Job Description Code: 9E.010

Division/Department: Safety and Security

Pay Grade: SP-1 Salary Schedule

Pay Type: Salaried; Non-Exempt

Retirement: TRS

Contract Work Year: 220 Days/40 Hours Per Week

Reports To:  Police Sergeant

Evaluation Instrument: PEI

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
High school diploma or GED; Associate Degree or higher preferred. Must have a minimum of five (5) years of law enforcement experience. Must be at least 21 years of age, a citizen of the United States and must possess a valid driver’s license. Must be certified as a peace officer in the State of Georgia pursuant to qualifications established by Georgia Law, Title 35-8, the Rules of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (GAPOSTC). Must be capable of qualifying with a firearm on the existing firearms qualification course(s). Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification required. Must be willing to work rotating shifts, variable hours, and be on call as may be necessary. Must have a valid Georgia Motor Vehicle operator’s license with endorsements compatible with assigned duties of Cherokee County Board of Education. Must maintain acceptable level of physical and mental fitness to meet department standards.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of federal, state and county laws and regulations governing law enforcement actions.
• Knowledge of Cherokee County Board of Education policies, rules and regulations regarding school operations and enforcement actions.
• Knowledge of effective and appropriate arrest tactics and handcuffing procedures.
• Knowledge of the geography of Cherokee County, school district facilities, public buildings, and emergency facilities.
• Skill in conducting field or custodial interviews and interrogations.
• Skill in operating a police vehicle in normal and hazardous weather conditions.
• Skill in the proper use of restraint devices, police baton, firearms and other police related equipment.
• Ability to apply first aid principles and practices.
• Ability to work with school district employees, students and members of the general public in a courteous, fair and firm manner.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to initiate and follow through with appropriate procedures established by State Law, Departmental or Board of Education policies.
• Ability to exercise judgment and make decisions as to appropriate action under pressure in accordance with all applicable rules, regulations and policies.

GOAL
Support and facilitate the educational process within the Cherokee County School System by providing a safe and secure environment through enforcement of state laws, the preservation of public order, the protection of life and property, and the prevention, detection or investigation of crime.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with school officials, supervisors, co-workers, other government agencies and the community at large in determining needs and implementing responsive programs as related to school security and criminal activities.
• Analyze problems and situations and take appropriate, decisive and effective action.
• Provide leadership within the school system by mentoring and projecting a positive role model for students and others.
• Monitor and report incidents of criminal gang activity as defined by Georgia Code Section 16-15-3 which occur on or adjacent to a school campus or other building of an educational facility.
• Conduct initial and follow-up investigations of criminal and administrative incidents within the school(s) assigned, including incidents involving school transportation, and prepare required reports and correspondence.
• Develop clues or information which may lead to obtaining arrest/search warrants by contacting and interviewing all relevant witnesses and other parties involved.
• Make arrests as necessary using only the amount of force necessary to affect said arrest.
• Assist local law enforcement agencies in matters related to criminal or administrative matters involving students or other school personnel.
• Testify in administrative and criminal procedures.
• Periodically conduct safety and security surveys with the assistance of school administrators and review results with Chief of School Police.
• May act as a First Responder in an emergency situation involving an injured person on school grounds; maintain current CPR/AED certification.
• Inform the immediate supervisor of all situations resulting in the injury of a student, teacher or other faculty member, as well as any serious criminal offense or other matter deemed important that occurs on school grounds.
• Make routine patrols of assigned facilities to include buildings, parking lots and equipment; check for security, vandalism or casualty losses and prepare reports as required.
• Monitor visitors and other persons within assigned facilities to ensure proper identity and business purpose for safety of students and faculty.
• Assist in crowd control and security assignments at various public gatherings including but not limited to: Board of Education Meetings, athletic events and incident scenes.
• Investigate traffic accidents that occur on school property and prepare proper reports as required by law.
• Coordinate security needs with local law enforcement agencies as determined by the principal, athletic director or other designee for school-related activities and events.
• Possess and maintain valid and appropriate license, certificate and/or credential as may be required for this position.
• Follow work scheduling and attendance requirements in a regular, predictable and punctual manner.
• Participate in training programs to increase skills and proficiency in the use of standard weapons and equipment, including operating police vehicles under emergency conditions.
• Review current trends, developments, literature and technical sources for information related to job responsibilities.
• Ensure adherence to good safety procedures; working safety without presenting a direct threat to self or others.
• Comprehend and apply federal and state laws, county ordinances, police department directives and School Board Policies and Procedures.
• Operate Board-owned vehicle in a safe manner, and assume responsibility for all supplies and equipment on the vehicle.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

COMPLEXITY / PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

COMPLEXITY
The work involves performing various duties in protecting life and property and enhancing the educational process within the Cherokee County School District. Diversity within the district, rapid growth and performing work on varying schedules makes the work more difficult. The incumbent is required to work with individuals and groups under normal and potentially adverse conditions in gathering information related to police and administrative purposes. The incumbent is expected to exercise significant judgment and interpret the available guidelines to determine which procedures to apply to individual situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work is performed while sitting, standing, stooping, kneeling, ascending/descending stairs, pulling, pushing, lifting and walking over uneven surfaces in varying weather conditions. The incumbent may be required to remain in a standing or sitting position for extended periods of time. The incumbent may be subjected to extended periods of physical and mental exertion under highly stressful conditions, such as defending oneself, or others from dangerous situations, taking a child into custody or making a physical arrest of a perpetrator of crimes.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is typically performed inside school district buildings or other facilities however the incumbent may perform the duties in a vehicle, on an incident scene, or other environment. The incumbent may be required to respond to incidents where changes in the environmental conditions involve odors, dust, chemicals, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, workspace restrictions, and intense noises.

IMPORTANT NOTES

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Job descriptions are designed and intended only to summarize the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements for the purpose of clarifying the general nature and scope of a position’s role as part of the overall organization. Job descriptions do not list all tasks an employee might be expected to perform, and they do not limit the right of the employer/supervisor to assign additional tasks or otherwise to modify duties to be performed – even if seemingly unrelated to the basic job. Every employee has a duty to perform all assigned tasks. (An employee who is assigned a duty or task believed to be unlawful should report the assignment to the Chief Human Resources Officer.) It should also be noted the order of duties/ responsibilities as listed in the job description is not designed or intended to rank the duties in any order of importance relative to each other.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
In filling a vacant position, preferred or required credentials regarding education, training, experience, and other bona fide occupational qualifications may be established. The credentials shown in this job description may be interpreted only as the minimum criteria existing at the time the description was developed. Other bona fide occupational qualifications and criteria may be utilized as needed in the selection process.

Fringe Benefits
FICA is paid by the employee and matched by the School District. Temporary workers do not qualify for employee benefits.

Adopted: April 20, 2000
Revised: March 2005, July 2006, July 2008, July 2011, July 2012, June 2014, February 2017, July 2019, July 2022, July 2024