Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS) is dedicated to the protection and security of Vanderbilt University and its diverse community. The Community Service Officer I (CSO), performs safety and security duties at Vanderbilt University, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and surrounding areas, including facilities, grounds, parking lots and garages. This position provides general security/patrol and traffic mitigation duties, reports suspicious or hazardous situations, and proactively patrols on foot or in specified non-police vehicles to check for potential safety and security concerns.
The CSO I role provides security services for the assigned precinct including faculty, staff, students and visitors. They provide round-the-clock preventative patrols designed to minimize the occurrence of crime and enforce traffic and other safety related laws and ordinances. This role will provide crowd control and maintain order at various events and social activities on the university campus.
This role will be responsible for community engagement as well as fulfilling necessary security duties. Some of the responsibility of the Community Safety Officer role include:
- Develop rapport with members of the university community as well as surrounding areas; participates in community relations activities
- Serve the community through proactive security post assignments or patrol functions including self-initiated activities
- Respond to non-police emergency calls to include but not be limited to the following: alarms (fire, general security), hazardous material spills and leaks, and pedestrian or vehicular traffic control
- Use trained tactics to assist in controlling, de-escalating, or restraining combative and/or violent patients as requested by medical personnel
- May provide back-up and assistance for other officers within guidelines specified in department policy and procedures
- Maintain knowledge of the Institutional Disaster Plan and the role of the Community Service Officer in the administration of the plan
- Provide security for events such as athletics, concerts, speakers, visiting dignitaries, commencement and numerous other social activities where security personnel may be required to provide crowd control and maintain order