Sergeant, University of Chicago Police Department

Department OPS DSS Police: Patrol Services About the Department The University of Chicago campus is part of Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, which contains a significant amount of off-campus housing for undergraduate and graduate students. More than a third of the University's staff reside in areas surrounding the campus, and more than 50% of the University's faculty live in the Hyde Park area. The Department of Safety and Security includes the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD), UC Campus Safety, Management Services, Transportation and Parking Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and Emergency Management.

The Department is a unit of the Office of Legal Affairs and aims to provide stronger safety and transportation services to members of the University community. By long tradition, the University Police assists the Chicago Police Department in policing Hyde Park and surrounding neighborhoods. The University of Chicago Police Department has more than 100 sworn personnel.

The University Police patrol an area encompassing 6.5 square miles and a population of approximately 65,000 people, many of whom have no direct connection to the University. Job Information

Job Summary

Sergeants assigned to specialized units perform specific duties characteristic of the unit. A Sergeant may be assigned to any one of the following: Accreditation, Fleet Management, Investigative Services, Community Relations, Administration, Special Events or Recruitment. In addition to performing some or all the above-described duties, a Sergeant assigned to any one of these specialized units provides knowledge, expertise, and experience which are unique to day-to-day operations of these units as well as unusual situations which may occur during law enforcement operations.

The qualifications required of a Sergeant assigned to a specialized unit are subject to change depending on the changes in the Department’s policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• T h e p o s i ti o n o f P o lice S er g ea n t w i thin t h e De p a r t m e n t is assi gn e d to a p at r o l s q u a d , s p e ciali z e d un it, o r a d m i n istra t i v e un it.
• Pr o v i d e s o ve r si gh t o f their a r e a o f r e s p o n si b ilit y . In t h is ca p ac i t y , t h e S e r g e a n t p r e p ar e s d aily s h ift assi gn me n t s ; p r e p a r e s a n d p r e s e n ts r o ll c all b ri e fi n g a n d trai n i ng ; i n s p e cts p e r s onn e l a n d e qu i p me n t f o r c o n f o r m i t y to De p a r t m e n t sta nd ar d s.
• R ev i e ws a n d a pp r o v e s v ari o u s t y p e s o f r e p o r t s.
• P r e p ar e s a n d i n ve sti g a t e s p e r s o nn e l c o m p lai n ts; r e s p o n d s to cri m e s ce n e s ; h a nd les ra d io calls f o r s e r v ice a n d d is p atc h e s p e r s o nn e l ; k ee p s t h eir s up e r v i s o rs i n f o r m ed o f iss u es o f c o n cern t o t h e m .
• Trai n s a n d directs p r o b ati o n ary o ff i c e r s .
• Ma n a g e s cri m e s s c e n e s, s e r ving as t h e i n ci d e n t c om m a nd e r w h e n r e qu ir e d a n d un til r e l i e v e d.
• Ass u r e s all p e r s o nn e l are h e ld ac c o un ta b le f o r c o m p l y i n g with st a te a n d f e d e ral laws as w e ll as De p ar t me n t a n d U n i ve rs i ty p o lici e s.
• P e rf o r m s r e lat e d f un cti on s. C o m p ete n cies:
• D e mo n s trated s e lf-r e strai n t in c h alle ng i n g a nd/ o r demanding situations r e qu ir e d .
• Ma k e s o un d d e cis i o n s qu ick l y based o n t h e fa c ts p r e s e n t e d r e qu ir e d .
• D e m o n str a te r e sp e ct a n d sa f e gu ard t h e d i gn ity a n d ri gh ts o f all i nd i v i du als r e qu ir e d .
• E f f e ct i ve l y d e al w ith a v ar i e t y o f unp leasa n t circ u m s ta n c e s a n d unu s u al hu m an c o ndu ct as s o ci a t e d with a nd/ o r arisi n g f r o m e me r g e n cy s i t u at i o n s i n cl ud i ng , bu t n o t l i m i t e d t o , ph y s ical tra u m a, me n tal a nd/ o r ph y sical st r e ss, p a n ic, e t c. r e qu ir e d .
• E sta b lish a n d m a i n tain e ffe c ti v e w o rki n g r e l a ti o n s h i p s w i th pub lic a n d e n f o rc e me n t officials, public, and members of the University Community required. React effectively mentally and physically, quickly, calmly, and rationally during times of conflicts and emergencies required.
• Sa f e ly d e f e n d s e l f /o r o t h e rs in h o sti l e , c o m b ati v e sit u at i o n s r e qu ir e d . Additional

Responsibilities

E du cati o n, Experience, or Certifications: Education:

• H i g h sc h oo l d i p l om a re qu i r e d .
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college required for Sergeants hired after January 1, 2015. Ex p erie n c e:
• M i n i m u m o f t h r e e ye ars o f e x p e ri e n c e as a f u ll - t i m e s w o rn l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o ff i c e r r e qu ir e d .
• N o c o rre c ti v e act i o n wit h in t h e p r e v i o u s six m o n t h s o f e m p l o ym e n t as o f d a te o f p r o m o t i o n t o S e r g ea n t r e qu ir e d .
• P r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n ce as a P o lice Offic e r at t h e Un i ve r s ity o f C h ica g o p r e f e rr e d . Certifications:
• Successful completion of the Basic Law Enforcement Officers' Training course as prescribed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Officers' Training and Standards Board OR equivalent training, as determined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Officers' Training and Standards Board, in another state required. Technical Knowledge or Skills:
• W o rki n g k no wle dg e o f Illi n o is Cr i m i n al S t a t u t e s, Illi n o i s ve h ic l e c o d e , l o c al o r d i n a n c e s, a n d c i v il l a w r e l a t e d t o p o lice w o r k r e qu ir e d .
• K n o w l e dg e o f U n i v e rsi t y a n d p o lice d e p ar t me n t r u l e s, r e gu lati o n s, a n d o t h e r wr i t t e n d ir e c ti v e s r e qu ir e d .
• Th o r o u g h ly k no wle dg e a b l e o f g e o g ra ph ic ar e a a n d b o und ari e s s e r v e d b y t h e U n i ve rs i ty Po li c e De p ar t m e n t r e qu ir e d .
• D e mo n s tra te d safe d ri v i n g p e rf o r m a n ce. Valid dri v er ' s li c e n se wit h in 6 0 d a y s o f a pp o i n t m e n t r e qu ir e d . F irst A id and C P R c er t ificat i o n s re qu ir e d .
• L earn a n d c o rr e ct l y a pp ly U n i ve rs i ty P o lice D e p ar t m e n t r u l e s, r e gu lat i on s, g e n e ral o r d e rs, p o lic i e s, p ractic e s, a n d p r o c e du r e s r e qu ir e d .
• Use d e s k t o p c ompu t e r (I B M c om p a ti b l e ), p a g e r, t w o - w ay ra d i o , fi r e a r m s, h a nd c u ffs a n d o t h e r l a w e n f o r c e m e n t e qu i p me n t, b r e at h al y z e r m ac h i n e , ra d ar e qu i p me n t , fi ng e r p ri n t e qu i p me n t, ca m e ra, c o p y m ac h i n e , a n d t e l e ph o n e r e qu ir e d .
• Suc c essf u lly c o mp lete a b ack g r o un d i n v e s ti g ati o n t h at demonstrates g oo d m o ral c h ar a cter, safe driving re c o r d , a n d n o p ri o r cri m i n al c o n v ict i o n s t h a t w o u ld p r o h i b it t h e i nd i v i du al fr o m m e eti n g t h e s t a nd a r d s s e t f o r t h b y t h e Sta t e o f Ill i n o is t o b e c o m e a l a w e n f o r ce m e n t o ffic e r r e qu ire d .
• Successfully complete/pass medical examinations inclu din g visio n screenin g an d dru g testing, psychological test required. Working Conditions and Physical

Requirements

• Ex p o s u re t o hu m an b l o o d , hu m an b l o o d c o m p o n e n t s, a nd /o r p r o du cts m a d e f r o m hum an b l o o d.
• H i g h str e ss e n v i r o nm e n t.
• O n -call r e s p o n si b ilities.
• O p e ra t e v e h icl e s / d ri v e m o t o ri z e d e qu i p me n t.
• O u t do o r w eat h er ex p o s u re.
• R e qu ir e s u se o f p e r s o n al p r o t e cti v e e qu i p me n t.
• B e nd , cr o u c h , o r st o o p.
• Sit f o r 4 h o u rs o r mo r e.
• S ta n d f o r 4 h o u rs o r mo r e.
• Ru n.
• Car r y o r lift l o a d s o f 2 5 t o 4 9 l b s.
• He ar, i n cl ud i n g m a k i n g fi n e discrimination i n s o un d.
• See , i n cl ud i n g c o l o r, d e p th p e rc e p ti o n , o r cl a rity.
• S tr e nu o u s phy sical e x e r t i o n is s o m e ti m e s r e qu ir e d in p r ov i d i n g s e r v i c e s und e r e me r g e n c y , a d ve r s e , unp l e asa n t, o r unu s u al c o n d iti o n s in all w e a t h e r c o nd i ti o n s, a n d a t all h o u rs o f t h e d ay o r n i gh t r e qu ir e d .
• Effect i v e a ud i o - v is u al d iscr i m i n at i o n a n d p e r c e p ti o n to m a k e qu ick a n d acc u ra t e ob s e r v at i o n s including d ista n t b i n o c u lar a n d v is u al ac u ity o f at l e ast 2 0 / 4 0 wi t h o r wit h o u t c o rr e c ti v e le n s e s, p e ri ph e ral v is i o n o f at least 1 4 0 d e g r ee s, a n d t h e a b ility t o r e c o gn i z e t h e c o l o rs o f tr a ffic si gn als a n d d e v ic e s s ho wi n g sta nd ard r e d , g r ee n , a n d a m b e r r e qu ir e d .
• H e ari n g s u ffici e n t to und e rsta n d s p ee ch a n d t o d e t e ct alar m s, t e l e ph o n e a n d o t h e r c o m m un icat i o n d e v i c e s r e qu ir e d . M u st n o t h a v e an a v e ra g e h e ari n g l o ss g r e at e r t h an 4 0 d e ci b e l s ( d B) at 5 0 0 - 2 00 0 H ertz ( Hz ) w i th o r wit h o u t a h e ari n g ai d .
• O p e ra t e a ve h ic l e safely.
• Cl i m b s t airs 5 s t o r ies o r mo r e .
• O p e ra t e e qu i p m e n t n e c e s sary to p e r f o rm j o b.
• T r a ve l t o v ari o u s o n-c a m pu s l o c ati o n s.
• S a f e ly d e f e n d s e l f /o r o t h e rs in h o sti l e , c o m b ati v e sit u at i o n s.
• U s e sta nd ard workstation e qu i pm e n t. M e n tal D e m a n ds:
• Awa r e o f saf et y h a z ar d s a n d t a k e a pp r o p r iate p r e ca u ti o n s.
• C o mm un ic a te in writi n g.
• C o mm un ic a te o r a lly.
• C o m p r e h e n d t e c h n ical d o c u me n ts.
• C o nd e n se c o m p l i cat e d iss u e s t o s i m p le s um m ari e s t h at can b e und e r st oo d b y a v ari e ty o f c o n stit u e n ts.
• C r e ate a n d d e li v e r p r e s e n t a ti o n s.
• D e ve l o p a n d m a n a g e i n t e r p e r s o n al r e lat i o n s h i p s.
• Ex e rci s e a b s o l u te d iscr e t i o n r e g ar d i n g c o n fi d e n tial m at t e rs.
• F o ll o w wr i tt e n a nd /o r ve r b al i n str u ct i o n s.
• G i v e d ir e c ti o n s.
• Ha nd le s e n sit i v e m at t e rs with t act a n d d i s c r e ti o n.
• Ha nd le s tr e ssf u l s i t u ati o n s.
• Learn a n d d e v e l o p skills.
• Mai n tain a h i g h l e ve l o f a l e r t n e ss.
• Pay at t e n ti o n t o d e tail.
• P e r f o r m m u lti p le tas k s s i m u lta n eo u s l y.
• Pri o riti z e w o r k a n d m e e t d e a d li n e s.
• R e a ct e ffe c ti v e l y , qu ickl y , ca l m l y , a n d ra t i o n a lly du ri n g c o n fli c ts a n d e m e r g e n cies.
• Train o r t e ach o t h e rs.
• W o rk e f f e ct i ve ly a n d c o lle g ially with little s u p e r v is i o n o r as m e m b e r o f a t e a m.
• W o rk with fr e qu e n t i n t e rr up t i o n s.
• W o rk with p eo p l e fr o m d i v e rse c u lt u r e s a n d b ac k g r o und s.
• L ist e n i n g s kills.
• Critical t h i n ki n g s k ills.
• De cis i o n m aki n g s kills.
• I n t e r p e r s o n al skills.
• Math s kills.
• N e g o tiat i o n s kills.
• Or g a n i z ati o n al skills.
• P la nn i n g skills.
• P r o b l e m s o l v i n g s k ills.
• Q u a n titat i v e a n d a n a l y tical skills.
• R e a s o n i n g s k ills.
• Ti m e m a n a g e me n t s kills. Required Documents:
• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Benefit Eligibility ​ Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Pay Rate Type Hourly Pay Range $50.00 - $55.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Union Non-Union Job is Exempt No Drug Test Required Yes Health Screen Required Yes Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required Yes Posting Date 2026-02-05 Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.   A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.   Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:  http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.