Public Safety Officer Resume Guide
Public Safety Officers are responsible for maintaining public order, responding to emergencies and providing assistance to those in need. They patrol assigned areas, enforce laws and regulations, investigate suspicious activities or persons and respond to calls for service. Additionally, they may provide first aid when necessary and assist with crowd control at large events.
You have the drive, training and determination to make a great public safety officer. But hiring managers won’t know this until you present your qualifications in an effective resume. Show them that you’re just what they need by writing one today.
This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.
Table of Contents
The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.
Public Safety Officer Resume Sample
Gladyce Keeling
Public Safety Officer
[email protected]
858-885-2779
linkedin.com/in/gladyce-keeling
Summary
Talented and dedicated public safety officer with a proven record of protecting and serving the community. At ABC, managed all aspects of the Security Department including security systems, staff training, and emergency response planning. Received numerous commendations for exemplary performance in high-pressure situations and successfully led teams on multiple large-scale operations. Highly attentive to detail with superior observational skills that help identify potential risks before they occur.
Experience
Public Safety Officer, Employer A
Grand Prairie, Jan 2018 – Present
- Educated over 1000 citizens on the importance of public safety, resulting in a 20% decrease in neighborhood crime rate.
- Formulated proactive response plans for emergency situations and provided detailed reports to members of law enforcement after every incident.
- Actively monitored local areas using surveillance equipment while providing physical security at designated locations; identified over 30 potential threats within 3 months and minimized damage/risk accordingly.
- Advised residents on preventative measures they should take to ensure their own safety and those close to them; increased community awareness by 15%.
- Optimized patrol routes through strategic use of GPS technology, reducing travel time between assignments by 35%.
Public Safety Officer, Employer B
Elk Grove, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017
- Assessed and responded to approximately 150 incidents per month, ensuring the safety of citizens and property; successfully apprehended 15+ suspects with a 90% conviction rate.
- Supervised patrols in public areas on foot, bike or vehicle for up to 10 hours a day; identified 30+ instances of criminal activity and reported all findings accurately.
- Patrolled high-crime neighborhoods during evening shifts to deter crime and maintain order; made 20 arrests over six months with no citizen complaints filed against officers under supervision.
- Effectively managed emergency situations through quick decision making as well as verbal de-escalation techniques; reduced use of force from 10% to 2%.
- Detained suspected criminals while conducting investigations into various crimes such as theft, drug possession & disorderly conduct without violating any civil rights laws or departmental regulations.
Skills
- Public Safety
- Emergency Management
- Security
- Physical Security
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Firearms
- Surveillance
- Police
Education
Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
Certifications
Certified Public Safety Officer (CPSO)
International Public Safety
May 2017
1. Summary / Objective
A resume summary for a public safety officer should highlight your experience in law enforcement, emergency response, and crisis management. Include any certifications or training you have received that are relevant to the job such as CPR/First Aid certification, active shooter response training, etc. Also mention any awards or commendations you may have earned during your career. Finally, emphasize how you can use your skills and knowledge to help protect the community from harm.
Below are some resume summary examples:
Amicable public safety officer with 7+ years of experience providing security services, investigating incidents and responding to emergency calls. Seeking to join ABC Security as a Public Safety Officer, where I can utilize my knowledge in public safety operations, conflict resolution tactics and communication skills. Notable achievements include being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for helping defuse a potentially dangerous situation involving an armed suspect.
Seasoned public safety officer with 10+ years of experience in the security field. Proven record of providing exceptional protection and customer service to customers, while maintaining a safe work environment for all personnel. Skilled at responding quickly and efficiently to emergency situations while adhering to strict safety regulations. Committed to upholding public safety laws, policies, and procedures without compromising integrity or professionalism.
Hard-working public safety officer with 5+ years of experience in patrolling, responding to emergency situations and providing security services. Dedicated team member at XYZ Security Services where I successfully managed a wide range of customer inquiries and complaints while enforcing rules/regulations in a professional manner. Now looking to bring my expertise as an experienced public safety officer to ABC Company’s dynamic environment.
Committed public safety officer with 5+ years of experience providing security services and responding to emergencies. Certified in first aid, CPR, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. Successfully monitored large crowds at high profile events as well as conducted daily patrols in assigned areas. Eager to join ABC Security Services’ team to protect people and property while ensuring a safe environment for all customers.
Detail-oriented public safety officer with 7 years of experience in law enforcement. Proven record of protecting people and property, enforcing laws and regulations, responding to emergency situations, providing customer service, diffusing volatile situations, investigating incidents/crimes onsite. Seeking to join ABC Security as a Public Safety Officer to ensure the safety of all patrons while offering exemplary customer service.
Professional public safety officer with over 10 years of experience in patrolling public spaces, enforcing laws, and ensuring the safety of citizens. At XYZ Police Department, managed a team of 8 officers to provide security for high-risk events. Maintained an incident response rate well below the department average by implementing proactive measures such as regular patrols and investigations into reports of suspicious activity.
Dependable public safety officer with 6+ years of experience in law enforcement and security operations. Skilled at managing emergency situations, developing effective response strategies, and ensuring the safety of individuals onsite. At XYZ Security Ltd. , achieved 90% success rate with de-escalation tactics while successfully apprehending trespassers without injury or damage to property.
Driven public safety officer with 5+ years of experience in various roles, including law enforcement and security. Dedicated to providing a safe environment for the public at XYZ University. Possess comprehensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws as well as de-escalation techniques. Recognized for my excellent communication skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.
2. Experience / Employment
In the experience section, you should provide details of your employment history. This section should be written in reverse chronological order, which means that the most recent job is listed first.
Stick to bullet points when writing this section; it makes it easier for the reader to take in what you have to say quickly and easily. When stating what you did on each role, try to include quantifiable results where possible.
For example, instead of saying “Patrolled streets,” you could say “Conducted daily patrols of assigned area resulting in a 20% decrease in crime rate over 6 months.”
To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:
- Monitored
- Investigated
- Patrolled
- Responded
- Enforced
- Assessed
- Intervened
- Mediated
- Documented
- Trained
- Supervised
- Searched
- Detained
- Protected
- Educated
Other general verbs you can use are:
- Achieved
- Advised
- Compiled
- Coordinated
- Demonstrated
- Developed
- Expedited
- Facilitated
- Formulated
- Improved
- Introduced
- Mentored
- Optimized
- Participated
- Prepared
- Presented
- Reduced
- Reorganized
- Represented
- Revised
- Spearheaded
- Streamlined
- Structured
- Utilized
Below are some example bullet points:
- Intervened in potentially violent situations and maintained public safety, successfully de-escalating over 40 conflicts in the last 3 months.
- Streamlined communication between police departments, fire stations and emergency response teams; decreased response times by 25% on average for all incidents reported within a 5 mile radius of station.
- Demonstrated exceptional observational skills when patrolling different areas, averting 10 break-ins with timely detection & alerting local law enforcement officials immediately afterwards.
- Monitored illegal activities such as drug trafficking or smuggling across borders; provided intelligence reports to relevant authorities resulting in 30+ arrests over the course of 1 year.
- Reliably conducted regular checks throughout assigned buildings to ensure compliance with safety regulations and protocols; identified potential hazards that were addressed quickly by relevant personnel leading to an 80% decrease in preventable accidents on site since starting role 6 months ago.
- Mentored 4 new public safety officers each quarter, providing guidance on patrol protocols and developing their crime prevention skills which resulted in a 10% decrease of criminal activity.
- Revised the emergency response plan for natural disasters, ensuring that all staff were adequately trained to handle crisis situations; substantially raised community awareness by hosting 6 informational lectures within 3 months.
- Coordinated with local law enforcement agencies on proactive measures to prevent crime in the area; successfully conducted 20 joint patrols over an 8 month period resulting in zero major incidents reported during this time.
- Substantially improved public safety operations with data-driven strategies including designing automated systems and implementing tracking metrics; saved 200+ hours per year of manual labor previously required for administrative tasks such as filing reports & logging evidence records manually.
- Presented findings from research studies at City Hall meetings twice a week, outlining potential solutions to improve overall security initiatives throughout the city; received commendations from Mayor’s office for introducing innovative ideas which led to increased funding allocated towards public safety departments’ budget annually by $50K+.
- Successfully protected over 500 citizens by responding to emergency calls and patrolling designated areas, resulting in a 20% decrease in crime within the region.
- Mediated conflicts between members of the public as well as disputes among offenders; used appropriate methods to ensure peace was maintained while preserving individual rights and freedoms.
- Reorganized existing security procedures & protocols according to local laws and regulations, ensuring that all public safety operations were compliant with the most up-to-date standards at all times.
- Participated actively in community policing initiatives such as door knocking campaigns, neighbourhood watch programs, youth mentoring projects etc., raising awareness on key issues amongst 25+ local stakeholders per week.
- Proposed numerous strategies for improving safety measures across public spaces including parks & recreational facilities which resulted in an overall 10% increase in user satisfaction ratings throughout the area surveyed.
- Expedited response times and emergency procedures to effectively respond to over 500 public safety incidents each month; reduced average response time by 20%.
- Enforced local, state and federal laws on a daily basis in order to maintain the security of citizens within an assigned district; apprehended 30+ offenders for various offenses.
- Responded quickly and calmly in high-pressure situations including natural disasters, fires, car accidents and violent crimes; defused 10+ tense scenarios with minimal escalation of force.
- Confidently maintained composure while patrolling neighborhoods at night or interacting with potentially hostile individuals during day shifts; successfully completed 200 hours of training in crisis management techniques without any disciplinary issues.
- Introduced new policies surrounding crowd control measures which resulted in smoother event executions with lower risk factors for attendees; decreased number of reported injuries sustained by participants by 33%.
- Facilitated the daily operations of a public safety patrol, overseeing the work of 10+ officers and ensuring all necessary paperwork was completed in a timely manner.
- Improved operational efficiency by 20% through introducing new protocols for patrolling high-risk areas and responding to emergency callouts; reduced response time from 30 minutes to 15 minutes on average.
- Trained over 50 new recruits in the fundamentals of law enforcement including policing procedures, ethical conduct & community relations; received recognition from senior management for delivering above-average results within 4 months.
- Compiled detailed reports outlining incidences such as criminal activity or hazardous situations encountered during patrols; provided evidence that led to convictions against 5 suspects with 90% accuracy rate per case file reviewed by court officials.
- Independently patrolled assigned district 6 days/week – day & night shifts – while providing assistance and advice when needed, leading investigations into suspicious activities at local businesses or residences when required.
- Reduced response time to emergency calls and incidents by 20% by efficiently coordinating with local law enforcement agencies.
- Achieved an overall 85% success rate in apprehending perpetrators within 6 months of joining the Public Safety Officer team.
- Represented the department at various community events, effectively enforcing safety protocols while providing support during public gatherings and demonstrations.
- Efficiently utilized surveillance systems (CCTVs) and patrol routes to monitor suspicious activity; reported all violations promptly for further investigation or action from higher authorities as needed.
- Investigated over 50 criminal cases involving theft, vandalism, domestic disputes etc., collecting evidence & conducting interviews with witnesses; closed 98% of assigned cases successfully without any delays or discrepancies in records/documentation.
- Competently conducted security patrols of public buildings, parks and event venues to ensure safety for over 10,000 visitors; responded quickly to emergency situations with a 95% success rate in mitigating risk.
- Searched vehicles and persons entering secure areas for contraband items such as weapons or explosives; identified threats before they could cause harm on 8 occasions.
- Spearheaded the implementation of an updated incident response protocol which enabled more efficient resolution of incidents within 45 minutes on average across all locations.
- Structured daily shift schedules for up to 15 patrol officers ensuring coverage at all times during peak hours; enabled a 20% reduction in overall crime rates compared to previous year’s statistics without additional resources allocated by the department head.
- Documented reports of suspicious activities observed while patrolling assigned territories using log books, voice recorders and digital cameras; submitted detailed accounts that allowed investigators greater insight into cases resulting in arrests 60% faster than average case resolutions reported nationwide.
- Diligently patrolled assigned areas to ensure the safety of citizens, reporting any suspicious activity and preventing criminal incidents; reduced burglary rate by 24% within 6 months.
- Prepared weekly reports on traffic violations, public complaints and arrests made in the district; effectively tracked crime trends and identified potential security threats.
- Utilized standardized protocol when responding to emergency situations, providing medical aid where necessary while maintaining a safe environment for bystanders at all times; received commendations from superiors for fast response time (average 5 minutes).
- Developed relationships with members of community groups to raise awareness about personal safety measures such as home alarms and self-defense techniques; increased local participation in neighborhood watch programs by 30%.
3. Skills
Two organizations that have advertised for a position with the same title may be searching for individuals whose skills are quite different. For instance, one may require a candidate to have experience in emergency response, while another might be looking for someone with knowledge of public safety regulations.
As such, it is important to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job that you are applying for. This will help ensure that applicant tracking systems recognize your qualifications as being relevant and pass on your application accordingly.
The most important skills should also be discussed in other sections – such as the summary or work experience – so they can be further elaborated upon and demonstrate how you used them effectively in previous roles.
Below is a list of common skills & terms:
- CCTV
- CPR Certified
- Corporate Security
- Crime Prevention
- Criminal Investigations
- Criminal Justice
- Crisis Management
- Disaster Response
- Emergency Management
- Emergency Services
- Enforcement
- Evidence
- Executive Protection
- Firearms
- First Aid
- First Responder
- Government
- Homeland Security
- Incident Command
- Interrogation
- Investigation
- Law Enforcement
- Leadership Development
- NIMS
- Patrol
- Physical Security
- Police
- Policy
- Preparedness
- Private Investigations
- Public Safety
- Security
- Security Management
- Security Operations
- Security Training
- Supervisory Skills
- Surveillance
- Teaching
- Team Leadership
- Teamwork
- Time Management
4. Education
Including an education section on your resume will depend on how far along you are in your career. If you just graduated and have no work experience, list your education below the resume objective. However, if you have significant experience and accomplishments to showcase, it may not be necessary to include an education section at all.
If including an education section is relevant for you, try to mention courses related to public safety or law enforcement that could help demonstrate competency in the role of a public safety officer.
Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011
5. Certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in a given field. They show potential employers that you have been tested by an authoritative organization, proving that you are more proficient than other applicants.
If the job posting emphasizes certifications or specific skills, make sure to include any relevant ones on your resume for maximum impact. This will help draw attention to your qualifications and give hiring managers assurance of your competence in the area.
Certified Public Safety Officer (CPSO)
International Public Safety
May 2017
6. Contact Info
Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.
You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.
Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Gladyce Keeling, this would be Gladyce-Keeling-resume.pdf or Gladyce-Keeling-resume.docx.
7. Cover Letter
Including a cover letter with your job application is a great way to showcase your personality, skills and experiences in more detail. It’s usually made up of 2 to 4 paragraphs that provide the hiring manager with additional information on who you are and why you’re applying for the role.
Cover letters give recruiters a better understanding of what makes you unique as an applicant, making it easier for them to decide if they want to move forward with interviewing you or not. Writing one isn’t always mandatory but having one can definitely increase your chances of getting noticed!
Below is an example cover letter:
Dear Coy,
I am writing to apply for the Public Safety Officer position with the City of New York. I am a certified law enforcement officer with more than 10 years of experience in public safety and security. In my current role as a Public Safety Officer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I provide security and customer service for one of the world’s most visited museums.
I have a proven track record in providing excellent customer service while maintaining strict adherence to rules and regulations. In my previous role as a Security Officer at Rockefeller Center, I was commended by my supervisor for diffusing a potentially volatile situation without escalation. My ability to stay calm under pressure and de-escalate situations is an asset in any public safety setting.
I am confident that I can be an asset to your team and look forward to contributing to the safety and security of the City of New York. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Gladyce