Recruitment for Law Enforcement Command Professionals

photo of a Port Authority Police Inspector

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) conceives, builds, operates, and maintains infrastructure critical to the New York/New Jersey region’s trade and transportation network. These facilities include America’s busiest airport system, marine terminals and ports, the PATH rail transit system, six tunnels and bridges between New York and New Jersey, the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, and the World Trade Center.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey seeks highly skilled and experienced law enforcement command professionals to fill Captain and above ranks in its Port Authority Police Department.

The Port Authority‘s Police Force was established in 1928 and is currently made up of nearly 1,600 uniformed, armed law enforcement officers with jurisdiction in both New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority Police Department is responsible for the safety and security of millions of travelers that use our major airports, seaports, Hudson River crossings, and PATH stations located in and around Northern New Jersey and New York City.

The Port Authority is seeking candidates with strong leadership, command, and communication skills; labor relations experience; a history of successful partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and other law enforcement jurisdictions; and a demonstrated, successful record of commanding a police unit.

The security functions of the Authority are being streamlined, centralized, and strengthened. Any new police commanders hired pursuant to this search will become a critical element of this larger security transition and reform.

Responsibilities:

Under the overall command of a Chief of Department, the candidates selected for these grades will exercise full-scope, day-to-day operational command of distinct, geographically organized PAPD units.

These individuals will be expected to uphold the law; preserve and protect patrons, employees, and property of the Authority; operate their units in an effective and cost-efficient manner; develop strong interagency and private-sector partnerships for the purpose of achieving a maximally efficient policing and security structure; and command, motivate, inspire, and maintain proper order and discipline among subordinates.

Major responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Supervising day-to-day police functions, developing uniformed staff to a high degree of competence, and overseeing the training and assignment of subordinates
Enforcing discipline, good order, and the highest standards of personal and unit probity
Managing and participating in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs
Monitoring and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods, procedures, techniques, and equipment utilized in the conduct of all activities assigned to police personnel and making recommendations to eliminate inadequacies or improving operations, service, and staffing levels, while promoting change management to ensure successful implementation
Directing staff, analyzing problems, identifying solutions and implementing recommendations in support of goals, modifications to police programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate
Integrating public safety and security strategies with the agency goals and objectives
Developing and maintaining lines of communication and cooperation with peers in surrounding local, state, and federal agencies; coordinating joint operations with outside agencies; and mitigating conflicts with other departments or agencies
Attending and participating in professional group meetings, maintaining awareness of new trends in law enforcement, and incorporating new developments as appropriate

Position Eligibility Requirements:

A minimum of 60 college credits, from an accredited college or university, toward a major in criminal justice, law, social science, or a related field
At least eight (8) years of experience in law enforcement with a minimum of five (5) years supervisory experience as a police commander of a large uniformed workforce

Position Qualifications:

The ideal candidate(s) will present the following qualifications profile:

Experience in progressively responsible senior level positions in law enforcement
A record of leadership by example and the highest standards of personal probity
An ability to effectively manage individuals from diverse professional backgrounds
Strong conflict resolution and decision making skills
Demonstrated experience and knowledge of methods and techniques used in providing the full range of law enforcement and crime prevention services and activities, including investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, care and custody of persons and property, crime prevention, records management, security, dispatch, and financial management of a precinct
An ability to work constructively with local, state, and federal agencies
Knowledge of principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation

Complexity of positions:

The roles/responsibilities involve duties necessitating irregular work hours. The positions require that those selected be on 24-hour call for notifications, and that they be available for recall as conditions warrant, or at the direction of the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, Chief Security Officer, the Director of Public Safety and the Chief of Department/Public Safety of the Authority. Decision-making in a high-pressure environment and the ability to convey a sense of control and organization is crucial.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive salary, an outstanding benefits package and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.