Police Detective

This position is 100% on campus

Salary Range: $66,472/year or higher, commensurate with experience and/or education

JOB SUMMARY 

This Police Detective is responsible for investigating reported and suspected criminal activity. The Police Detective ensures the protection of the general public and furthers judicial processes.

DUTIES 

• Obtains search warrants: establishes probable cause, requests warrants, communicates with other officers and/or agencies
• Investigates and processes crime scenes and related law enforcement problems; photographs crime scenes, searches crime scenes for evidence, checks for latent fingerprints, and collects and preserves any physical evidence present; serves as evidence custodian and transports evidence to crime lab
• Maintains security of crime scenes; removes suspects from scene; interviews and interrogates witnesses and suspects to gather information regarding incidents; obtains statements; fingerprints suspects; follows up leads to cases; apprehends suspects and violators of the law
• Investigates assigned cases: gathers information, assists with the determination of the point at which cases are ready for prosecution, and appears in local, state, and federal courts to provide testimony regarding cases investigated
• Writes up narratives from information gathered from witnesses
• Prepares a variety of records and reports, including supplemental investigation, background investigation, internal investigation, and statistical reports; maintains case files; reviews case files for potential leads and solvability factors
• Provides case information to prosecutors, attorneys, other law enforcement officers, and outside agencies as requested
• Performs internal investigations as required
• Maintains contacts with community members who may be able to provide information regarding criminal activities; seeks and develops sources of information
• Makes campus safety presentations to local school and civic groups and organizations
• Testifies in and appears at judicial proceedings
• Participates in department training programs
• Performs other related duties as assigned

MARGINAL DUTIES 

• May perform patrol duties such as answering calls, investigating traffic accidents, patrolling the university to deter crimes and traffic violations, handling domestic disputes, and other misdemeanor and felony calls
• May be assigned to investigate financial, juvenile, vice, homicide, drug, auto theft, property, robbery, assault, gang-related, and other crimes

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Direct Reports:

• None

Delegation of Work:

• N/A

Supervision Given:

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of federal and state laws, criminal and traffic laws, city ordinances, and department policies and procedures
• Knowledge of the geography and streets of the city
• Knowledge of criminal investigation methods and search and seizure laws
• Knowledge of current drug and gang trends
• Knowledge of the judicial process and criminal court procedures
• Knowledge of controlled substances and relevant laws and regulations

Skills:

• Skill in crime scene processing methods used to collect and preserve evidence for court admissibility
• Skill in the use of photographic and surveillance equipment, audiovisual equipment, communications equipment, and various types of emergency equipment
• Skill in operating a computer and standard office equipment
• Skill in using firearms and self-defense techniques
• Skill in observing and interpreting human behavior
• Skill in interview and interrogation techniques
• Skill in identifying and classifying drugs
• Skill in gathering, processing, recording, and filing evidence
• Skill in organizing and analyzing evidence
• Skill in interpersonal relations
• Skill in oral and written communication

Abilities:

• Ability to meet current requirements set forth by the Commission on Law Enforcement for the State of Texas. (TCOLE)

WORK LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Primary Work Location:

• The work is typically performed in an office and outdoors
• The employee may be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, machinery with moving parts, and cold or inclement weather
• The work may require the use of protective devices

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, run, and use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above
• The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and taste or smell
• The employee may occasionally be required to physically subdue combative subjects and must maintain a level of physical ability accordingly
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 25 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

EEO/AA

Required Education:

• High School diploma or GED required

Required Experience:

• Minimum of four (4) years of experience as a patrol officer while not on probation
• All Police Officer III requirements
• Must obtain, at a minimum, a "Meets Expectations" rating on all Police Officer competencies at the annual performance appraisal for the preceding two (2) years
• Must obtain, at a minimum, a "Meets Expectations" rating on all Police Officer competencies at the annual performance appraisal for the preceding four (4) years

License/Certification:

• TCOLE Intermediate Certificate
• Texas drivers license

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Associates Degree preferred

About University of Houston Downtown

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions:  No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. TheStockWatcher.com called UHD a “notable institution providing high-quality online MBA programs. … UHD ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen career paths.”

UHD is one of the four distinct and separate components of the University of Houston System, which also includes the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Houston-Victoria. Instructional Sites operated by UHD are University of Houston-Downtown Northwest, University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College Kingwood, and University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College CyFair.

The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.

The University of Houston - Downtown is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.