The Placement Exchange Job Board

Otterbein University seeks a Police Officer who will be responsible for safety and security of persons and property on campus. Officers shall positively interact, build rapport by enhancing community relations, and represent the University with local law enforcement and fire protective agencies. Officers must work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures.  Officer must be able to reason logically and make valid conclusions about issues without cultural bias.   This is a full-time, non-exempt position. with a salary of $45, 739 ($21.99/hour).

Otterbein offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 4 weeks of paid vacation
• 10 days paid sick time
• 11 paid holidays plus bonus days
• Tuition benefit to employee, spose or domestic partner and dependents
• Medical, dental and vision insurance to you, dependents or domestic partner
• Life Insurance
• Defined contribution retirement plan
• and much more

ABOUT OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY:  Historically progressive and building. That is the hallmark of Otterbein University and those connected to this private university nestled in the picturesque, historic Uptown Westerville district in central Ohio and minutes away from Columbus, Ohio’s largest city. Otterbein has set the pace by providing an educational experience that is progressive, innovative, and inclusive. Students come from towns throughout Ohio, as well as many states and multiple countries, enriching the campus through their individual and collective diversity. As a university that educates students of various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, we strive for and value a diverse faculty and staff that reflects our student population and Franklin County.    

Otterbein has been selected as one of 23 universities across the US and the first in Ohio to host a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center. Otterbein will work with its own campus community as well as the Columbus City and Westerville City school districts to create positive narrative change about race; promote racial healing activities; and erase structural barriers to equity and opportunity. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned. 

Enforcement: Officers will enforce all local, state and federal criminal laws, as well as University judicial rules and regulations; traffic and parking  regulations; officers will obtain warrants, apprehend, arrest, search, pat down, handcuff, pursue, physically secure resisting suspects with the appropriate amount of force. Officers will safely transport prisoners and professionally testify in criminal court or University judicial hearings as required.  

Investigation: Officers will investigate criminal violations, judicial violations, traffic crashes, and citizen complaints.  Officers will protect crime scenes and preserve evidence.  

Patrol: Officers will patrol on foot, in motor vehicles including University owned golf carts.   They will protect persons and property and provide assistance as needed.  Officers will lock and unlock buildings, provide escorts for citizens on campus, manage traffic and parking, and report any safety or security concerns to supervisors and appropriate campus personnel.  

Operation and Maintenance of Police and Campus Equipment: Officers will correctly maintain and safely operate patrol vehicles, and all departmental equipment including but not limited to: firearms, tasers, pepper spray, batons, handcuffs, radios, computers, copiers, fax machines, telephones, and first aid equipment.  Officers will also correctly operate the campus emergency notification system, the Clery notification system, all panic alarm systems, fire panel systems, WOCC TV system, and camera system on campus.  Officers will enter work orders as needed.

Language and Written Communication: Officers will demonstrate competency in verbal and written communications with all constituencies; will use proper spoken English, grammar, spelling and punctuation on all University documents including but not limited to reports, tickets, daily logs, and property/person receipts.

General Conditions and Work Environment: Officers must be able to occasionally work overtime, change shifts, work special duty events, be called in while off duty for a crisis on campus, perform dispatch or administrative assistant responsibilities, fire prevention responsibilities, train new officers and student workers, attend meetings, research and conduct safety presentations on campus.  Officers shall positively interact, build rapport by enhancing community relations, and represent the University with local law enforcement and fire protective agencies.  

Training Requirements: Officers will fully participate in required training operations to include any methods of instruction such as, but not limited to: lecture, practical hands-on training including first aid, self-defense, firearms, taser, pepper spray, tactical training, and computer based training.   Instruction may be on or off site.           

The above statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the position and shall not be considered a detailed description of all duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in the position of an Otterbein University Police Officer.  

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Employee must desire to build trust and partnerships with culturally diverse populations through respect, dialogue, cooperation, appropriate and effective consultation and communication.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION/MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Officers shall possess a minimum of a High School diploma or equivalent, pass an extensive background investigation to include a criminal history and credit check; must be at least 21 years of age, and have both eyes corrected to 20/20 vision and no color blindness; must successfully complete and meet all standards to include: academic, physical fitness, medical, psychological, and truth verification.      

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Officers must possess and maintain a current Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission certificate in good standing with the State of Ohio.  Must possess and maintain a valid Ohio driver’s license.   The current driver’s license record must not reflect six points or more.   

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Required to be able to accurately manipulate data using basic addition, subtraction, multiplications, division, skills. 

REASONING ABILITY: Officers shall have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in an academic and law enforcement environment.   Must demonstrate sound judgment and appropriate decision making skills.  Must maintain confidential information.  Must demonstrate a high degree of initiative, independent judgment, and flexibility.   Must be able to read and understand a map.  Must be able to give and follow instructions according to established protocol.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Officers shall be in good physical and mental condition to make arrests and secure uncooperative/resisting violators, as well as utilize and be proficient with all the protective equipment provided by the University.  Officers shall fully be able to participate and satisfactory complete any physical training requirements as set forth by the agency.  Strength demands include the ability to drag or carry human bodies in emergency situations, sit in a vehicle or stand for long periods of time, walk up and down at least 4 flights of stairs without pause.  Must be able to run, stoop and bend, on an occasional basis. Must be able to sit regularly for 2-4 hours at a computer desk.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a police officer encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Duties are performed in a variety of settings across campus and in the Westerville, Ohio area; also exposed to environmentally controlled office conditions, as well as seasonal weather conditions including heat, cold, wind, precipitation; sound levels consist with alarm sirens; conditions present at emergency scenes including smoke, hazardous materials, various sound levels, etc.    

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

SELECTION PROCESS:

The selection process for the position of Otterbein Police Officer includes the following.  Successful completion of each area is required to advance to the next level of the application/selection process.

• Application
• National Testing Network Written Examination
• Police Department Oral Review Board
• Personal History Questionnaire
• Truth Verification Examination (Polygraph )
• Conditional Offer of Employment
• Background Investigation
• Psychological Examination
• Human Resources Overview
• Medical Examination
• Physical Agility Test
• Student Affairs Interview 

Selection procedures for direct entry of officers with a current OPOTC Peace Officer certification shall be the same as the above list; however, the written examination, truth verification (polygraph), psychological examination, and/or physical agility test may be waived at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

Application:

The application documents the intent of the applicant to seek employment as an Otterbein Police Officer, and obtains essential information to initiate the application process.  Please review the minimum hiring qualifications and removal standards on the page four (4) of this packet.  Completed applications are to completed on-line.

Online: https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/otterbein 

Written Examination:  (approximately 2 hours)

Consists of the following three examinations: 

• Human Relations Video Test:  Evaluates the applicant’s judgment; human interaction; responding calmly to provocation; unbiased enforcement; ethics and social maturity; handling authority; gaining cooperation; and observation and analysis
• Reading test:  Officer Standard reading Level
• Incident Observation and Report Writing Video Test:  Evaluates the applicant’s observation skills, accurate report writing skills, and basic writing competency.

Police Department Oral Review Board:  (approximately 2 hours)

Measures the ability of the applicant to communicate information or ideas to other people in the areas of reasoning, oral expression and comprehension.

Personal History Questionnaire:

Completed by the applicant in their own handwriting, the questionnaire provides Otterbein with documentation and references as to the applicant’s qualifications for the position; and the applicant’s personal, family, social, employment, military, education, traffic, criminal, and financial histories.

Polygraph Examination:   (approximately 5 hours)

Focuses on the applicant’s character and honesty in the areas of criminal activity, drug usage, employment, financial, and driving histories.

Conditional Offer of Employment:

An offer of employment to selected applicants, contingent upon the successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation, psychological examination, and medical examination. 

Background Investigation:   (approximately 3 weeks)

Focuses on the applicant’s character and includes interviews with the candidate's family, friends, neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, acquaintances, etc.   The investigator will also verify the candidate's personal, family, social, education, employment, military, financial, criminal and traffic histories.  

Psychological Examination:   (approximately 2 hours)

Focuses on the applicant’s psychological fitness for the position.

Human Resources Overview:  (approximately 2 hours)

Provides the applicant with a through overview of benefits associated with employment at Otterbein.

 Medical Examination:   (approximately 2 hours)

Focuses on the applicant’s physical and medical fitness for the position. 

Physical Agility Test: (approximately 1 hour)

Applicants are evaluated utilizing a series of job simulated physical agility events to include the following:

• Running
• Ascending and descending stairs with weighted object
• Body drag
• Performing CPR on mannequin
• Trigger pull
• Push / Pull exercise
• Tire change
• Vehicle push

Student Affairs Interview:  (approximately 2 hours)

Measures the ability of the applicant to interact and communicate information or ideas to other people in the areas of reasoning, oral expression, maturity and ethics.

Selection:

The Chief of Police, in consultation with Otterbein’s Vice President for Student Affairs, will select the most qualified candidate.  Depending on the number of applicants, the expected duration of the application/selection process is four months.

Reapplication:

Those not selected may reapply for future available positions by submitting an application form stating their intent to seek employment as an Otterbein Police Officer for the available position.  Should the application/selection process for the new position begin less than one (1) year from the completion of a previous application made by the applicant, the Chief of Police, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Director of Human Resources will determination which section(s) of the application/selection/ process the applicant will need to be re-evaluated by.

REMOVAL STANDARDS  -   The following items will be cause for automatic removal of the applicant from the hiring process:

• Any felony conviction. 
• Any misdemeanor conviction (other than minor traffic violations) within the past five (5) years. 
• More than three (3) moving violation convictions in the past three (3) years. 
• Any driver’s license suspension within the past 12 months.   
• Any Dishonorable, General, or Other than Honorable Discharge from any branch of the Armed Forces. 
• On probation or parole with any city, county, state or federal agency for any offense. 
• Used, tried, tasted, experimented with, delivered, sold or possessed any illegal controlled substance that would constitute a misdemeanor violation of Ohio Revised Code within three (3) years prior to application. 
• Any lifetime use, trial of, taste of, experiment with, delivery of, sell or possession of any illegal controlled substance that would constitute a felony violation of Ohio Revised Code, whether detected or undetected. 
• Have two or more convictions for driving under the influence within a candidate's lifetime or one conviction within five (5) years of the application date. 
• Have any lifetime conviction for the traffic offenses of hit and run, vehicular homicide, or fleeing and eluding as defined by Ohio or other similar state or municipal laws regardless of law titles. 
• Have any lifetime convictions of any offenses of moral turpitude, disrespect for law enforcement officials, crimes of an aggravated nature, sexual offenses, domestic violence, crimes against children, or any violation involving drug sale, distribution, or manufacture. 
• Have any conviction for reckless driving or racing within a five year period prior to the application date as defined by Ohio law or other similar state or municipal laws regardless of law titles. 
• Refusal to submit to a polygraph examination.
• Currently under active investigation by Federal, State, County or Local authorities law enforcement agencies. 
• Failure or refusal to successfully complete any and all portions of the hiring process. 
• Applicants must answer truthfully and fully all questions asked of them.  Any misrepresentation or omission of any material fact on the application; during the background investigation; or in any phase of the selection process shall disqualify the applicant.  If an investigation discloses a willful misrepresentation, omission, or falsification, the application will be rejected. 

Otterbein Police Officer  -   Potential Removal Standards   -  The following list may cause removal of the applicant from the hiring process: 

• Terminated for cause from another public safety agency. 
• Released from another public safety agency during probationary period. 
• Driving record that indicates a pattern of unsafe driving. 
• Discipline history indicating a pattern of negative work performance at past employers. 

If during the hiring process one or more of the above listed factors becomes applicable to an applicant, such as the applicant is arrested, taken into custody, detained for investigation, charged with a crime or declares bankruptcy, the applicant must immediately notify the recruiting contact or background investigator conducting the applicant’s background investigation

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind of level of difficulty. 

Otterbein University is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. 

Otterbein University is committed to providing a welcoming environment free from unlawful discrimination. To this end, the University prohibits any form of discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, gender, pregnancy, religion, creed, marital status, partnership status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, military status, or any other legally protected status in its programs and activities. However, the University’s commitment to a nondiscriminatory environment is not intended to abridge unduly its commitment to academic freedom, free speech, or its educational mission. Inquiries or complaints regarding any form of discrimination or harassment may be directed to: Human Resources

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About Otterbein University

UNIVERSITY SUMMARY: Historically progressive and building. That is the hallmark of Otterbein University and those connected to this private university nestled in the picturesque, historic Uptown Westerville district in central Ohio and minutes away from Columbus, Ohio’s largest city. Otterbein has set the pace by providing an educational experience that is progressive, innovative, and inclusive. Students come from towns throughout Ohio, as well as many states and multiple countries, enriching the campus through their individual and collective diversity. As a university that educates students of various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, we strive for and value a diverse faculty and staff that reflects our student population and Franklin County. Otterbein has been selected as one of 23 universities across the US and the first in Ohio to host a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Campus Center. Otterbein will work with its own campus community as well as the Columbus City and Westerville City school districts to create positive narrative change about race; promote racial healing activities; and erase structural barriers to equity and opportunity.

Connections working at Otterbein University