Police Officer K-9 Handler - Hospital Police Department

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

*Must have your General North Carolina Criminal Justice Certification to apply to this role*

This position is eligible for a $15,000 commitment incentive spread over a two-year period.

Summary:

This position is responsible for protecting life and property while ensuring the safety and security of patients, visitors, staff, and facilities across UNC Health camp his position performs a full range of law enforcement duties, including patrol operations, investigations, emergency response, crime prevention, and community engagement.

The K-9 Handler is also responsible for the care, training, deployment, andoperational readiness of an assigned explosives and weapons detection canine.The handler utilizes the canine team to conduct proactive and reactiveexplosives and weapons detection operations, support special events, assistwith threat assessments, and enhance the department's overall security posture.The K-9 team serves as a highly visible deterrent while providing specializeddetection capabilities to safeguard UNC Health facilities, personnel, andvisitors.

Responsibilities:
1. Emergency Response- Responds appropriately and in a timely manner to any and all emergency situations as well as activated security and panic alarms. Participates as a functioning part of the Emergency Response Team to provide or prevent access to the involved area as required in emergency situations. Maintains a working knowledge of emergency codes and UNC Hospitals Police response procedures.
2. Conflict Resolution - Mediates and resolves conflicts or disturbances involving patients, visitors, or staff. Use de-escalation techniques to manage potentially volatile situations. Assists with mental health patient custody issues and also assists in both arranging transportation to other facilities.
3. Community Policing- Protects and serves the hospital staff, patients and visitors of UNC Health Care, through law enforcement and crime prevention. Police Officers patrol campuses and investigate complaints and violations of State laws and local ordinances using the Community Oriented Policing philosophy. Develops and implements preventative patrol techniques and performs specialized duties to deter crime and promote effective safety and security practices across campuses.
4. Investigations and Incident Report Writing- Enters incident reports into the Police-Pak system in a complete, concise, and proper manner. Investigates and documents all incidents of a criminal nature, including follow up investigations. Apprehends and arrests criminals. Submits all paperwork for arrest, felony prosecution reports, and uniform citations in a timely manner. Runs criminal history checks and utilizes NCIC/DCI/CJLeads/NCAWARE. Takes custody of found items, secures them properly, and attempts to return property to its owner. Investigates lost/stolen/damaged property. Initiates risk assessments on D.O.C. inmates, patients, and employees as required. Assists and coordinates activities of outside police agencies. Follows departmental and NC criminal justice standards for the collection and maintenance of evidence.
5. Patrol and Surveillance- Patrols assigned areas to detect and deter criminal activity. promote an absence of crime. Properly documents and reports security or safety hazards. Escorts employees, patients, and visitors to parking areas. Provides after hours access to secured areas for authorized personnel. Collects, inventories, and secures patient property. Maintains, compiles, and transports patient commitment documents to the magistrate's office. Interacts with personnel in patrol areas and challenges all suspicious persons encountered. Serves warrants, orders, subpoenas, and all our duties as assigned.
6. Policy and Procedures/General Statutes - Maintains a familiarity with departmental policies and procedures as well as hospital policies to include the Departmental Policy Manual, the Hospital Administrative Policy Manual, Environmental, Health, and Safety Policy Manual, and Human Resources Policy Manual. Communicates effectively and in a timely manner with all appropriate members of the Police Dept. and Hospital Community
7. Special Areas of Responsibility - Proactively manages specific assigned areas of responsibility to include the following Security sensitive area management, Light surveys, Airway box surveys, Panic alarm inspections, Access control inspections, Special events coordination, etc.
8. Community Engagement - Builds positive relationships with hospital staff, patients, and visitors. Provide information and assistance to enhance their sense of security and well-being.
9. Oversight of Explosives and Weapons Detection K-9 Operations including:
Maintains responsibility for the care, custody, control, health, welfare, and deployment readiness of the assigned explosives and weapons detection canine.
Conducts proactive and reactive explosives and weapons detection searches of facilities, vehicles, packages, special event venues, and other designated areas. Serves as a departmental subject matter expert regarding explosives and weapons detection canine operations. Responds to bomb threats, suspicious packages, unattended items, and other incidents requiring explosives and weapons detection capabilities.
Assists with security assessments, dignitary visits, large-scale events, and critical infrastructure protection initiatives.
Maintains all required training records, deployment logs, certification documentation, and canine health records. Maintains proficiency in explosives and weapons detection techniques, canine handling, obedience, deployment tactics, and operational safety.
Ensures compliance with departmental K-9 policies, training standards, and operational procedures and maintains departmental-issued K-9 equipment, vehicles, kennels, and associated resources.
Participates in demonstrations, community outreach activities, and educational events involving the K-9 program.
Conducts daily maintenance training to ensure operational readiness and proficiency of the canine team.
Participates in a minimum of eight (8) hours of monthly training under the supervision of an approved certified K-9 trainer. Participates in quarterly proficiency training and evaluations as directed by the department.
Successfully completes annual certification and recertification through a nationally recognized and accredited certifying organization.
10. K-9 Handler Requirements:
Resides in a single-family residence that provides adequate space for housing and caring for a department-owned canine.
Maintains the canine at the assigned residence and provide daily care, feeding, grooming, exercise, and monitoring.

Other information:
Education Requirements:
* None required if other position qualifications are met.
* Successful completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training or the equivalent
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* Valid North Carolina Driver's License.
* General Law Enforcement Certification issued by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
* Ability to qualify with department-issued firearms and equipment.
* Ability to obtain and maintain required K-9 certifications.
* Out-of-state candidates:
* Must not have a break in service from their out-of-state agency exceeding one year.
* Must complete a minimum of 56 hours of training to be eligible for NC certification and must pass the NC state exam.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* Minimum of 2 years of experience as a certified Law Enforcement Officer.
* Prior K-9 handling experience preferred but not required.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
* Must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with the public and representatives of the criminal justice system.
* Ability to work in a cooperative or coordinated effort whether as part of a group or persons acting together as a team or in the interest of a common cause.
* Ability to take the lead or introductory step in activities, responsibilities or decisions and work with a minimal amount of supervision.
* Ability to know and apply Laws, Ordinances, and Departmental Policies to a broad range of circumstances.
* Knowledge of law enforcement procedures, investigations, evidence handling, and report writing.
* Ability to exercise sound judgment in dynamic and high-risk situations.
* Ability to effectively care for, train, and deploy an explosives and weapons detection canine.

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: Hospital Police Department

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range:$24.98 - $35.91 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Variable

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.