Public Safety (Security) Lead Officer - Armed

Advocate Health • Milwaukee, WI

6d • $25 - $38

About The Position

The Public Safety (Security) Lead Officer provides professional, compassionate, customer-service-oriented security services while enforcing safety and security rules and maintaining department equipment and uniform. The role provides frontline shift leadership for Public Safety Officers 1 and 2, including assigning and prioritizing work, conducting briefings, confirming electronic documentation, reviewing incident reports, scheduling staff, and reviewing timecards.

The Lead Officer responds to and investigates workplace violence, service calls, emergencies, and incidents on Advocate Health property. The position uses de-escalation and, when necessary, trained use-of-force methods; supports emergency planning and response; and makes dispositions in apprehension or arrest cases, referring complex matters to leadership. The role also builds partnerships across departments, provides security-awareness education, coordinates with law enforcement and first responders, and manages prisoner-patient guard coordination.

The position serves as the department’s primary internal trainer, overseeing probationary officer orientation and assessment, maintaining training records and certifications, delivering required competencies, and preparing lesson plans when training expectations are not met. Additional work includes performance coaching, liaison rounding, patrols, traffic and crowd control, and incident interviews. The role requires carrying an authorized firearm while on duty and meeting applicable certification, licensing, qualification, and physical requirements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Typically five years of experience in security, a related public safety field, or customer service, including responding to emergencies and identifying and resolving potential risks to patients, visitors, teammates, or property.
• Obtain the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety Security Officer Healthcare Certification (CHSO) within two years of appointment; recertification is not required.
• Hold a valid driver’s license issued by a Division of Motor Vehicles.
• Obtain certification in conducted energy weapon use, such as TASER, within 90 days of hire and periodically thereafter.
• For North Carolina teammates, maintain an Armed Guard License through training and competency assessments.
• For Illinois teammates, hold a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID), meet state licensing requirements, and obtain a Firearm Control Card (FCC) for Proprietary Personnel within 90 days of hire; complete the State of Illinois 40-hour armed course with semi-automatic pistol endorsement.
• For Wisconsin teammates, hold a Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) license issued by the Department of Justice.
• Willingness to carry a department-authorized firearm while on duty.
• Illinois team members must annually score at least 70% on the State of Illinois Mandatory Annual Active Duty and Retired Officer Handgun Qualification Course of Fire, unassisted. Probationary officers must complete range qualification within their 90-day probationary period and attend the first qualification date within that period.
• Successfully pass a background investigation, drug screen, pre-placement physical, and post-offer psychological screening assessment, with required pre-employment and periodic assessments thereafter. Existing Public Safety Officers employed before 7-28-24 have 18 months to comply.
• Demonstrate emotional intelligence and respond empathetically and compassionately to teammate, visitor, and patient incidents.
• Commit to patient-centered safety practices and collaborate with medical staff and external law enforcement as appropriate.
• Remain calm under pressure and contribute to a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment.
• Interact with peers with positive intent and develop solutions through collaborative relationships.
• Exercise mature judgment and sound reasoning while remaining courteous and tactful, including when interacting with verbally aggressive people.
• Quickly assess dangerous situations and take appropriate action.
• Demonstrate verbal and written communication skills.
• Use a computer to document work, including Microsoft Word, Excel, web navigation, and database entry.
• Maintain awareness of street drugs, gang activity, and human trafficking.
• Be able to defend oneself or others and physically restrain a person when de-escalation fails and circumstances warrant restraint.
• Communicate effectively with people and hear radio and telephone communications at both high and low decibels; communicate by radio and telephone with clear diction and without impediments.
• Sit, stand, walk, and drive throughout the workday; occasionally lift up to 35 pounds and push or pull with 35 pounds of force.
• Possess the hand strength and dexterity to safely operate, load and 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 needed, and assist clinical teammates with lifting patients of all sizes.
• Be able to handle personal stress and possible violence; the position involves frequent exposure to 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 security services with professionalism, fairness, compassion, and a customer-service approach; comply with and enforce safety and security rules and regulations.
• Maintain a professional, approachable demeanor and keep department uniform and equipment in good repair.
• Provide frontline shift leadership for Public Safety Officer 1 and 2 responsibilities; prioritize and assign work, conduct shift briefings, confirm electronic work documentation, and review and approve shift incident reports.
• Prevent, respond to, and investigate workplace violence and respond to service calls involving patients, visitors, or team members.
• Serve as a primary de-escalation resource and use authorized force when necessary, including conducted energy weapons and handcuffing.
• Monitor officer compliance with policies and processes; schedule staff, ensure assignments are covered, equitably offer and schedule PTO, and review timecards for accuracy.
• Make disposition decisions for apprehension and arrest cases and refer the most complex issues to leadership.
• Round on internal customers and attend meetings to monitor satisfaction and service delivery.
• Plan for, prevent, practice, and respond to emergencies, including 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, complete timely and accurate reports, and address or escalate complaints with supporting documentation.
• Conduct liaison rounds, build partnerships with departments and units, and provide security-awareness education to team members.
• Liaise with federal, state, and local law enforcement and first responders; coordinate, brief, and monitor law-enforcement prisoner-patient guards for policy compliance and safety.
• Coordinate emergency response planning and practice with departments and units and ensure after-action reviews are completed and documented.
• Provide initial performance coaching, participate in annual performance evaluations, and recommend or submit officer recognition to leadership.
• Serve as the primary internal department trainer; assign preceptors, monitor probationary officer onboarding and assessment, compile feedback, maintain training records, teach competencies, and prepare lesson plans as needed.
• Maintain and deliver required training in radio communications, verbal de-escalation, hemorrhage control, CPR, clinical restraints, conducted energy weapons, and department-issued equipment and training-plan requirements.
• Assist with exterior traffic and crowd control, including parking enforcement, valet parking assistance, and vehicle assistance.
• Use interview and interrogation tactics to gather information about incidents.
• Patrol using a community-oriented approach.

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 potential shift or on-call premium pay and incentive pay for select positions.
• Opportunity for annual performance-based increases.
• Career development programs and well-being programs.

What This Job Offers

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