Arrests violators of laws, issues summonses, issues written and
verbal warnings when appropriate, ensures data collection forms for
the 2020 Community Policing Act are issued when required. Exercises
discretion in a safe, fair, and balanced manner. Provides law
enforcement presence and crowd control at assigned activities
and/or locations. Demonstrates professional demeanor and safety
techniques during traffic control;
Responds to radio calls and assignments made by dispatchers and
supervisors, answers calls and complaints, and provides assistance
to fellow law enforcement officers. Investigates traffic crashes
and provides assistance to the injured, control crash area, and
ensure the safety of other traffic until area is clear;
Conducts interviews and writes detailed and accurate reports in
a timely manner; is well-versed in laws of arrest and search and
seizure. Provides complete preliminary and follow-up investigations
of all incidents in a professional, caring and timely manner.;
Preserves crime scenes and collects and processes evidence from
a variety of sources such as citizens, witnesses, suspects, crime
scenes and incidents that pose a potential liability to the
University. Uses a variety of methods to obtain information and
evidence, including interviews and interrogations; and
Prepares for and attends court to provide complete testimony
and the presentation of evidence;
Provides public services and assistance to community
members
- Provides assistance to the community by utilizing sound
decision making and customer service practices;
- Ensures that the public is dealt with in a courteous and
professional manner, displays no bias, and works to overcome
communication barriers. Displays appropriate compassion and
empathy, providing law enforcement services with a high standard of
care;
- Looks beyond the initial problem and seeks opportunities to
provide exceptional customer service;
- Demonstrates competency and employs proper safety procedures
with handling a variety of customer service issues with tact and
diplomacy in a confidential manner;
- Through problem solving methodologies, provides solutions or
the resources to solve any problem confronting the public;
- Proactively follows up on contacts and referrals. Exercises
sound judgement; decisions take into consideration department and
university policy, law, and fact. Renders aid and assistance to
citizens, fellow officers, and other public safety partners;
and
- Responsive to requests for mutual aid.
Conducts patrols and participates in crime prevention
activities
- Provides proactive deterrence and high visibility patrols of
all University property by vehicle, foot, and/or bicycle with a
community policing philosophy;
- Utilizes unallocated time in a productive manner, demonstrates
effective time management and ability to plan and organize a daily
work routine, and contributes in a positive manner to department’s
mission;
- Operates police vehicle and conducts foot/bike patrols to
observe for and confront violations of traffic laws, suspicious
activities or persons, and disturbances of public peace;
- Reports and addresses hazardous conditions;
- Motivates productivity and takes initiative to improve job
knowledge and skills through conducting proactive patrols and
engaging with the community. Maintains public peace and provides
the University community with the most current crime prevention
technology and methods;
- Participates in and documents community outreach activities and
events as part of daily patrol routines;
- Works effectively and proactively with Community Outreach unit
to identify and participate in activities, events, and training
opportunities; and
- Submits annual Community Engagement Plan reflective of current
needs of community for assigned unit, practices personal
accountability, and ensures those under their supervision meet
performance expectations as outlined.
Provides support and assistance to victims, witnesses, and
persons in need of services
- Maintains a professional working relationship with the
University Administration, University Life, Title IX, and the
University community, as well as with other elements of the
criminal justice system including the courts, the Commonwealth’s
Attorney, Community Services Board (CSB), and other law enforcement
agencies to render assistance to victims, witnesses, and persons in
need of resources or services;
- Provides assistance to crime victims by rendering sensitive and
caring support. Provides victims and witnesses information on
cases, court procedures, and protective order statuses. Updates
victims and witnesses on case statuses, arrests made, and service
of processes/warrants. Assists victims and witnesses with
identifying and utilizing available support resources;
- Recognizes situations and incidents requiring crisis
intervention and/or mental health resources and utilizing available
resources when appropriate and employing proper safety procedures
in custodial situations. Executes and serves Emergency Custody
Orders and/or Temporary Detention Orders as required; and
- Submits written referrals in a timely manner to the Office of
Student Conduct and/or support resources for incidents involving
students for university compliance with the Drug Free Schools &
Communities Act, as well as written referrals to Human Resources
for employee matters. Complies with Clery Act and serves as a
Campus Security Authority (CSA), providing written reports of all
crimes as defined under Clery Act in conjunction with, or addition
to, those defined by state code.
Practices personal accountability and follows code of conduct,
laws, policies, and procedures and is in compliance with training
and certification required of position. Performs other duties as
assigned
- Reviews, follows, and maintains a working knowledge of all
laws, state, university, and department policies. Complies with
FBI, VCIN, and CJIS policies safeguarding confidential/criminal
justice information. Follows department’s professional police
standards and code of conduct;
- Maintains a professional police appearance in compliance with
grooming, hygiene, body art, and uniform standards. Maintains a
level of physical fitness which meets the daily requirement of the
law enforcement profession demonstrating ability to respond to
calls for service in accordance with the Position Requirement’s
physical activities and physical requirements. Maintains all
certifications and qualifications for the position of Police
Sergeant;
- Complies with state, university, and department leave policies;
submits written leave requests with reasonable notice, utilizing
leave only as approved by supervisor/ department, and for the
purpose of which it is intended. Demonstrates punctuality and
reports on time for roll call, court, training, and other duties.
Follows assigned work schedule, requests, enrolls in, and attends
training, obtains approval to work overtime from supervisor,
complies with requests to work overtime, and reports to work during
emergencies/call-back as an essential/designated employee;
- Promotes a positive, professional image and practices personal
accountability and responsibility; demonstrating energy,
enthusiasm, and commitment. Devotes full effort to job
responsibilities during work hours performing assigned duties and
responsibilities with the highest degree of public trust;
- Conducts themselves at all times in a manner that supports the
mission of their agency and the performance of their duties. Report
circumstances or concerns that may affect satisfactory work
performance to management, including any inappropriate (fraudulent,
illegal, unethical) activities of other employees;
- Works cooperatively to achieve work unit and agency goals and
objectives. Demonstrate respect for the agency and toward agency
coworkers, supervisors, managers, subordinates, residential
clients, students, and customers. Demonstrates professional and
ethical conduct, honesty, and truthfulness at all times. Meet or
exceed established job performance expectations; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Provides leadership, training, and direction to the officers
assigned to their supervision
- Trains, gives direction, and provides support to each patrol
officer or detective assigned to their supervision. Maintains
active trainer/instructor certification(s) and provides instruction
(field training and/or general instruction) to officers and/or
detectives. Sergeants are also expected to provide periodic roll
call trainings;
- Builds an atmosphere which supports and encourages teamwork,
high morale, inventiveness, dedication, and respect. Ensures that
each patrol officer under their supervision has the resources,
guidance, knowledge, and support necessary to perform their job in
a professional, caring manner to provide law enforcement and
security services to the George Mason University community on a
daily basis;
- Ensures that each officer assigned to their supervision is held
accountable to their goals and actions, applying recognition and
discipline in a fair and consistent manner. Effectively handles
conflict situations, and addresses complaints and personnel matters
in a professional, caring, and timely manner. Completes required
evaluations, monitors probationary performance, improvement plans,
and makes training recommendations. Documents performance
deficiencies and works with leadership to address training and
performance needs; and
- Attends court and observes and evaluates officer performance.
Ensures officers assigned to supervision maintain required training
and certifications. Exercises good judgment and analytical skills
as needed in making decisions and solving problems. Effectively
identifies and addresses root problems, plans and coordinates
projects efficiently and effectively. Fosters positive
relationships with public safety groups and liaises with
local/regional law enforcement leaders to coordinate resources and
mutual aid when required. Provides coaching and training to MPOs
and Corporals to ensure learning and comprehensive knowledge of
first-line supervisor responsibilities; examples of such are
scene/incident management, daily administrative tasks, command and
university leadership notification procedures.
Assists in managing the university police department. Sergeants
may be assigned or rotated to various units and shifts in the
department based on department need and
training/qualifications
- Assists in coordination, communication, and management of the
university police department in the absence of the chief, deputy
chiefs, commanders, captains, and lieutenants in that order;
- Provides command and direction for the university police
department, providing support and cooperation at all times to the
command, as a member of the command, of the Police Department;
- Exercises sound judgement and timeliness in relaying
information regarding significant events affecting the community,
the university, and the department to the department’s command
staff;
- Provides appropriate notifications through chain of command and
notification matrix as required. Creates and facilitates open
channels of communication between front line staff and commanders.
Completes shift duty reports with thorough detail and maintains
accurate records;
- Reviews and approves reports in a timely manner and ensures
NIBRS compliance. Provides oversight to the communications center
and satellite campuses in the absence of the direct supervisors of
those units;
- Manages and coordinates scheduling, adequate staffing levels
for their unit, and reviews leave and training requests in a timely
manner and makes responsible decisions without negatively impacting
staffing when approving requests;
- Routinely inspects and accounts for equipment and vehicles,
conducts roll calls and roll call training, and facilitates
communication across units; and
- Responsive to subordinates and supervisors and ensures email,
phone, written, and verbal communications are attended to in a
timely manner.
Required Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent;
- Considerable progressive and substantive experience (typically
three or more years) as a Law Enforcement Officer evidenced by
accomplishments in meeting goals and objectives;
- Considerable skill in the use of police equipment relevant to
the position;
- Substantive knowledge of law enforcement/public safety and
emergency management practices;
- Considerable experience working with the public and/or customer
service experience;
- Knowledge of complex law enforcement operations and technical
tasks;
- Knowledge of law enforcement supervisory concepts and
practices;
- Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and
university and department policies;
- Excellent interpersonal, problem solving, and verbal/written
communication skills;
- Excellent public relations/customer service skills;
- Excellent judgment and decision-making skills;
- Ability to pass rigid background check;
- Ability to pass a physical fitness examination and
psychological examination;
- Ability to provide professional/caring community-oriented
service;
- Ability to communicate respectfully to internal and external
customers, appreciate diversity and respects differences, maintain
confidentiality;
- Ability to identify options and develop solutions for unique or
unprecedented situations;
- Ability to work within teams or independently with
minimal/intermittent supervision;
- Ability to perform well under stress in a calm, efficient
manner;
- Ability to provide mentoring, coaching, and training to other
sworn officers;
- Ability to provide effective leadership, training and direction
to personnel and to supervise and evaluate employees
effectively;
- Ability to analyze all emergency situations to determine course
of action and solve problems;
- Ability to communicate verbally with adequate radio voice with
no speech limitations;
- Ability to make complex decisions independently;
- Ability to work independently and solve problems involving many
variables;
- Ability to be compliant with Virginia State Police/FBI/Criminal
Justice Information Services (CJIS)policies;
- Other attributes include having a dependable work ethic, have a
high level of integrity, honesty, and accountability;
- Possession of a valid driver's license is required;
- Required to obtain and maintain NCIC/VCIN operator
certification in compliance with Virginia State Police and FBI
regulations.
Must have legal authority to carry and possess issued firearms;
required to obtain and maintain Virginia DCJS firearms
proficiency/qualifications on an annual basis, at minimum;
- Required to maintain biennial in-service education credits
regulated by Virginia DCJS Law Enforcement Officer recertification
process;
- Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Law
Enforcement Officer certification; and
- Must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor
vehicle operator’s license that meets all of GMU’s requirements for
operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason’s Vehicle Use
Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/
. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the
driver’s licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all
candidates selected with employment contingent upon favorable
review.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Associate’s degree in related field;
- CIT training;
- Prior security, public safety, or military experience;
- Advanced experience as a trainer/instructor;
- Law Enforcement first-line supervisor and/or advanced
leadership training;
- Considerable knowledge of law enforcement training and
supervisory practices;
- Extensive knowledge of law enforcement/public safety and
emergency management practices; and
- Exceptional public speaking skills and abilities.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Police
Sergeant at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/.
Complete and submit the online application to include three
professional references with contact information, and provide a
resume and
cover letter for review addressed to the
Chief of Police.
Posting Open Date: August 28, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 11, 2026
Posting Close Date: September 12, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at
http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/
