Armed Public Safety Officer; APSO

Position Specifics

The Penn State University Police and Public Safety Department is responsible for protecting and serving more than 100,000 students, employees, and visitors across campuses located throughout Pennsylvania. We are a cohesive, centralized department with sworn police officers who possess full law enforcement authority and serve all 22 Penn State campuses, with headquarters located at University Park. We are currently seeking a non-sworn Armed Public Safety Officer (APSO) to support Department of Defense (DoD)–cleared facilities at the University’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL).

APSOs are responsible for the protection of sensitive materials and property, employee safety, preliminary security investigative duties, and other related responsibilities within a mission-driven, high-security environment.

• Monitor and enforce University and Department of Defense regulations.
• Patrol designated buildings, ensuring all required security controls and measures are engaged and functioning properly.
• Respond to alarms; investigate incidents; take appropriate action; and communicate via radio calls, including requests for assistance or service as needed.
• Conduct preliminary investigations of security and safety incidents.
• Respond to fires, medical emergencies, and other hazardous situations; effect emergency rescue; suppress fires; and take other appropriate action.
• Establish and monitor employee and visitor control procedures, including device controls, restricted personnel access, and the search of materials entering and exiting buildings.
• Assist with special University events and other activities as needed.

• Outstanding customer service orientation; excellent verbal and written communication skills; and strong analytical, judgment, ethical decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a mission-driven organizational structure and coordinate with outside agencies as required.
• Ability to provide effective, honest, and credible testimony at court hearings.
• Ability to consistently uphold an excellent standard of conduct, in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

Please include a cover letter and resume with your application.

The starting contractual base salary is $57,766.40 as of July 1, 2026. Annual rate changes and service time increases apply. The current contract expires June 30, 2028.

• General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School (HS)
• 0 to 1 year of relevant experience
• Required
  
  Certifications:
  
  Pennsylvania Driver's License (Department of Transportation);
  First Aid Certification (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other accredited organization);
  Firearms Qualification (Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission); CLEAN Certification (Pennsylvania State Police);
  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or other accredited organization);
  Act 235 Lethal Weapons Training (Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission)
• A current PA Act 235 certification is preferred; however, candidates must be eligible for and able to successfully complete all PA Act 235 training and certification requirements within six months of hire. Training will be sponsored by the University.
• Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance as a condition of employment.

• Successful completion of a University Police and Public Safety background investigation
• Fingerprint background check
• Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen (required for ARL sponsorship)

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Due to the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of this position, successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a…