The Stanford University Department of Public Safety (SUDPS) exists to provide a safe, secure atmosphere which is conducive to freedom of expression and movement, for all people and their property at Stanford University, within the constraints of federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. SUDPS is a private-employer public safety department.
Peace officer authority Sworn personnel at SUDPS are deputized as Santa Clara County Reserve Deputy Sheriffs pursuant to California Penal Code § 830.75. While on duty, they hold full law enforcement powers to make arrests and enforce state law and county ordinances throughout California.
Employment and labor relations SUDPS personnel are covered by federal labor law (the National Labor Relations Act) rather than California's public-sector labor relations statutes. Deputies (line level) are represented by the Stanford Deputy Sheriff's Association (SDSA), and terms of employment are governed by the MOA between Stanford and the SDSA in addition to university practices.
Retirement Sergeants participate in Stanford's private-sector retirement program, which is a defined-contribution plan with employer contributions.
Position Summary
Sergeants are first-line supervisors responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and performance of personnel (both sworn and non-sworn) who work in a variety of department units including: patrol, investigations, special events, records, parking and traffic, and administration. Supervisory duties include but are not limited to: carrying out and overseeing general law enforcement/public safety functions; setting goals and objectives for the unit; contributing to the fulfillment of objectives; motivating and developing personnel; ensuring that personnel meet performance expectations; providing documentation of performance; and implementing strategies that enhance department operations. Sergeants are expected to work closely and collaboratively with their peers within the department to effectively coordinate the day-to-day operations of the various units as well as the department.
A SUDPS Sergeant must maintain proficiency and exercise the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform basic law enforcement functions as well as directly supervise personnel assigned to their work group. Required knowledge includes, but is not limited to: pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations; rules of evidence pertaining to search and seizure and preservation of evidence; techniques and applications of self-defense and proper use of force; use, operation, and maintenance of police equipment, vehicles, and tools; department policies and procedures; and institutional policies and procedures (such as the Administrative Guide).
In addition to their supervisory responsibilities, Sergeants are expected to perform the same basic job duties as line personnel, including investigating crimes and arresting individuals, issuing citations, and participating in community outreach activities. Sergeants must balance their administrative responsibilities with in-field supervision, spending considerable time working in the field and directly with the staff in their assigned unit.
SUDPS personnel are considered "essential" or "required" University personnel and shall respond to campus when directed to do so, even with little advance notice. Sergeants are integral to the department's overall emergency response efforts. Absent a higher-ranking sworn SUDPS member, assuring shift operational efficiency is the primary responsibility of a Sergeant.
Work is performed primarily on-site; the position is subject to shift work including day, swing, and night shifts.
Job Responsibilities
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Supervision and personnel management
- Establish and document individual and group performance objectives for sworn and non-sworn personnel assigned to the unit.
- Provide guidance, support, and discipline of personnel.
- Ensure that department personnel conduct themselves in accordance with the law and meet behavior expectations set forth by department General Orders and the university Administrative Guide.
- Supervise and direct the operations of unit personnel (sworn and non-sworn), including part-time Special Events Patrol staff and other non-sworn support roles used to staff large campus events.
- Prepare a daily operations plan and conduct a daily briefing to review directives, issues, and current events.
- Investigate employee complaints and infractions of rules and regulations, and recommend appropriate action, following the disciplinary and procedural framework applicable to SUDPS personnel
- Participate in the selection and hiring of department personnel.
- Coordinate the Field Training program for recruit officers.
Field operations and investigations
- Respond to all serious incidents and crimes occurring during the shift; recognize incidents that fall under the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office's retained jurisdiction (e.g., homicide, kidnapping/hostage situations) and coordinate proper transfer of responsibility.
- Conduct a variety of criminal and special investigations and effectively document information.
- Identify current campus trends and modify objectives and enforcement based on community needs.
- Implement the Incident Command System during a major incident, including large planned events and demonstrations.
Campus-specific coordination
- Support the department's Clery Act compliance obligations, including timely-warning and emergency-notification decisions, accurate classification of reportable crimes, and maintenance of the daily crime log.
- Coordinate with the University's Title IX office on cases involving sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking, recognizing that these matters often proceed on parallel criminal and administrative tracks.
- Coordinate with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Behavioral Intervention Team, or other student-support offices on welfare checks and student mental-health crises, distinguishing these from criminal matters where appropriate.
- Coordinate with Environmental Health & Safety and relevant research offices on incidents involving laboratory hazards, controlled substances, or other research-security concerns.
- Plan for and command department response to demonstrations, protests, and controversial-speaker events, balancing safety with the University's commitment to freedom of expression.
- Coordinate with adjacent and overlapping agencies (Palo Alto PD, Santa Clara County, CHP) as needed given the campus's location and mixed jurisdictional boundaries.
Communication, planning, and representation
- Utilize effective time management techniques.
- Provide guidance to line personnel to develop plans and programs addressing campus concerns and promoting subordinates' career development.
- Identify and propose solutions to improve business operations and address identified problems.
- Interpret, apply, and make decisions in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
- Think clearly and act quickly in a variety of situations.
- Engage tactfully and courteously with the public and law enforcement personnel; maintain contact and preserve good relations with the public.
- Represent the department and university at meetings and conferences.
- Respond to critical situations, even when off-duty, and sometimes with little advance notice.
- Work irregular and on-call hours, including weekends, evenings, and holidays.
- Weekend, shift, and holiday work is required.
- Other duties, as assigned.
Other duties, as assigned.
Employment Standards
Successful candidates for the position of Sergeant must possess the following qualifications and/or skills:
Knowledge of:
- Principles of organizational dynamics, supervision, training, and progressive discipline.
- Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances including those pertaining to search and seizure, rules of evidence, interviewing of suspects, court procedure, criminal law, laws of arrest, and laws governing the care, custody, and control of prisoners.
- Investigative procedures, methods, and techniques, including preserving crime scenes, identifying the elements of a crime, preserving evidence, and obtaining statements.
- Applicable officer-rights and disciplinary procedures as they apply to SUDPS personnel under the MOU with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and the MOA between Stanford University and the Stanford Deputy Sheriff's Association.
- Department policies and procedures, including the General Orders; university policies and procedures, including the Administrative Guide.
- The Clery Act and its effect on campus policing, including timely-warning and emergency-notification obligations.
- Self-defense, officer safety, and crowd/demonstration-management tactics.
- Techniques to develop and promote teamwork.
Ability to:
- Effectively organize, coordinate, direct, and supervise a diverse workforce.
- Interpret, convey, and ensure implementation of agency policies, procedures, and methods; ensure personnel have clear guidelines of authority and responsibility.
- Establish and maintain effective community and public relations within a culturally diverse population, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Work both independently and as part of a group.
- Carry out basic law enforcement functions such as investigating crimes, apprehending individuals, issuing citations, and managing crowds.
- Recognize when a matter calls for coordination with campus partners (Title IX, CAPS/Behavioral Intervention Team, Environmental Health & Safety) rather than, or in addition to, a purely criminal-justice response.
- Work in a fast-paced environment and complete work in a timely and accurate manner.
- Take appropriate action in emergency and stressful situations.
Personal Characteristics:
- Desire and ability to motivate and inspire others.
- Willingness to promote the department's core values.
- Conscientiousness, dependability, integrity, and initiative.
- Emotional control.
- Commitment to the development of personnel and the department.
- Ability to effectively deal with personal danger, which may include exposure to armed/dangerous persons, dangerous animals, communicable diseases, hazards of emergency driving, and natural and man-made disasters.
- Acceptance that one's behavior off-duty impacts one's on-duty credibility and ability to function effectively.
Minimum Education and Experience
- Proof of satisfactory completion of a California P.O.S.T.-certified basic police academy, or completion of the California waiver process.
- A minimum of three years of recent full-time experience (post-FTO) at a law enforcement agency performing duties comparable to those of a peace officer at Stanford University. Campus law enforcement experience preferred but not required.
- Graduation from High School or possession of a G.E.D. certificate, plus completion of 60 college semester units or 90 quarter units from an accredited college.
- Successful completion of a P.O.S.T.-certified Supervisory school within 1 year of hire.
- Not be in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
- Meet all required minimum standards prescribed in Government Code §§ 1029 and 1031, including psychological evaluation, polygraph examination, fingerprinting, background investigation, and medical/physical demands examination.
- Advanced interviewing, interrogation, and observation skills.
- Maintain proficiency and training requirements mandated by the department, university, Peace Officer Standards and Training, or the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
- Supervisory and leadership skills.
- Ability to pass a physical demands test relevant to the job requirements.
- Ability to wear and breathe through a respirator.
Certificates and Licenses Required
- Deputization as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff by the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff, pursuant to Penal Code § 830.75.
- Valid California non-commercial driver's license.
Physical Requirements
- Maintain and retain minimal peace officer status requirements to perform job duties (e.g., arrest and control techniques, defensive tactics, high-speed driving under stressful conditions, and proficiency with a variety of firearms).
- Must be able to affect arrests, including subjects who may resist or attempt to flee.
- Must be able to wear personal protective equipment, including being able to wear and breathe through a respirator, including performing an annual fit test.
- Vision not less than 20/100 in each eye; correctable to no less than 20/30 in each eye; without functional color blindness or impairment.
- Constantly lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11–20 pounds.
- Frequently stand/walk/sit, perform desk-based computer tasks, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, operate foot and/or hand controls.
- Occasionally write by hand.
- Rarely kneel/crawl, climb (ladders, scaffolds, or other), reach/work above shoulders, grasp forcefully, use a telephone, sort/file paperwork, scrub/sweep/mop, lift/carry/push/pull objects weighing more than 40 pounds, or use a respirator.
Working Conditions
- Work in emergency situations, confined spaces, intense life-threatening conditions, and inclement weather.
- May have exposure to dangerous persons, firearms, bodily fluids, fumes, moving objects, and noise.
- Work irregular hours, including overtime and holidays.
Compensation
The expected pay range for this position is $185,000 to $205,000 per annum.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good-faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Candidates evaluating this range against other Bay Area law enforcement agencies should also weigh total compensation, including retirement structure (see below), which differs meaningfully from public-agency pension plans.
Work Standards
- When conducting university business, must comply with the California Vehicle Code and Stanford University driving requirements.
- Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote a Culture of Safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu/
Selection Process
(specific order of the process is subject to change)
- Application
- Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ)
- Written test and skills assessment
- Oral Board Interview with department and university personnel
- Background investigation, including a polygraph examination
- Medical/Physical Demands Exam
- Interview with the Director of Public Safety
Why Stanford is for You
We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:
- Freedom to grow. Career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TED Talk, film screening, or hear a renowned author or global leader speak.
- A caring culture. Generous time off and family care resources.
- Retirement, structured differently than public agencies. As a private employer, Stanford does not offer a public-safety pension; instead, SUDPS Sergeants participate in Stanford's tax-advantaged defined-contribution retirement plan, with employer contributions independent of employee deferrals. Candidates coming from a CalPERS-safety or county-pension agency should discuss the specifics with HR before comparing total compensation, since the structure — not just the amount — is different.
- A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health and fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
- Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
- Enviable resources. Free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts, and more.
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
Stanford is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Core Duties
- Plan work and assignments of staff and teams; set specific objectives and routinely monitor progress towards achievement.
- Supervise, coordinate, assign, train, review, evaluate, counsel, and potentially recommend disciplinary action of assigned staff.
- Conduct daily briefing to inform officers of the directives, problems, and current events affecting police operations.
- May direct and supervise special units (e.g., records, SWAT, parking enforcement, special events, and investigative services).
- Teach training classes, conduct meetings and staff briefings, and perform other public presentations; monitor probationary officers’ training delivered by the field training officers to ensure sufficient and proper training.
- Perform the job duties of a sworn staff:
- Investigate complaints, infractions of rules and regulations, crimes, and suspicious occurrences; take or recommend appropriate action.
- Respond to all serious incidents and crimes occurring on the shift and take charge at the scene; detain and interview suspects; make arrests.
- Serve as a detective or as a supervisor of a detective division team.
- Review and/or prepare criminal and administrative reports, correspondence, and statistical information; appear in court to testify.
- In absence of higher ranking officer, maintain department operational efficiency.
Minimum Education
Completion of a California basic Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program
Minimum Experience
Three years full-time experience performing duties comparable to those of a deputy sheriff or successful completion of California waiver process for California basic police academy.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Meet all required minimum standards prescribed in Government Code Sections 1029 and 1031, including a psychological evaluation, polygraph examination, fingerprinting, background investigation, and medical/physical demands examination.
- Advanced interviewing, interrogation, and observation skills.
- Maintain proficiency and training requirements mandated by department, university, Peace Officer Standards and Training, or county sheriff’s office.
- Supervisory and leadership skills.
Certificates and Licenses Required
Deputization by Santa Clara County’s Office of the Sheriff.
Must possess and maintain a valid California non-commercial Class C Driver’s License.
Drivers License Requirements
- Must possess and maintain a valid California non-commercial Class C Driver's License.
- Ability to drive day or night.
- When conducting university business, must comply with the California Vehicle Code and Stanford University driving requirements.