Security Officer

Under general supervision, assists sworn personnel in providing security and guarding County property and properties of public agencies contracting Sheriff's Office security services against fire, theft, vandalism, and trespassing. Positions allocated to this class are non-peace officer positions assigned to provide security in and around County facilities and properties of public agencies. Incumbents may be required by the Sheriff to carry a firearm while in the performance of their duties; incumbents are required to exercise independent judgment in providing security at both County facilities and other public facilities as designated by the Sheriff. Incumbents must distinguish between circumstances in which counseling, admonition and explanation will serve to maintain a peaceful environment or where the intervention of law enforcement personnel is necessary, and respond to and/or report situations appropriately.

This class is distinguished from the:

• Sheriff's Security Technician by the responsibility of the Sheriff's Security Technician's duties in support of Correctional Officers in maintaining the safe operation of courts or detention facilitates and in the performance of a variety of clerical support duties
• Deputy Sheriff by the Deputy Sheriff's peace officer powers as delineated in the California Penal Code

Supervision is provided by a Sergeant-Sheriff or higher job classification. No supervision is exercised over others.

Depending on assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Works at fixed posts or inner/outer perimeters of one or more facilities or campuses to detect or prevent individuals or groups from committing acts which are injurious to others or to property within or around a facility.
• Intervenes to terminate injurious acts, conducts searches of individuals for weapons, illegal devices, or contraband and detains individuals for further investigation or arrest where circumstances and conditions warrant such action.
• Directs visitors to personnel and services within a facility.
• Investigates questionable acts or behavior observed or reported on premises and questions witnesses and suspects to ascertain or verify facts

Graduation from high school or satisfactory completion of an acceptable General Education Development Test (GED)

Possession of a certificate demonstrating satisfactory completion of a POST course on PC 832 (arrest and firearms training) within six (6) months of appointment. Completion of a basic law enforcement academy may be substituted for the PC 832 certificate.

Incumbents must satisfactorily complete a POST course in the carrying and use of a club or baton.

Incumbents must satisfactorily requalify on the carrying and use of a firearm per Sheriff's Office regulations and/or applicable State law.

Incumbents must satisfactorily complete a basic first aid course.

Possession of a valid Class C California driver's license is required.

Knowledge of: Basic law enforcement principles and techniques, proper use, handling, and storage of firearms, operation of communication equipment used in the course of the work, such as radios, telephone, pagers, and related systems, rules, regulations, codes, and laws related to the work, report writing methods and practices, basic first aid.

Skills and/or Ability to: Maintain the security of buildings and grounds, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with peace officers and other personnel, meet and deal with the public courteously and effectively, demonstrate the correct use and care of firearms, communicate using radio equipment, use electronic security screening equipment, prepare legible, correct and accurate reports, conduct searches of individuals for weapons or contraband, learn to operate fixed and hand held scanning devices, understand and apply Sheriff's Office policies, procedures and directives, administer basic first aid, adopt quick, effective and reasonable courses of action under adverse and/or emergency conditions, communicate effectively orally and in writing, react quickly and calmly in emergency situations and adopt an effective course of action, obtain information through interview, interrogation and observation, pursue and subdue suspects, run quickly, such as in responding to an emergency situation, stand and walk for extended periods of time up to 8 hours.