Police Officer 4 (Sergeant)

Job Summary

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Sergeant with the ETSU Police Department. This position serves as a first-line supervisor responsible for providing leadership, direction, and oversight of assigned personnel and operations while ensuring the safety and security of the university community. The Sergeant supervises officers and support personnel, coordinates patrol and law enforcement activities, responds to critical incidents, assists with investigations, and ensures compliance with departmental policies, university procedures, and applicable laws.

The Police Sergeant plays a key role in fostering a professional, service-oriented environment through community-oriented policing, employee development, and collaborative partnerships with students, faculty, staff, visitors, and public safety partners. The position requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to effectively manage personnel and resources in a dynamic higher education environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership abilities and sound decision-making under pressure.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, coach, and develop subordinate personnel while promoting accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to provide guidance and leadership to officers in routine and complex law enforcement situations, including critical incidents and criminal investigations.
• Knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Knowledge of criminal investigations, evidence collection, evidence management, case preparation, and courtroom testimony.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare, review, and execute search warrants, arrest warrants, and other legal process documents in accordance with applicable laws and constitutional requirements.
• Ability to conduct investigations, review case files, analyze evidence, and provide investigative guidance to subordinate personnel.
• Knowledge of incident command principles, emergency management practices, and critical incident response.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, university officials, and community partners.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and enforce departmental policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, policy interpretation, presentations, and public interaction.
• Ability to utilize law enforcement technologies, records management systems, intelligence-sharing platforms, and data-driven policing strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Current Tennessee P.O.S.T. certification as a law enforcement officer
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years of supervisory or leadership experience in a law enforcement environment.
• Valid Tennessee driver''s license.
• Experience managing or coordinating law enforcement accreditation programs.
• Experience managing, coordinating, or overseeing law enforcement training programs and compliance requirements
• Must successfully pass all required background, psychological, medical, and employment screening processes.
• Must maintain all certifications and training requirements established by Tennessee P.O.S.T. and ETSU Police Department standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supervising law enforcement personnel, units, teams, or specialized functions.
• Experience coordinating patrol operations, criminal investigations, special operations, school resource programs, community engagement initiatives, or other public safety functions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage critical incidents, major events, emergency operations, or complex criminal investigations.
• Experience working collaboratively with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and community stakeholders.
• Experience supervising criminal investigations and providing investigative guidance and mentorship to subordinate personnel.
• Experience developing, implementing, or enforcing agency policies, procedures, accreditation standards, risk management practices, or compliance programs.
• Experience with budgeting, procurement, grant administration, resource management, project management, or organizational planning.
• Experience conducting employee evaluations, coordinating training programs, and developing personnel.
• Experience utilizing modern law enforcement technologies, records management systems, intelligence-sharing platforms, and analytical tools.
• Training and experience in Incident Command System (ICS), emergency management, crisis response, or emergency operations planning.
• Experience in higher education, municipal, county, state, or federal law enforcement agencies.
• Advanced law enforcement training, leadership development programs, supervisory certifications, or instructor certifications.

Compensation & Benefits

• Job Family - Public Safety Police Sergeant
• Market Range - 8 (Salary Schedules)
• For information on benefits, please visit www.etsu.edu/human-resources/benefits/.

Application Instructions

• Non- exempt positions are only required to be posted for a minimum of five (5) calendar days. The closing date for this posting is subject to change without notice to applicants.
• Documents needed to apply: Cover Letter and Resume
• Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background check

ETSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer

University Overview

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an institution with over 14,000 diverse students and highly ranked graduate and undergraduate programs. Located in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of Northeast Tennessee, ETSU serves as a hub for community, discovery, and service. Aligned with the institution''s mission, we value efforts to engage in teaching, scholarship, creative activities, and service that involve community partners and address significant societal needs in our region and beyond. Recognized in 2024 as a Great College to Work For, recent strategic initiatives prioritize the institution's focus on community engagement.

Disclaimer: The Job Summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work individuals perform in this classification. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require different tasks to be performed as assigned to reflect changes in the position. Employees must be able to perform the position''s essential functions satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.