DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the primary department charged with creating a safe and secure environment at Princeton University. DPS operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is comprised of 164 staff members. The department consists of professional University police, security officers, dispatchers and administrators dedicated to providing best-in-class service to the community.
DPS was originally recognized and awarded Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in July 2015, and subsequently awarded reaccreditation status in July 2018 and July 25, 2022. CALEA serves as the “International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies” and oversees a rigorous accreditation process. In addition, DPS was awarded accreditation status by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (NJLEAC) on March 14, 2019, and subsequently awarded reaccreditation status on March 10, 2022 . These awards are a mark of professional excellence and signify that we have earned these distinguished honors through continued compliance with CALEA/NJLEAC Standards. Throughout these processes, we established and implemented policies and practices that meet or exceed the National and State standards, to serve both the Department and the community well in the future.
DPS sworn University Police Officers have the authority of commissioned police officers with full power of arrest deriving their law enforcement authority from New Jersey statutes (Title 18A, Sections 6-4.2 and 6-4.5) and the Trustees of Princeton University. Title 18A, Section 6-4.5 provides that sworn University Police Officers “shall possess all the powers of policemen and constables in criminal cases and offenses against the law anywhere in the State of New Jersey [including the powers of arrest], pursuant to any limitations as may be imposed by the governing body of the institution which appointed and commissioned the person.” DPS sworn University Police Officers are licensed law enforcement officers as defined in NJSA 52:17B-67.
University Police Officers must complete the same police academies and annual training as their municipal counterparts. This training has been approved and authorized by the State of New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Police Training Commission. Our university police officers, who are unarmed daily, have access to a police service rifle in limited situations. Police officers may access service rifles when there is an in-progress threat with an individual brandishing a firearm, an active shooter, or an individual actively committing serious bodily injury or death with a deadly weapon on or “contiguous” to campus. All police officers have qualified with a firearm while at the police academy and must attend mandatory in-service firearms training throughout the year to enable them to perform more efficiently and more safely. DPS has 50 sworn officers including the Assistant Vice President, director of operations, the patrol captain, 5 lieutenants, 7 sergeants, 6 corporals, 3 detectives, 25 police officers, and the communications center manager.
To read the Princeton University Annual Security and Fire Safety Report click here.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Patrol Sergeant is responsible for the supervision of a specific shift as assigned by the Patrol Captain or their designee (e.g. Patrol Lieutenant).
As part of the management team the sergeant assists in planning, directing, coordinating, staff, and organizing operational resources to accomplish University goals and the department’s mission of Community Caretaking.
PATROL (45%)
Administration (30%)
Community Relations (10%)
Training (10%)
Other duties as assigned by the Lieutenant or above (5%)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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