University of California, Berkeley

Security Patrol Officer candidates: Please watch this page for updated information about the next hiring process.

A Security Patrol Officer (SPO) is a full-time, non-sworn career position with the University Police Department. SPOs provide high profile, uniformed public safety services on the Berkeley campus and other nearby sites owned or controlled by the University. SPO assignments include premise security, preventive patrols in vehicles, on bicycles, and on foot, and other support tasks for the police department. Some assignments are during night and weekend hours. SPOs are not armed, but may be called upon to make contact with members of the public and summon police officers for assistance when necessary.

Some routine SPO responsibilities include:
• Response to routine and emergency calls for service, and certain types of alarms;
• Access control and public assistance at strategic stationary posts;
• Public safety services at University special events, including traffic direction;
• Assistance with the transport, booking, and searching of prisoners;
• Prepare written reports, activity logs and certain types of citations;
• Observe, report and respond to security violations or hazardous conditions.

Requirements

Applicants must be 18 years of age at the time of appointment, must possess a valid California driver license and must have the legal right to work permanently in the United States. We seek applicants with excellent communication skills, good judgment under pressure and the ability to interact with a diverse community.

All applicants are required to complete an oral interview, an extensive background check, POST-certified medical and psychological examinations, and a pre-employment drug test.

As of October 2007 the salary range for Security Patrol Officer is $28,920 - $39,168 per year.

Candidates may be assigned within the salary range based on prior experience.

Benefits

Security Patrol Officer assignments vary, but most shifts are based on a 5/8 plan (five days a week, eight hours per day). There are numerous overtime opportunities throughout the year, including intercollegiate sporting events, concerts and mutual aid.

SPOs are eligible for a $500 annual uniform allowance after one year of employment.

Security Patrol Officers accrue 10 hours of vacation per month. The vacation accrual rate increases to 12 hours per month for over 10 years of service, 14 hours per month at for over 15 years, and 16 hours per month with over years.

The University designates 13 holidays per year, and SPOs are compensated with 8 hours of holiday pay. SPOs earn eight hours of sick leave per month, with no accrual limit. Upon retirement, unused sick leave may be converted to additional service credit.

SPOs are members of the University of California Retirement System (UCRS). Unlike many agencies, this plan is fully paid by the University – SPOs are presently not required to contribute from their salary.

In addition to the retirement plan, University employees may elect to participate in a tax-deferred 403(b) savings plan, a 457(b) deferred compensation plan, and a voluntary after-tax defined contribution (DC) plan. The University also offers a pre-tax health care reimbursement account (HCRA) and a pre-tax dependent care reimbursement account (DepCare)

Other University benefits include a competitive selection of medical, vision, dental, disability, accidental death & dismemberment, legal insurance and other insurance plans, including many with premiums partially or fully paid by the University.

University employees are eligible for tuition fee reduction at the University of California, presently amounting to approximately a 2/3 discount.

How To Apply

The only way to apply is online at jobs.berkeley.edu. You must have an e-mail account. Once your application is submitted, we will contact you via e-mail or phone when we begin our selection process.

NOTE: Some e-mail programs might accidentally mark our correspondence as “junk.” Please check your e-mail settings, and watch for e-mail from “UCPD.” It might also help if you add “atucker@berkeley.edu” to your address book.

The Selection Process

Our process begins with review of received applications by a screening committee. The committee is responsible for objective evaluation of each application based on job-related education, experience, and characteristics that have been shown to be desirable for successful Security Patrol Officers. Selected applicants will be invited to a panel-style oral interview, designed to evaluate the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively, to exercise good judgment, and to display other relevant talents and skills.

Top-rated candidates from the oral interview are subject to an extensive background investigation. All relevant aspects of the candidate’s suitability will be examined, based on the job dimensions for the position of responsibility at the police department. Candidates who are discovered to have been deceptive or who do not otherwise meet standards (including dependability, integrity, judgment under pressure and interpersonal sensitivity) will not be advanced.

Candidates who successfully complete the background investigation will be considered for interview by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police then decides whether or not to offer employment to the candidate. Any such job offer is conditional upon the satisfactory outcome of the medical examination, drug testing and psychological screening.

If you would like more information about our department, please contact Sgt. Andrew Tucker in the Office of the Chief of Police, by phone at (510) 642-1157 or via e-mail.