Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) - Public Safety - Southeast Alaska

Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes•Juneau, AK

18d•Onsite

About The Position

The Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) is responsible for ensuring public safety in a Southeast Alaska community served by Tlingit & Haida. VPSOs provide law enforcement, fire prevention and suppression, emergency medical response, probation and parole monitoring, search and rescue, and other related public safety services. Communities listed are Angoon, Hydaburg, Kake, Kasaan, Klukwan, Pelican, Saxman, and Thorne Bay; placements may vary depending on current staffing needs. The role includes responding to service calls, investigating crimes and traffic violations, enforcing state laws and local ordinances, supporting Alaska State Troopers, and maintaining reports. It also involves training volunteer firefighters, operating and maintaining firefighting and emergency medical equipment and vehicles, conducting fire safety inspections, monitoring assigned probationers and parolees, and coordinating community search and rescue activities. The position requires at least 37.5 hours of work per week, including office hours, patrol duties, fire inspections, and school visits. The VPSO must remain on call 24/7 unless alternative arrangements have been approved. The position is regular, non-exempt, and covered. Starting pay is $36.29; no pay period is specified.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien with intent to become a citizen.
Must be at least 21 years old and possess good moral character.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Must pass a medical evaluation confirming the physical, visual, and hearing ability to perform VPSO duties.
Must hold a valid Alaska Driver’s License.
Must pass a thorough background check and a psychological evaluation.
Ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding programming matters and adhere to the APIA Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and the Alaska State Troopers VPSO SAR Manual.
Must run 1.5 miles in less than 17 minutes, perform the stated minimum push-ups and sit-ups (the posting gives no numeric values), lift and carry up to 50 pounds, and demonstrate basic swimming skills.
Must meet the listed visual acuity, depth perception, and color vision requirements.
May not have a felony conviction; a misdemeanor conviction within the last five years; a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; or a misdemeanor assault conviction within the past ten years related to domestic violence.
May not have a history of illegal controlled substance use, excluding marijuana use over one year ago; two or more DWI convictions; previous denial or revocation of VPSO certification; or discharge or forced resignation from a law enforcement position for cause.
May be required to pass pre-employment and subsequent random drug and alcohol screening; employment offers are conditional on federal criminal background check results.

Responsibilities

Respond to calls for service, secure scenes, gather evidence, and interview victims and witnesses.
Enforce state laws and local ordinances through patrol duties; investigate felony and misdemeanor crimes and traffic violations; and assist Alaska State Troopers as needed.
Complete required reports and documentation and implement crime prevention and community policing strategies.
Develop and provide training for the volunteer fire department.
Operate and maintain firefighting apparatus, vehicles, and equipment; conduct fire safety inspections of homes and public buildings; and maintain equipment inventory and maintenance schedules.
Make bi-monthly personal contact with assigned probationers and parolees; obtain and document urine samples and report results to the District Probation Office.
Provide updated photographs of supervised sex offenders annually or when their physical appearance changes.
Maintain EMT I or ETT certification as required; administer basic first aid and CPR; maintain emergency medical vehicles and equipment; and coordinate with EMS teams in response efforts.
Develop and participate in community-wide search and rescue planning, establish contacts with external agencies, and serve as a liaison for search and rescue operations.
Participate in public safety training and development initiatives and maintain detailed logs and reports of VPSO activities.
Work at least 37.5 hours per week across office hours, patrol duties, fire inspections, and school visits, and remain on call 24/7 unless alternative arrangements are approved.
Perform additional duties as assigned by the Community Services Program Coordinator.
Successfully complete Alaska Law Enforcement Training (ALET) within one year of hire.