Public Safety Officer?

[latindawg]

With all the threads i see here, everyone keeps saying to join "a department" and do a lateral move as a way to get your foot in the door. I see positions in hospitals that say public safety officer but make no mentions as to whether they are law enforcement officers. Does anyone know if most of these are actual state certified police officers or if they are just hospital security?

If they are actual officers, is it really that easy to make a lateral move to another department. I was just curious.

[cityblusuit]

The term "security guard" has become a little step child of sorts, many orgianizations like to use the term security officer, loss prevention specialist, LP agent, Asset Protection and all types of other terms including "public Safety Officer. In a non governmental environment, inclouding many hospital the same holds true. In the public sector when you refer to a public safety department you are typically referring to an agency that has its officers cross trained and certified as cops and firefighters. If you want to be the police apply to a police department. Lateral means side to side, just like a lateral pass. To move laterally as a police Officer you must be one first. Granted, across the nation there are some public hospitals that have bonafide, certified police departments. They are rare. I honestly dont know if Cook County hospital still has its own police department. When you are applying simply look at the job description and requirements. If it requires attendance at a police academy then you have your answer, if not then apply to a traditional police department

[ccsd0601]

With all the threads i see here, everyone keeps saying to join "a department" and do a lateral move as a way to get your foot in the door. I see positions in hospitals that say public safety officer but make no mentions as to whether they are law enforcement officers. Does anyone know if most of these are actual state certified police officers or if they are just hospital security?

If they are actual officers, is it really that easy to make a lateral move to another department. I was just curious.

Most hospitals have either unarmed or armed security, because it's cheaper (armed, depending on the area, if there's a trauma unit, or possibly the clientele the hospital gets). Some hospitals use private security agencies (Star Detective Agency, Digby), some have their own security (Advocate Hospitals, Ingalls, Mercy). There's only 2 that I can think of that are actual sworn law enforcement (Stroger-Cook County Hospital Police, and Oak Forest Hospital Public Safety {notice these r both county hospitals, yet, Provident currently uses Star}). Oak Forest PSOs r trained as police and firefighters. The phrase, "public safety" is just one of those politically correct terms like flight attendant instead of stewradess. They may also call it public safety when the officer has dual responsibilities of police officer and firefighter. (rosemont, 4 example)

As far as lateral moves go, if u have a state certification, u can lateral. A lot of major depts. don't do laterals in IL. (CPD, ISP, CCSPD) U may have better luck with suburban depts. Wat may happen is that u go thru their (major depts.) academy, but won't have 2 take the state exam because u r already certified.