What are the responsibilities and job description for the Safety Officer position at The City of Elkhart?
CITY OF ELKHART – JOB DESCRIPTION
DEPARTMENT
Police Department
POSITION
Safety Officer
DIVISION
Police Department
STATUS
Full-time
CATEGORY
Hourly, INFOP PG1 ($24.42)
FLSA
Non-Exempt
REPORTS TO
Patrol Captain
DATE
2025
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for a large variety of tasks at the front desk, booking counter, jail and transporting. Other duties as assigned by supervisors.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FRONT DESK
- Answering and distribution of telephone calls to the Elkhart Police Department.
- Assisting citizens and answering inquiries of visitors to the Elkhart Police Department.
- Taking offense reports via the telephone and/or in person.
- Perform active warrant checks for police officers.
- Run V.I.N. checks for citizens.
- Do background checks for the Faith Mission for people wishing to be housed there.
- Supervise juveniles that are being held for non-status offenses, until they are released.
TRANSPORTING PRISONERS
- Transport prisoners to and from various locations. For example: transport from arrest location to Elkhart County Jail or from Elkhart County Jail to Elkhart Police Department.
- Handcuff and Un-Handcuff prisoners, if need be.
BOOKING
- Perform a search on the person to be processed, if need be.
- Fingerprint and photograph inmate.
- Update or enter inmate's information in RMS and do computer entry of charges.
- Perform a medical assessment by asking a series of questions to the inmate and take an inventory of the person's personal property.
- Assist any juveniles in contacting their family.
- Follow proper procedures for inmates who are posting bond, accommodating the bondsman and complete the necessary paperwork and perform computer entries.
JAIL/PRISONERS
- At beginning of shift checks do a jail check to make sure all prisoners are accounted for.
- Count prisoners and perform a safety check to make sure everything is recorded accurately.
- Check empty cells for contraband and flip empty mattresses.
- Prepare prisoners for court (if applicable to your watch) by putting leg shackles and handcuff shackles on prisoners.
- After court perform the necessary computer entries, which reflect whether the prisoners were sentenced, to be released or to be sent to jail.
- Make arrangements to have felons transported to the Elkhart County jail and walk those that are to be released to the lobby.
- Inventory food stock and special inmate clothing and report it to accounting.
- Take care of the medical needs of inmates.
- Periodically check the jail to ensure safety of the inmates.
OTHER
- Check the parking ticket box located at the front drive of the building and remove any paid parking tickets. Secure them in Records Division.
- Transport and retrieve paperwork for Patrol Division and Criminal Investigations to and from the Elkhart Communications Center.
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Major duties include computer intake sheets (arrest reports), along with other various detention questionnaires and paperwork.
- Safety officers must possess training which will enable them to fingerprint, photograph and take accurate social information from all incoming arrestees.
- It is the responsibility of all safety officers to treat with utmost confidence any personal matters pertaining to their interaction with inmates and any other information that they may learn or come across in the performance of their duties with respect to ongoing criminal matters or investigations.
- It is strictly prohibited for safety officers to accept promise of loans, gifts or gratuity in any fashion from prisoners or inmates.
- Safety officers must possess the ability to be impartial, and non-
- discriminatory in the treatment of all prisoners and persons they come into contact without bias to race, religion, sex or national origin.
- Safety officers are responsible for notifying supervisory personnel of any injury to an inmate, illness or other accident circumstance, which might arise requiring immediate attention or actions by department personnel.
- Other duties as requested by supervisors.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Prior related experience helpful.
- Must have a valid Indiana driver's license.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Must be familiar with law enforcement including Federal & State Statutes, City Ordinances, and Indiana traffic law.
- Must possess knowledge of community relations and be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Must be aware of cultural diversity and be able to treat all people with equality.
- Must learn investigative procedures, interview techniques, city geography, traffic codes, city ordinances, defensive countermeasures, and police radio procedures.
- Obtain and maintain IDACS certification and have knowledge of all EPD policies and procedures.
- Must learn or have knowledge of criminal and civil law and learn evidence processing techniques and procedures.
- Handle occasional hostile personal contacts.
- Complete and pass initial and continuing department training.
- Operate a public safety vehicle.
- Successfully pass testing and screening process including but not limited to a written and agility test, background investigation, psychological evaluation, physical and truth verification exam.
- Ability to operate a computer and possess the skills to utilize basic software packages such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Must be able to type approximately 40 wpm.
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND VISUAL SKILLS
- Job requires sufficient physical capabilities. Walking is required.
- Individual must have sufficient abilities to operate a motor vehicle and walk outdoors in inclement weather.
- Additionally required is the ability to bend, crouch, stand, reach and negotiate on a variety of surfaces.
- Clarity of vision with or without correction.
- Position may involve considerable physical exertion as well as lifting and/or securing individuals.
- Ability to operate weapons and restraints unassisted both right and left handed.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Working conditions are indoor and outdoor and may include extremes in temperature ranges depending on task and yearly seasonal weather.
- Mental alertness is important, as is the need to make critical decisions concerning inmates, prisoners and other personnel.
- Physical and mental demands can change dramatically and safety officer personnel should be prepared to experience maximums of physical endurance.
- Safety officers may experience involvement with dangerous or potentially dangerous individuals and potentially dangerous situations.
- They must be willing and able to act accordingly, within legal and departmental guidelines.
- Work is nearly always performed independently; supervisory assistance is available when needed.
POST OFFER TESTING
REQUIRED
- The City of Elkhart is a Drug Free Workplace. Therefore successfully passing a post offer drug screen is required (random drug testing may be conducted after employment).
- Background checks producing acceptable BMV and criminal history reports required.
- Truth verification testing producing satisfactory results.
- Full criminal background investigation presenting suitable indications.
OTHER REQUIRED POST OFFER ASSESSMENTS
- Truth Verification testing, producing satisfactory results.
- Full Criminal Background Investigation presenting suitable indications.
- Psychological exam, producing satisfactory results.
POLICY STATEMENT
- The incumbent is required to possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities, and the physical, mental, and visual skills described in this job description to perform the principal duties, responsibilities and essential job functions.
- This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent. Principal duties and responsibilities are intended to describe those functions that are essential to the performance of this job and other duties and responsibilities include those that are considered incidental or secondary to the overall purpose of this job.
- This job description does not state or imply that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employee holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by the Chief of Police. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with a disability.
Salary : $24