Armed Public Safety (Security) Officer

Advocate Health • Milwaukee, WI

1d • $23 - $34 • Onsite

About The Position

The Armed Public Safety (Security) Officer provides security services with a customer-service approach, emphasizing professionalism, fairness, and compassion while following department policies, procedures, and training. The role protects patients, visitors, teammates, property, and facilities through patrols, emergency response, incident investigation, de-escalation, and appropriate use of force. Officers maintain a professional, approachable presence, keep department-issued equipment and uniforms in good repair, and work collaboratively with clinical teams, other departments, and external law enforcement and first responders.

The position includes first-shift hours from 0700 to 1500, 40 hours per week, with rotating weekends off. Officers must maintain required certifications and training, including competency with firearms and department-issued equipment. The role may involve exposure to aggressive behavior, emotionally charged situations, and various workplace hazards, and requires the physical ability to patrol facilities and grounds, intervene when necessary, and assist clinical teammates.

Requirements

• High school graduate or GED.
• Typically one year of experience in security, related public safety, or customer service, including responding to emergencies and identifying and resolving risks to patients, visitors, teammates, or property.
• Obtain IAHSS Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) within two years of appointment; recertification is not required.
• For North Carolina teammates, obtain an Armed Guard License from NC Private Protective Services within one year and maintain it through training and competency assessments.
• NIMS Compliance Certification.
• Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card or Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license, as applicable.
• Meet Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licensing requirements and obtain a Firearm Control Card (FCC) for Proprietary Personnel within 90 days of hire.
• Obtain Stop the Bleed certification within one year of hire.
• Valid driver’s license issued by a Division of Motor Vehicle.
• Become certified in conducted energy weapon use, such as TASER, within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.
• Illinois team members must have completed the State of Illinois 40-hour armed course with semi-automatic pistol endorsement.
• Willingness to carry a department-authorized firearm while on duty; the officer must purchase, supply, and maintain the firearm and level III holster in accordance with policy and Range Master approval.
• Pass the State of Illinois mandatory annual active duty and retired officer handgun qualification course with a score of at least 70%, unassisted; probationary officers must qualify during their 90-day probationary period and attend the first available qualification date within that period.
• Pass background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical, and post-offer psychological screening assessment, with applicable periodic assessments thereafter.
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence and empathetic, compassionate responses to incidents involving teammates, visitors, and patients.
• Remain calm under pressure and support a safe, welcoming, therapeutic environment.
• Work collaboratively with medical staff and external law enforcement, as appropriate, and interact constructively with peers.
• Exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning while remaining courteous and tactful, including when dealing with verbally aggressive people.
• Quickly assess dangerous situations and take appropriate action.
• Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills and clear radio and telephone diction; be able to hear radio and telephone communications at high and low decibel levels.
• Use a computer to document work, including Microsoft Word, Excel, web navigation, and database entry.
• Be able to defend self or others and physically restrain a person when de-escalation fails and the stated circumstances for restraint apply.
• Sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday; occasionally lift up to 35 pounds and push or pull with 35 pounds of force.
• Have the hand strength and dexterity to safely operate, load, unload, disassemble, and clean a firearm without assistance or assistive devices.
• Have 20/20 vision in both eyes or vision correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
• Be physically fit to walk all facility and grounds areas, restrain people when necessary, and assist clinical teammates with lifting patients of all sizes.
• Handle personal stress and possible violence and work around frequent aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations.
• Wear protective clothing as necessary when exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, explosive, or radiation hazards.
• Operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of behavioral threat assessment.
• Experience or knowledge in use-of-force review.
• Awareness of crime prevention through environmental design.
• Ability to present material and facilitate meetings.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional, fair, compassionate, and customer-service-oriented security services in accordance with policies, procedures, and training.
• Maintain an alert, ethical, approachable, and service-oriented presence; enforce safety and security rules and maintain uniforms and equipment.
• Conduct interior and exterior patrols, inspect for vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions, audit Interim Life Safety Measures, manage patient valuables, and conduct contraband searches.
• Assist patients, visitors, and teammates with information, directions, and physical help; control traffic, monitor visitor conduct, and question unauthorized persons.
• Prevent, respond to, and investigate workplace violence, service calls, combative or threatening behavior, and incidents involving teammates.
• Use de-escalation as a primary response and apply force when necessary, including conducted energy weapons and handcuffing, consistent with training.
• Plan for, prevent, practice, and respond to emergencies such as lost or abducted infants or children, fires, and active threats.
• Respond immediately to emergencies and crises and physically intervene, in accordance with training, when there is potential for injury.
• Investigate incidents on Advocate Health property and complete timely, accurate reports; address and escalate complaints and provide supporting documentation.
• Conduct liaison rounds, build partnerships with departments and units, and provide security-awareness education to teammates.
• Coordinate with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responders; coordinate, brief, and monitor law-enforcement prisoner-patient guards for policy compliance and safety.
• Maintain department training in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, hemorrhage control, CPR, clinical restraints, conducted energy weapons, and other required equipment and training-plan topics.
• Assist with exterior traffic and crowd control, parking enforcement, valet parking, and vehicular assistance.
• Use interview and interrogation tactics to gather information about incidents.
• Conduct patrols using a community-oriented approach.
• Maintain awareness of street drugs, gang activity, and human trafficking.
• Meet ongoing firearm qualification and competency requirements and carry an authorized firearm while on duty.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation, including possible shift or on-call premium pay and incentive pay for select positions.
• Opportunity for annual performance-based increases.
• Career development programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED