Police Sergeant

Position Overview

The KU Police Department is now accepting applications to fill four Police Sergeant positions. The Police Sergeant works under the guidance of the Captain, Deputy Police Chief or Chief of Police.  This position is responsible for the efficient operation of patrol, investigations and community affairs while providing the proper direction of Detectives/Police Officers in the performance of their duties. This position performs duties in accordance with departmental rules and regulations, state personnel regulations, state laws, city ordinances, law enforcement codes of ethics, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and general principles of police work, and monitors subordinates for compliance with same. The Deputy Chief and/or Captain, will brief the Sergeant on any special assignments or unusual circumstances, which may occur from time to time, providing all pertinent information. This position may be required to work special or emergency assignments with little or no notice at the discretion of the Deputy Chief or Chief.

Job Description

30% – Organize, direct, assign and review the work of Detectives/Police Officers.  Schedule, maintain and deploy properly manned shifts; review work while in progress and check completed work through observation and review of reports to ensure that proper police protection is provided. Initiate corrective action when necessary. Disseminate department information, policies, instructions and assignments to police officers at briefing on assigned shift. Prepare own time records and review subordinates’ time records insuring recorded time is accurate. Share and coordinate law enforcement activities and administrative directions issued.  Schedule and coordinate police training.  Develop, revise, organize, and conduct instruction for a comprehensive and innovative training program for police personnel to include new officer training.  Work with budget issues, as assigned, and complete necessary purchasing procedures, as needed. Enforce department rules and regulations. Provide probationary and annual performance evaluations for all assigned subordinates. Comply with EEO/Affirmative Action principles and policies in all areas of staff responsibilities. Ensure that no instances of legitimate EEO/AA complaints occur. Demonstrate good faith efforts in meeting goals and complying with other Affirmative Action principles.

20% – Respond to emergency situations where deemed necessary and assume command until relieved by higher authority. Analyze situations promptly, accurately and adopt prompt, effective and reasonable courses of action with due regard for surrounding hazards and circumstances. Coordinate activities with other emergency agencies and organizations as well as other supervisors or department personnel. Provide a command presence and supervisory direction/guidance at all KU events and crime scenes.  Make notifications to proper personnel as required by department regulations or as deemed necessary. Evaluate department performance in emergency situations and recommend changes in procedures or policies that would solve any problems or streamline the system of responses.  Represent the department as a liaison with other university departments, or organizations, other law enforcement agencies, local community resource groups and local student groups; and may serve on various university committees.  Provide and oversee community service programs as needed and requested by the community.  Provide information about crime statistics and police work to interested members of the university community.

10% – Review and coordinate information gathered for reports to ensure proper composition, format and case classification. Comply with report review procedures, ensuring that deadlines are met; errors in content, format and classification are corrected; and follow-up reports are completed. Retrieve necessary report data from department computer system. Ensure complete information is provided to dispatch for completion of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) entry.  Review timesheet and prepare payroll summaries for Detectives/Police Officers.  Make initial determination on whether probationary officers will continue employment based on performance while in training status.  Assist police officers as necessary. 

10% – Patrol campus or an assigned area observing, supervising and instructing subordinates. Assist Detectives/Police Officers on major calls or in complex situations where assistance is needed or required. Perform Detective/Police Officer duties as outlined in the position description of the Detective/Police Officer as situations demand.  Participate in the interview process as appropriate.  Provide input for the budget planning for the department.  Provide information and make recommendations, as appropriate, regarding purchasing policy and procedure.

10% – Carry out all required and appropriate duties when assigned, often with short notice, under adverse weather conditions, and/or extended hours without relief. May be assigned to work special assignments as an officer or a supervisor on a temporary basis, as deemed necessary by the department.  May be designated as in charge of the patrol division or investigations personnel.  May be assigned to manage/assist with any of the following departmental functions; Accreditation, Cleary Act reporting, De-escalation statistics, Stop Data statistics, and departmental policies.

5% – Maintain safe care and control of authorized equipment, firearms and vehicles. Develop skills and proficiency in the use of equipment to include firearms, batons, handcuffs, and vehicles. Maintain working knowledge of areas in the department’s computer systems necessary for patrol/supervisory functions. Inspect personnel and equipment for adherence to and cleanliness in vehicles and work areas. Take necessary steps to insure that equipment reported as faulty or inoperable is reported to the correct person for repair. 

5% – Maintain annual law enforcement officer certifications as required by state statues. Qualify with duty weapon, as required. Attend all required department training.  Keep apprised on all legal changes and on all department activities affecting the proper discharge of duties. Comply with all laws, rules, regulations, codes of ethics and procedures applying to the law enforcement profession.  Make recommendations for needed training and/or conduct short training sessions for individual officers, the shift, or the department as a whole when there is a need. Act as a resource person for the shift, providing information and guidance in the proper methods of law enforcement. Maintain instructor certification in various areas of law enforcement training.

5% – Establish and maintain professional relationships with university employees, residents and others common to the campus to obtain cooperation and a favorable attitude in the maintenance of order and effective police protection. Field inquiries, concerns and complaints of the public responding in an appropriate manner which may involve explaining police procedures and department policy.  Provide information to the media, on a limited basis, concerning shift incidents. Use a variety of communications skills and special techniques when contacting members of the community who may include groups with beliefs contrary to those of the employee, persons who may be emotionally excited, as well as people with varied cultural and educational backgrounds in order to maintain control of situations/interviews while avoiding negative consequences such as escalating a potentially explosive situation; making unsubstantiated accusations or innuendoes; and/or unnecessarily alarming individuals.

5% – Review reports and assign follow-up for investigations.  Assist in investigations as assigned or needed.  Perform duties as outlined in the position description of detective as situations demand.

Position Requirements

Must have a valid driver’s license.

Must be a U.S. citizen

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Must be able to qualify annually with duty weapon.

Must be able to perform all the essential job functions and not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of self or others.

Successful completion of background check, physical exam, psychological testing and drug screen.

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or GED equivalency.

Minimum of three years of commissioned law enforcement experience.

Certified as a law enforcement officer or ability to be certified without restriction by the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer’s Standards and Training.

Must be free of convictions, expunged convictions, and diversions for any crimes which are a felony or its equivalent under the uniform code of military justice imposed by any state or federal government (KSA 74-5605).

Must be free of convictions, expunged convictions, and diversions for any misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or their equivalent under the uniform code of military justice imposed by any state or federal government (KSA 74-5605).

Preferred Qualifications

1.   Associate’s degree in a criminal justice or related field.
2.   Minimum of four years of commissioned law enforcement experience.
3.   Minimum of one year of supervisory experience.

Contact Information to Applicants

Sandy Patchen
[email protected]

Additional Candidate Instruction

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position

A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.

Resume or curriculum vitae

Name and contact information for three professional references.

Note: Applicants who are considered for an interview

will be required to submit a writing assignment as part of the interview process.

Application review begins March 15, 2024 and will remain open until the position is filled. 

Advertised Salary Range

$83,097

Application Review Begins

15-Mar-2024

Anticipated Start Date

12-Apr-2024

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Employee Class

U-Unclassified Professional Staff

Shift Differential

60 cents

Job Family

Public Safety-KUL

Conditions of Employment

Contingent on Funding

Work Location Assignment

On-Site

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).