Public Safety (Security) Officer - Armed

Advocate Health

6d•$23 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Officer I - Armed provides professional, fair, and compassionate security services at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The officer helps protect patients, visitors, team members, and property through patrols, emergency response, incident investigation, de-escalation, and enforcement of safety and security rules. The role requires maintaining a professional and service-oriented demeanor, exercising sound judgment in challenging situations, and keeping department uniform and equipment in good repair. The officer conducts interior and exterior patrols; identifies vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions; audits Interim Life Safety Measures; manages patient valuables; and conducts contraband searches. The officer also assists people with information, directions, and physical help; controls traffic; monitors visitor conduct; and questions unauthorized persons. The position responds to and investigates workplace violence and other service calls, including incidents involving combative or threatening patients, visitors, or team members. It supports emergency planning and response for events such as lost or abducted infants or children, fires, and active threats, and may physically intervene according to training when injury is possible. The officer investigates incidents on Advocate Aurora property, completes timely and accurate reports, escalates complaints, and provides supporting documentation. The officer builds partnerships with departments and units through liaison rounding, provides security-awareness education, and liaises with law enforcement and first-responder agencies. The role coordinates, briefs, and monitors law-enforcement prisoner-patient guards to support policy compliance and safety. The officer must maintain required training in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, stabilization, CPR, clinical restraints, Taser use, and department-issued equipment. This is a full-time, third-shift position, with a listed schedule of approximately 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. (the schedule details also list 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.), 40 hours per week. The listed pay range is $22.90–$34.35. The role is based at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Typically one year of experience in security, a related public safety area, or customer service, including responding to emergencies and identifying and resolving risks to patients, visitors, staff, or property.
Valid driver’s license issued by a Division of Motor Vehicle.
Illinois Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) Card or Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice.
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 Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) issued by IAHSS within two years of appointment; recertification is not required.
Become certified in Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser) use 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 obtain Department Range Master approval.
Pass the State of Illinois Mandatory Annual Active Duty and Retired Officer Handgun Qualification Course of Fire annually with a score of at least 70%, unassisted. Probationary officers must complete range qualification within the 90-day probationary period and attend the first qualification date during that period.
Demonstrated mature judgment and sound reasoning while maintaining a courteous and tactful demeanor with employees, visitors, and patients, including verbally aggressive people.
Demonstrated experience quickly assessing dangerous situations and taking appropriate action.
Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to use a computer for documentation, including Microsoft Word, Excel, web navigation, and database entry.
Successfully pass a background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical, and post-offer psychological screening assessment; screening may also occur periodically thereafter.
Ability to defend oneself or others when de-escalation fails and there is cause to detain a non-cooperative person committing a criminal act or fleeing, including the ability to physically restrain someone against their will.
Ability to communicate effectively and hear radio and telephone communications at both high and low decibels.
Ability to communicate clearly by radio and telephone without diction impediments.
Ability to interact appropriately with team members, patients, and visitors, especially under difficult circumstances.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday; lift up to 35 pounds occasionally; and push or pull with 35 pounds of force.
Hand strength, dexterity, and ability to safely operate, load, unload, break down, and clean a firearm without assistance or assistive devices.
20/20 vision in both eyes, or vision correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses in both eyes.
Physical fitness to walk all areas of the facilities and grounds, restrain people when needed, and assist nursing staff with lifting patients of all sizes.
Ability to handle personal stress and possible violence and frequent exposure to aggressive behavior and emotionally charged situations.

Responsibilities

Provide professional, fair, compassionate, and service-oriented security services in accordance with policies, procedures, and training.
Enforce safety and security rules and regulations, remain alert and observant, and maintain the department uniform and equipment in good repair.
Conduct interior and exterior patrols; identify security vulnerabilities, hazards, and fire conditions; audit Interim Life Safety Measures; manage patient valuables; and conduct contraband searches.
Assist team members, patients, and visitors with information, directions, and physical help; control traffic; monitor visitor conduct; and question unauthorized persons.
Prevent, respond to, and investigate workplace violence and respond to service calls involving combative or threatening patients, visitors, or team members.
Serve as a primary resource for de-escalation and physically intervene according to training when a situation has potential for injury.
Plan for, practice, and respond to emergencies including lost or abducted infants or children, fires, and active threats.
Investigate incidents on Advocate Aurora property and complete timely, accurate reports; address and escalate complaints and provide supporting documentation.
Perform liaison rounds with departments and units and deliver security-awareness education to team members.
Liaise with state and local law enforcement and first-responder agencies; coordinate, brief, and monitor law-enforcement prisoner-patient guards for policy compliance and safety.
Maintain current department training standards in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, stabilization, CPR, clinical restraints, Taser use, and department-issued equipment.

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.
Premium pay such as shift and on-call pay, based on the teammate's role.
Incentive pay for select positions.
Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.
Career development programs.