The University of Tennessee Police Department provides professional police services, while working with faculty, staff, and students to reduce criminal opportunity and community concern. As a UTPD officer you will provide police services to Tennessee’s largest university and surrounding areas. UTPD officers perform a variety of tasks that include investigation of criminal activity, apprehension of criminals, accident and fire response, traffic enforcement, money transports, and security for special events.

The department’s main objective is to provide a safe campus for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. We believe that to accomplish this objective, we must not only enforce the law, but also educate the members of our community on ways they can reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime.

Performs law enforcement, crime prevention duties and other general police/security services, enforces state and local laws as well as policies and procedures of the University of Tennessee, and conducts proactive patrol by means of foot, bicycle, motorcycle, or vehicle. Assignments are made based on the needs of the department and are subject to change.

Responsibilities Major Duties and Responsibilities

Community Oriented Policing:

• Serves the community through proactive patrol of assigned areas to identify potential security related situations and utilize problem solving abilities independently and through partnerships.
• Develops rapport with members of the university community as well as surrounding areas and establishes partnerships with community members to develop prevention strategies.
• Provides safety, crime prevention, and community policing information to contacts over the course of patrol duties and participates in community relations activities.

Calls for Service:

• 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/sickness, 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/or require coordination between UTPD and other UT departments for sensitive student, staff, or faculty issues; lock/unlock buildings; assist motorist.

Investigations:

• Provides initial investigation of all calls of criminal activity and accidents.
• Protects and maintains crime scenes as necessary.
• Coordinates with detectives regarding cases that require additional expertise or involvement of the Criminal Investigation Division.
• Interviews victims, witnesses, and suspects and inform them of options available and additional processes to follow.
• Performs field stops and interviews.
• Make arrests, issues citations, and gives warnings.
• Prepares and submits applicable offense reports, follow-up reports, and other documentation as needed.

Judicial Proceedings:

• Appears in court as prosecuting officer or witness and presents testimony.
• May be required to appear at university administrative hearings to provide testimony.
• Prepares and submits applicable follow-up reports.

Special Events and Assignments:

• Provides security for events such as athletic events, concerts, speakers, visiting dignitaries, commencement, and numerous other social activities where security personnel may be required to provide crowd control and maintain order.

Communications:

Internal:

• Daily contact with members of the university includes students, parents, staff, faculty, and visitors to give information/directions, take police reports, conduct preliminary investigations, and provide victim assistance. May represent the department at university meetings or functions.

External:

• Frequent contact with members of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to exchange information, provide assistance, or request assistance as necessary. Frequent contact with members of the public during the delivery of law enforcement services. May communicate with news media on occasion. May serve as liaison between department and other agencies.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: High School Education Diploma or GED

Preferred Education/Experience:

• Associate degree or bachelor’s degree
• Current Peace Officer Certification
• Security, Military, or Law Enforcement

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

In addition to meeting TN P.O.S.T. requirements, officers must be able to:

• Stand for long periods of time, walk, climb, and lift.
• Meet written departmental standards on appearance/grooming.
• Pass a thorough background investigation.
• Possess good moral character and driving record.
• No prior criminal convictions that would prohibit the individual from meeting the standards set forth by the State of Tennessee to become a law enforcement officer
• Pass a medical examination including vision screening and drug testing; must obtain immunizations and medical tests as required.
• Pass a Psychological Evaluation.
• Good customer service skills.
• Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrate self-restraint in challenging and/or difficult situations.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural setting.
• Demonstrate problem solving skills.

Work Location:

The University of Tennessee Police Department is located on UT Knoxville campus at 1101 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville TN. The position operates completely onsite with no remote component.

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR07, Hourly Rate $28.08
• Annual Starting Salary: $58,410.05
• Night Shift Incentive: $1.50 = $61,530.00
• Police Officer (Multiple Positions Available)
• Regular Full-time

Retention Program: https://safety.utk.edu/police/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Recruitment-Retention-Plan-2023.pdf

Application Instructions

This link will take you to the application site for The UTPD Police Officer Position: https://safety.utk.edu/police/about/employment/.

The position of Police Officer at UTPD is an entry level position and your completed application is the first step necessary for possible employment. Please include your resume and POST Certificate (if applicable).

Currently this is a multiple open position and does not have an end date.

About The College/Department/Division

The University of Tennessee Police Department is at the heart of safety on campus. With over 75 fully commissioned officers, we work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to serve UT and the surrounding community. We provide professional police services and offer education and outreach programs.

UTPD is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

These accreditations demonstrate the department’s high standards and commitment to promoting student safety and accountability through programming, information sharing and cooperation.

UTPD offers a variety of training opportunities for its officers.

The UTPD Police Officers work a 7:00 am x 7:00 pm or 7:00 pm x 7:00 am shift. Each shift has a rotating cycle (you will have different days off as your shift cycles and every other weekend off). All new officers will begin on night shift. The move to day shift is dependent on many factors including consideration of seniority.

For further information about our department please visit this link: https://safety.utk.edu/police/