necessary when dealing with the criminal justice system and other related matters.

• Provides initial investigation for all calls of criminal activity and accidents.
• Protects and maintains crime scene as necessary.
• Coordinates with detectives regarding cases that require the additional expertise or involvement of CIU.
• Interview victims, witnesses, and suspects and inform them of options available and additional processes to follow.
• Photographs and processes crime scenes or coordinates resources for…