A Police Officer contributes to the success of the Chicago Zoological Society by providing services, including asset protection and medical aid, to provide a safe environment for employees, guests, and animals, contributing to the Society's goals of providing extraordinary guest experiences and assuring overall financial sustainability. This position serves as an armed Patrol Officer, performing patrol duties to ensure the safety and security of guests, employees, facilities, and the animal collection. Assists with traffic direction and general patrol of the park, including parking lots and related duties.

As a Police Officer (Temporary), responsibilities include the following:

• Follow Society and department safety and procedural rules. Maintain work area and equipment in clean and functional condition in accordance with department standards.
• Enforce and administer the enforcement of park rules, regulations, and state, federal and local statutes. Prepares field reports and required paperwork in accordance with established department procedures.
• Direct traffic inside and outside the park as assigned.
• Promote a positive public image and interactions and respond to inquiries and requests for information.
• Monitor facilities, parking, and adjacent properties for safety, hazards, and security.
• Provide assistance in law enforcement and other assigned activities to local community police departments as requested.
• Other related duties as assigned.
  

Position Requirements and Specifications
This position includes the following requirements:

• Associate's degree in criminal justice or equivalent combination of relevant training and/or experience required.
• Minimum two years relevant security or loss prevention experience required.
• Must be an Illinois State Certified Police Officer.
• Valid Firearms Owners Identification ("FOID") Card required at time of hire.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with a diverse audience.
• A valid driver's license required on date of hire. If you are an Illinois resident, you must possess a valid Illinois driver's license at time of hire or must obtain one within 90 days of hire. A valid out-of-state driver's license is required at time of hire if the employee is an out-of-state resident.

The preferred qualifications include:

• Minimum one year police officer experience preferred.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus.

Additional Information
Brookfield Zoo welcomes over 2 million guests each year. Safety and courtesy are our top priority. As a Police Officer (temporary) you will make use of your strong customer service focus to maintain good public relations while performing patrol duties to ensure the safety and security of guests, employees, facilities, and animals. You can also draw from any experience you may have with community policing or as a community service officer to promote a positive public image through your interactions with the zoo's many visitors.

Although not required, candidates with 2 or more years of experience as a full-time police officer within the last 3 years, strongly desired. This is a temporary position. The typical work schedule consists of 5 to 20 hours per week. While Brookfield Zoo is open every day, this position is primarily to provide additional coverage to assist with traffic and crowd control on peak attendance days which are typically Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays throughout the year. The position typically lasts from approximately March - December.

Upcoming Peak Attendance Events:

• Boo at the Zoo! Saturdays and Sundays, October 22-23 and 29-30
• Holiday Magic: Saturdays and Sundays, December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and Monday, December 26 - Saturday, December 31

The Chicago Zoological Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer - Minorities / Women / Veterans / Disabled.