Rutgers University - Police Officer at Rutgers University Police Department

APPLICANTS  WHO POSSESS  A CURRENT BASIC COURSE FOR  POLICE OFFICER CERTIFICATION (NOT REQUIRING WAIVER) ISSUED BY THE NEW JERSEY POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION SHOULD REVIEW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE  CERTIFIED CAREER POSTING AND  APPLY ACCORDINGLY. 

ALL OTHER APPLICANTS SHOULD REVIEW THE  REQUIREMENTS FOR  THIS  CAREER POSTING.ALL APPLICANTS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO APPLY ONCE TO DURING THE APPLICATION PERIOD.

THE FIRST PHYSICAL ASSESSEMENT TEST FOR CURRENT APPLICANTS  OCCURED ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2024 AT CAPE MAY POLICE ACADEMY. APPLICANTS WHO APPLIED AFTER THE FEBRUARY  TEST DEADLINE WILL BE SCHEDULED  FOR A JULY 14, 2024 TEST AT CAPE MAY POLICE ACADEMY. FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.EACH APPLICANT  MUST RECEIVE A CONFIRMED APPOINTMENT AND PROVIDE THE REQUIRED FORMS  (ATTACHED TO THIS CAREER POSTING) TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ASSESSMENT. ALL APPLICANTS WILL ONLY BE SCHEDULED FOR ONE TEST DATE- PASS OR FAIL.

The Rutgers University Police Department is accepting applications for current and future openings for the position of Police Officer.  The Rutgers Police Department is seeking highly motivated and dedicated men and women to join a diverse, community-oriented police department that provides police services to three geographic locations throughout New Jersey; Newark, New Brunswick and Camden. The Rutgers University Police Department is a full-service police organization comprised of 180 fully sworn police officers and over 250 civilian personnel.  Sworn officers are New Jersey Police Training Commission Certified and have full power and authority to make arrests, investigate crimes and carry firearms. 

The Rutgers Police Department is a professional, internationally accredited law enforcement organization that is seeking men and women with good character, sound judgment, reliability and integrity combined with excellent communication skills to serve the Rutgers University community.  This posting is intended to create a police officer eligibility list which will be maintained by the Rutgers Police Department to fill current and future job openings. Please note that successful applicants may be offered positions in any of the three Rutgers locations: Newark, New Brunswick/Piscataway or Camden. 

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the state of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution.  Established in 1766, the university is the eighth oldest higher education institution in the United States.  More than 69,000 students and 22,500 full and part-time faculty and staff learn, work and serve the public at Rutgers locations across New Jersey.  Rutgers has 300 research centers and institutes, 29 schools and colleges and is home to New Jersey’s most extensive and diversified network of research laboratories

All applicants will be required to pay a $60.00 non-refundable application processing fee.  

Minimum Requirements

• Be a citizen of United States
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Possess a valid New Jersey Driver’s license
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Visual acuity not less than 20/50 in each eye corrected to 20/20 with normal color perception
• Normal auditory acuity
• Must be a resident of the State of New Jersey at the time of appointment

A full list of Minimum Qualifications and Disqualifiers are available here.

Essential Duties and Functions

Rutgers University Police Officers patrol designated areas by vehicle and foot, respond to calls for assistance and emergencies, apprehend, detain, process and arrest individuals who violate New Jersey law, interacts with and establishes rapport with the campus community, testifies in court cases as necessary and work rotating shifts.  Police officers may be called back to duty in emergency situations and are required to work weekends, nights, University events and holidays as needed by the department.

Hiring Process

All applicants will be required to successfully pass the Physical Training Assessment. Following submission to this job posting, you will be contacted at the email address which you provide in your application with details; including: date, time and location of the Physical Training Assessment. The  test  will be  held at Cape May Police Academy located in Cape May, New Jersey. Failure to appear on scheduled test date may result in disqualification.

The Physical Training Assessment will consist of the following:

• 1.5 mile run in 15:55 minutes or less
• 24 pushups in one (1) minute
• 28 sit ups in one (1) minute
• 300 Meter Run in 70.1 seconds or less
• Vertical Jump of at least fifteen (15) inches

Candidates will be required to pass ALL sections of the physical assessment to move forward with the process. A sample  demonstration of  how to successfully complete assessment exercises can be  found here.

Included in this job posting is a Medical Certification Form which will need to be completed by a physician prior to participating in the Physical Training Assessment. This  form  must  be presented to academy staff on test date. 

Selected candidates will then undergo a series of interviews, over the several months following the Physical Training Assessment, and will be required to successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation process.  It is anticipated that candidates will be selected from this eligibility list for the August 2024 and January 2025 academy cycles.

Selected candidates will then be required to pass a thorough medical and psychological exam, including a drug screening consistent with the Attorney General's Guideline for Law Enforcement Drug Testing . Meet all conditions as outlined by the New Jersey Police Training Commission licensing requirements. Any medical or physical condition or defect which would prevent efficient performance of the position of police officer will be cause for rejection.  If you successfully pass all portions of the selection process and are selected you must complete a six-month Basic Police Academy within one year of appointment, if not already certified

If you fail to complete any portion of the selection process or falsify any information, your name shall be removed from consideration and you will not be considered for re-testing, reapplication and reevaluation.

All applications must be received by 11:59 PM on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

Rutgers University no longer requires all new employees to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated or have received a booster (where eligible) against COVID-19 prior to commencement of employment. Prospective hires will no longer be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain a valid medical or religious exemption. Annual seasonal influenza vaccination is mandatory. Pre-employment screening for flu immunization will be conducted during flu season. Failure to provide proof of seasonal influenza vaccination and/or failure to submit an exemption request will result in the recission of the candidate’s conditional offer of employment.

Information regarding public safety at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is available in the annual security report Safety Matters. For each of Rutgers' regional campuses, the report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Rutgers University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. “Safety Matters” is available online at: http://rupd.rutgers.edu/aboutsafe.shtml. A paper copy can be obtained at the RUPD headquarters on each campus or by emailing clery@ipo.rutgers.edu. The locations of the RUPD headquarters are: Camden Campus: 25 N. 5th Street, Newark Campus: 200 University Avenue/5 Bruce Street and New Brunswick Campus: 55 Paul Robeson Boulevard. 

Applicants should be aware of their rights under the following federal laws:

• Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
• “EEO is the Law” Poster Supplement

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement