Law Enforcement Officer II / CORPORAL (BHDD Columbia)

State of South Carolina • Richland County, SC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Law Enforcement Officer II/Corporal works in a hospital setting at William S. Hall, Transport, and G.W. Bryan Psychiatric Hospital, within the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), Office of Mental Health, Public Safety Division, in Columbia. The role coordinates and supervises Public Safety Officers in maintaining safety and order on the grounds and in hospital facilities. Duties include surveillance and routine checks, searches, investigations, interviews, report preparation, arrests when required, assistance with patients who become unmanageable, and patient transports to clinics and Probate Court hearings. The officer maintains records and incident reports, enforces hospital rules and state laws, and may be required to work fluctuating hours, be on call, and work overtime.

Employees must have knowledge of state laws, agency regulations, and facility rules; maintain professional relationships with staff, patients, and visitors; and adapt to changing situations and disturbances. MANDT and/or MAPS training must be completed after hire.

Requirements

• High school diploma.
• Experience performing patrol or investigative duties with a public law enforcement agency; a bachelor's degree may substitute for the required law enforcement experience.
• Two years of law enforcement experience.
• Class I certification through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, in accordance with Section 23-23-40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws.
• Knowledge of state laws, agency regulations, and facility rules and requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain satisfactory professional relationships with staff, patients, and visitors.
• Ability to adjust to fluctuating situations and disturbances while enforcing rules and regulations.
• Ability to work fluctuating hours.
• Considerable knowledge of state laws and the rules and regulations of the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
• Must complete MANDT and/or MAPS after hire.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual ability in English and Spanish or another language.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and supervise Public Safety Officers conducting surveillance of DBHDD grounds, checking doors, windows, and fences, and performing routine searches of patients, employees, and visitors.
• Coordinate and supervise investigations into reports of patient abuse, employee misconduct, missing or stolen property, visitor complaints, deaths, suicide attempts, and altercations resulting in injury.
• Interview suspects, victims, and witnesses to gather information for legal and administrative proceedings.
• Prepare detailed reports, including diagrams and photographs; pursue charges and make arrests as required.
• Coordinate and supervise assistance to treatment personnel when patients become unmanageable.
• Transport unmanageable patients and court-unit patients to clinics and Probate Court hearings.
• Maintain order by observing suspicious persons or unusual incidents and enforcing hospital rules, regulations, policies, and state laws.
• Conduct routine property checks when buildings are unoccupied.
• Ensure patients are properly searched and restrained during transports.
• Maintain applicable records, logs, and incident reports.
• Conduct routine searches of visitors, employees, packages, and vehicles as required.
• Be on call as needed, work required shifts and fluctuating hours, carry out assignments as directed by a supervisor, and work overtime as needed.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouses, and children.
• 15 days of annual (vacation) leave per year.
• 15 days of sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• Paid parental leave.
• South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program.
• Retirement benefit choices: State Retirement Plan (SCRS) or State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP); enrollment in one plan is required for FTE employees.

What This Job Offers

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