Public safety K-9 Armed Officer

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation•Wake Forest, NC

16h•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety K-9 Armed Officer is responsible for conducting patrols to detect firearms at various hospital locations, including entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors. This role ensures threats are neutralized and escalated according to Public Safety procedures. The officer will also assist during EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios, provide support for general Public Safety operations such as alarms, escorts, and responding to safety calls. Maintaining accurate training records, canine-related equipment, and company vehicles is crucial. The position involves liaison duties to build partnerships with departments, delivering security awareness education, and coordinating with law enforcement and first responder agencies. Additionally, the officer will coordinate and monitor prisoner patient guards, and maintain current training standards in radio communications, de-escalation, CPR, clinical restraints, and conducted energy weapons.

Requirements

K-9 Certification through International Police Work Dog Association with assigned canine, with at least 16 hours of monthly K-9 related maintenance training (Certification must be received within the first 3 months from hire date.)
Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) must be obtained on a one-time basis within two years of appointment to this role.
For North Carolina teammates, an Armed Guard License issued by NC Private Protective Services maintained through training and competency assessments.
For Illinois teammates: Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) issued by the Illinois State Police.
For Wisconsin teammates: Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
For Illinois teammates, must meet State of IL Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licensing requirements and be able to obtain a Firearm Control Card (FCC) for Proprietary Personnel within 90 days of hire.
A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicle.
Certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (e.g. TASER) use within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.
High School Diploma or GED
4 years of experience in a security or public safety role that includes experiences in responding to emergent situations and identifying and resolving issues that pose a potential risk to patients, visitors, staff and/or property; or completion of 30 credit hours in a Criminal Justice, Police Science, or similar course of study from an accredited college or university and 3 years' work experience with 1 year of experience in a security/safety role
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.
Illinois team members must annually achieve a passing score of 70% or greater on the State of IL Mandatory Annual Active Duty and Retired Officer Handgun Qualification Course of Fire, un-assisted.
Probationary Officers must complete range qualification within their 90-day probationary period and must attend the first qualification date within their probationary period.
Demonstrated ability to exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning while maintaining a courteous and tactful demeanor in dealings with employees, visitors, and patients, even if they are verbally aggressive persons.
Demonstrated experience in quickly assessing dangerous situations and taking appropriate action.
Demonstrated ability in verbal and written communications.
Ability to use a computer to document work (Microsoft Word, Excel, navigating a web page, and database entry).
Must successfully pass background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical and psychological screening assessment post-offer, pre-employment and periodically thereafter.
Ability to defend self and/or others in case of physical confrontations when de-escalation efforts fail and there is cause to detain a non-cooperative person who is committing a criminal act or fleeing and possess the ability to physically restrain a person against their will.
Ability to communicate effectively with people; ability to hear radio and telephone communications at both high and low decibels.
Ability to communicate via radio and telephone with clear diction without impediments.
Must have the ability to interact appropriately with all team members, patients and visitors, especially under difficult circumstances.
Have 20/20 vision in both eyes or correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.

Nice To Haves

Recertification is not required for CHSO.

Responsibilities

Conduct person-borne firearm-detection patrols at hospital entrances, Emergency Departments, EMS areas, parking structures, and public corridors, ensuring threats are neutralized and escalated through proper Public Safety procedures.
Assist during EMS offloads and high-risk clinical scenarios providing an additional Public Safety presence.
Support general Public Safety Operations including alarms, escorts, suspicious persons/property, and response to safety calls.
Maintain accurate training and utilization for all deployments, alerts and incidents in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
Maintain all assigned canine-related equipment and company-assigned vehicles consistent with departmental management policies.
Performs liaison rounding duties to cultivate close partnerships with all department and units.
Delivers security awareness education to team members to leverage their assistance in the overall security of the site.
Liaisons with state and local law enforcement and first responder agencies.
Coordinates, briefs, and monitors every law enforcement prisoner patient guard to ensure policy compliance and prevent unsafe practices.
Maintains current Department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, stabilization, CPR, application of clinical restraints, conducted energy weapon (Taser), to include training on any/all department-issued equipment and/or requirements identified in the Annual Training Plan.

Benefits

Comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs
Competitive compensation
Generous retirement offerings
Programs that invest in your career development
Paid Time Off programs
Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program