Police Officer 4 (Sergeant)

ETSU•Johnson City, TN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Sergeant with the ETSU Police Department. This position serves as a first-line supervisor responsible for providing leadership, direction, and oversight of assigned personnel and operations while ensuring the safety and security of the university community. The Sergeant supervises officers and support personnel, coordinates patrol and law enforcement activities, responds to critical incidents, assists with investigations, and ensures compliance with departmental policies, university procedures, and applicable laws. The Police Sergeant plays a key role in fostering a professional, service-oriented environment through community-oriented policing, employee development, and collaborative partnerships with students, faculty, staff, visitors, and public safety partners. The position requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to effectively manage personnel and resources in a dynamic higher education environment.

Requirements

Current Tennessee P.O.S.T. certification as a law enforcement officer
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience.
Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory or leadership experience in a law enforcement environment.
Valid Tennessee driver's license.
Experience managing or coordinating law enforcement accreditation programs.
Experience managing, coordinating, or overseeing law enforcement training programs and compliance requirements
Must successfully pass all required background, psychological, medical, and employment screening processes.
Must maintain all certifications and training requirements established by Tennessee P.O.S.T. and ETSU Police Department standards
Demonstrated leadership abilities and sound decision-making under pressure.
Ability to supervise, mentor, coach, and develop subordinate personnel while promoting accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
Ability to provide guidance and leadership to officers in routine and complex law enforcement situations, including critical incidents and criminal investigations.
Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Knowledge of criminal investigations, evidence collection, evidence management, case preparation, and courtroom testimony.
Demonstrated ability to prepare, review, and execute search warrants, arrest warrants, and other legal process documents in accordance with applicable laws and constitutional requirements.
Ability to conduct investigations, review case files, analyze evidence, and provide investigative guidance to subordinate personnel.
Knowledge of incident command principles, emergency management practices, and critical incident response.
Ability to coordinate effectively with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, university officials, and community partners.
Ability to interpret, apply, and enforce departmental policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, policy interpretation, presentations, and public interaction.
Ability to utilize law enforcement technologies, records management systems, intelligence-sharing platforms, and data-driven policing strategies.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising law enforcement personnel, units, teams, or specialized functions.
Experience coordinating patrol operations, criminal investigations, special operations, school resource programs, community engagement initiatives, or other public safety functions.
Demonstrated ability to manage critical incidents, major events, emergency operations, or complex criminal investigations.
Experience working collaboratively with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and community stakeholders.
Experience supervising criminal investigations and providing investigative guidance and mentorship to subordinate personnel.
Experience developing, implementing, or enforcing agency policies, procedures, accreditation standards, risk management practices, or compliance programs.
Experience with budgeting, procurement, grant administration, resource management, project management, or organizational planning.
Experience conducting employee evaluations, coordinating training programs, and developing personnel.
Experience utilizing modern law enforcement technologies, records management systems, intelligence-sharing platforms, and analytical tools.
Training and experience in Incident Command System (ICS), emergency management, crisis response, or emergency operations planning.
Experience in higher education, municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agencies.
Advanced law enforcement training, leadership development programs, supervisory certifications, or instructor certifications.

Responsibilities

Supervises officers and support personnel.
Coordinates patrol and law enforcement activities.
Responds to critical incidents.
Assists with investigations.
Ensures compliance with departmental policies, university procedures, and applicable laws.
Fosters a professional, service-oriented environment through community-oriented policing, employee development, and collaborative partnerships.
Provides leadership, direction, and oversight of assigned personnel and operations.
Ensures the safety and security of the university community.