CAMPUS POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT

DEFINITION:

Under immediate supervision of a Campus Police Sergeant, 
Lieutenant, and/or other supervisory officer in the Campus Police
Department in a state college/university/university and in cooperation 
with municipal, county, and state law enforcement officers, as a 
Recruit, provides foot and vehicular patrol security and surveillance 
for an entire college/university/university campus or a portion thereof; 
does related work as required.

NOTE:  The examples of work for this title are for illustrative 
purposes only. A particular position using this title may not 
perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, 
all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

As a Recruit and productive worker:

Under direction, provides foot and vehicular patrol to detect security 
problems, safety hazards, and to provide surveillance for an entire 
college/university/university campus or portion thereof. 

Learns to take necessary measures to safeguard the lives and 
property of all members of the college/university community and 
of visitors to the campus. 

Learn to take appropriate steps to respond to crime, disaster, 
medical or disturbance scene and secure as necessary. 

Learns to take appropriate steps to rescue people from life 
threatening and/or serious injury circumstances (e.g. from drowning, 
burning building, snow storms, floods, etc.). 

Learns to investigate criminal, civil, and other complaints 
(including those of motor vehicle violations) committed by or 
against the college/university and community, and observes 
established regulations and policy in such work. 

Learns to coordinate initial effort with public agencies and 
incident/crime scene. 

Learns to preserve evidence/contraband by tagging, marking, 
and/or sealing for safekeeping and, if necessary, transport 
evidence to court to assist with judicial proceedings. 

As directed, may participate in separating and arresting individuals 
as necessary to restore order at a domestic dispute in compliance 
with Domestic Violence and Intervention Act. 

Learns to enforce traffic and parking regulations on campus and cooperates 
with and assists municipal, county, and State Police in traffic control 
as required. 

Assists security officers and/or campus guards in their investigations, 
and reviews and edits their reports. 


Provides general assistance to all persons on the campus, 
including information regarding campus locations, special 
events, campus regulations, provisions of the law, and other matters. 

Regulates and controls pedestrian and vehicular traffic when 
necessary to ensure safety and reasonable, rapid movement 
of traffic with a minimum of interference. 

Helps to maintain order at places where people gather in 
numbers. 

Works special event or details (e.g. concerts, demonstrations, 
strikes, to detect problems or illegal activities. 

Notes conditions while patrolling the designated territory. 

As a Recruit, participates in directed patrol activity (e.g. plainclothes, 
surveillance) to observe and detect unusual activities, circumstances, 
or violations of the law. 

Learns to inspect the condition of buildings and takes steps to 
protect them from damage and theft. 

Takes needed action as to suspicious persons and conditions 
and reports significant actions, occurrences, and conditions. 

May assist in transporting persons needing assistance during 
emergency and/or official business. 

Learns to conduct preliminary investigations of crime and forward 
results to appropriate units. 

Learns to develop skills in executing official documents (e.g. warrants, 
subpoena) as directed when necessary. 

Learns to coordinate actions of officer(s) arriving to assist in large scale 
searches until supervisor arrives. 

Pursue fleeing suspect on foot, bicycle, or in available vehicle in 
accordance with Department Policy and Attorney General's guidelines. 

Learns to conduct searches of persons, promises, automobiles or 
property with probable cause. 

Learns to process juvenile arrests. 

Learns to communicate to dispatcher/control center all crimes/disturbances 
in progress using radio in patrol vehicle or hand held radio. 

Learns to identify to dispatcher location and select a location to stop a violator 
that ensures safety to officer, public and violator. 

Learns to record the arrest of an individual (e.g. complete forms, fingerprints, 
and photograph) to document arrest. 

Learns to provide police protection when large sums of money 
are in transit. 

Under direction, may escort and transport accused to 
detention centers. 


Learns to make investigations of complaints involving misconduct, 
suspicious behavior, illegal activities, improper conditions, and other 
matters within the field of police operations. 

Learns to report holes in the pavements, other dangerous 
holes, fallen rocks and trees, imperfect lights, and other conditions 
constituting dangers or hazards. 

May assist in administering first aid in the case of accidents 
or emergencies. 

Attend line up/roll call for briefings of criminal activity, training, etc. 

Report orally to supervisors on the results of investigations, 
personnel status and on emergency or potential emergency situations. 

Confer with in-coming/off-going colleagues to discuss such things 
as criminal activity, unresolved incidents and other matters. 

Provides special services to other departments as required. 

When assigned to night duty, checks and notes whether gates, 
doors, gratings, and entrances are securely fastened when they 
should be and, if they are not, investigates and notifies interested 
persons and Campus Police Headquarters of conditions which 
should be corrected. 

Learns to maintain accountability for all keys (e.g. for vehicles, gates, 
and doors) to limit access to restricted areas. 

Learns to inspect cars and persons in restricted areas to determine
if presence is authorized and remove if necessary. 

Learns to inspect patrol vehicle for weapons and contraband before and 
after prisoner transport and before starting shift. 

Learns to conduct field sobriety test to determine probable cause 
for breath or blood test and/or arrest for alcohol or drug use. 

Learns to assist stranded motorists by notifying the proper service 
providers (e.g. auto club or tow truck). 

Learns to issue verbal/written warnings and summonses to traffic violators 
and explain legal procedures regarding summonses. 

Learns to direct traffic, place emergency signaling devices (flares, cones) 
or take other necessary action to ensure a safe and orderly flow 
of traffic when confronted with unusual traffic conditions 
(e.g. accidents, stoplight failures, major events). 

Notify dispatcher of hazards on roadway (e.g. missing 
or vandalized signs, dead animals, debris, and vehicles). 

Gather information from accident parties and witness to 
determine the facts of the accident and to complete an 
accident report. 

When necessary, apprehends, warns, and/or takes into custody 
violators of the law. 

Learns to guard prisoner during arrests/processing and/or while receiving 
medical services.

Gives testimony under oath in court. 

When assigned to Campus Police Headquarters, receives 
complaints, takes proper action by notifying Campus Police 
Officers and/or Security Officers by radio or other means, 
and helps maintain accurate records. 

Learns to prepare clear, accurate, and informative reports of 
significant activities and conditions. 

Summarizes in writing the statements of witnesses and 
complainants and forward reports to investigators when 
further investigation is necessary. 

Take inventory of physical objects (e.g. keys, equipment in car) 
and log accordingly. 

Establish and maintain field contacts and intelligence sources 
(e.g. maintenance workers, housing officials, etc.).

Maintains essential Campus Police records and files. 

Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic 
and/or manual recording and information systems used by 
the agency, office, or related units. 

REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION:

Graduation from high school or vocational school or 
possession of an approved high school equivalency 
certificate. 

AGE:

Minimum of 18 years of age. 

CITIZENSHIP

United States citizenship. 

NOTE:  At the time of appointment, applicants for this 
position must submit acceptable proof of meeting the indicated 
requirements. 

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Appointees must be able to complete satisfactorily the police 
training course administered by the Police Training Commission. 
Such training includes successful attainment at a level of proficiency 
in the use of firearms. 

NOTE:  Candidates certified from the eligible list for this title 
may be required to undergo a medical examination administered 
by appointing authority.  Any psychological, medical, or physical 
condition or defect which would prevent efficient performance of 
the duties of the position, cause the appointee to be a hazard to 
himself/herself or others, or become aggravated as a result of 
performance of these duties, will be cause for rejection. 

NOTE: Appointees to this position shall qualify annually 
in the use of firearms. 

LICENSE:

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid 
in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than 
employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties 
of the position. 

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of legal requirements governing arrests, search, 
seizure and evidence. 

Knowledge of the legal rights, responsibilities and liabilities 
of college/university employees, students, and campus visitors 
as well as the legal rights of the apprehended and their families. 

Knowledge of the proper police procedures to be used in 
dealing with people and safeguarding buildings and property. 

Knowledge of the problems involved in following prescribed 
procedures embodied in police rules and regulations. 

Knowledge of maintaining order in buildings and on the campus 
grounds and areas, among visitors, and in controlling vehicular 
traffic to ensure safety, reasonably rapid movement of traffic, 
and a minimum of interference. 

Knowledge of all campus locations, including doors, switches, 
heating plants, elevators, fire and safety equipment, as well as 
department locations, and the time and place of regular and 
special meetings and events after a period of training. 

Knowledge of basic first aid. 

Knowledge of resources available from other agencies, 
such as K-9 units, State Police Laboratory, Medical 
Examiner and Fire Department. 

Knowledge of juvenile laws and procedures. 

Knowledge of investigative resources such as NCIC/SCIC 
and ATS/ACS. 

Knowledge of the use of appropriate and legal force and 
devices to restrain struggling/suspects. 

Knowledge of Department Policy and Attorney General's 
guidelines in the use and discharge of firearms. 

Knowledge of back-up procedures when called upon by 
other officers in need of assistance. 

Knowledge of courtroom testimony requirements.

Ability to understand, remember, and carry out oral and 
written directions. 

Ability to learn quickly from oral and written explanations 
and from demonstrations. 

Ability to comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply 
to specific situations, the laws, local ordinances, and 
campus police rules and regulations. 

Ability to deal courteously but effectively with varied types 
of persons, individually and in groups, in varied situations. 

Ability to assess the need for additional assistance 
(e.g. ambulance, fire, Haz-Mat). 

Ability to determine the speed of vehicles by pacing or 
by using radar units after a period of training. 

Ability to operate a patrol vehicle under varying conditions. 

Ability to conduct chemical analysis of the breath of a person 
arrested for violation of driving while intoxicated statues after 
a period of training. 

Ability to ascend and descent stairs/ladders during alarms 
or responses to calls. 

Ability to note significant facts and conditions by observation 
when on patrol or traffic duty. 

Ability to recognize and report situations and conditions 
which are potentially dangerous. 

Ability to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations. 

Ability to perform repetitive operations, including the answering 
of inquiries, without loss of equanimity, patience, or courtesy. 

Ability to work effectively with associates, superior officers, 
campus visitors, students, faculty, and others. 

Ability to take and maintain a firm and correct stand when 
controversies arise. 

Ability to recognize abnormal behavior and be able to control 
effectively the situation when disturbed people are involved. 

Ability to make on the spot decisions. 

Ability to perform tactfully and judiciously under pressure 

Ability to take charge of situations in a professional manner. 

Ability to give testimony under oath in court. 

Ability to write clear, accurate, and comprehensive 
police reports. 

Ability to maintain essential campus police records and 
files including the log. 

Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or 
manual recording and information systems used by the 
agency, office, or related units. 

Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in 
English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. 
American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered 
as acceptable forms of communication. 

Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long
as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without
reasonable accommodation.  If the accommodation cannot be 
made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, 
such persons may not be eligible.

ADVANCEMENT

Appointees who successfully complete the 12-month training 
period will be eligible for advancement, under Civil Service 
Commission procedures, to the title of Campus Police Officer.

The inability of an employee in this trainee title to attain a level 
of performance warranting advancement to a title listed above 
shall be considered as cause for separation.

CODES:   FA99 - 55172               MER           02/27/2010