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Lead Public Safety Officer

Children's Wisconsin · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Jul 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to correct a coworker who was also a friend. How did it go?

What they are checking: Whether they can step into a lead role and hold peers accountable without damaging the team.

How do you train a new security officer on CW policies and procedures?

What they are checking: Whether they can teach clearly and make sure new officers understand the hospital's rules, not just the basics.

Tell me about an incident report you wrote that had to be very accurate. How did you make sure it was?

What they are checking: Whether their reports are clear and factual, since they may be used in legal or police matters.

How do you keep morale up on a security team that deals with stressful situations?

What they are checking: Whether they can support their officers and help build a positive team culture as the posting expects.

What would you do

When the supervisor is out, you assign officers to posts and patrols. How do you decide who goes where?

What they are checking: Whether they can make fair, sensible staffing decisions based on risk and each officer's strengths.

A parent becomes aggressive in the emergency department after hearing bad news. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can de-escalate a grieving or angry person with empathy before using force.

An officer on your shift is not following a policy. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they will address performance issues directly and know when to involve the supervisor.

How do you work with clinical staff when a patient with behavioral health needs becomes unsafe?

What they are checking: Whether they can partner with nurses and doctors to keep everyone safe while respecting patient care.

About the work

How would you handle a report of a missing child inside the hospital?

What they are checking: Whether they know infant and child abduction response steps and can lead a team quickly.

What is different about security in a children's hospital compared to other settings?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the extra concerns around custody disputes, child safety and family stress.

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The full job description

As published by Children's Wisconsin.

At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe kids deserve the best. Children’s Wisconsin is a nationally recognized health system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. We provide primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. Our reputation draws patients and families from around the country. We offer a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities and are seeking individuals dedicated to helping us achieve our vision of the healthiest kids in the country. If you want to work for an organization that makes a difference for children and families, and encourages you to be at your best every day, please apply today. Please follow this link for a closer look at what it’s like to work at Children’s Wisconsin: https://www.instagram.com/lifeatcw/ Job Summary Responsible for serving in a leadership role, overseeing the work of security staff engaged in patrolling and securing CW facilities, grounds and personnel. In doing so, performs the responsibilities of a Security Officer and, in the absence of the Supervisor, provides leadership functions, to include assigns personnel to posts or patrol, interprets CW policies and procedures, trains, equips and directs security personnel and works towards positive resolution of internal and external customer issues. Essential Functions • Leads, coordinates and provides oversight and reviews the work of security personnel engaged in patrolling and securing CW facilities and grounds, the absence of the Supervisor. • Plans and prepares work schedules and priorities to provide adequate security coverage in the absence of the Supervisor, makes work assignments and reassigns security staff in response to schedules, emergencies or unusual incidents. • Orients, trains, and provides performance feedback and when necessary, escalates performance issues to the Supervisor who will determine if further action is required. Assists in the mediation of conflicts involving security staff in the absence of the supervisor. • Assists Security Dispatchers working in Security Dispatch as needed, and dispatches appropriate personnel to perform security assignments. Answers hospital emergency line (88) and directs personnel appropriately. Monitors various cameras and alarm systems. Answers intercom and elevator calls for assistance promptly and professionally. • Coordinates shift scheduling with Security Leaders, to assure that at least one Security Leader is on duty at all times. • Performs parking enforcement related duties, to include, but not limited to, operation of parking equipment, greeting, welcoming and directing our customers. • Patrols (by foot or patrol vehicle) assigned areas of facilities and grounds according to established schedule and investigates unusual occurrences. • Investigates and writes incident reports on a wide variety of security-related incidents including but not limited to; crimes committed on the property, injuries sustained on the property, actual or potential loss of hospital, employee, patient, or visitor property through fire, theft, damage, or vandalism. Obtains evidence related to the incident and interviews victims, witnesses, and suspects. • Provide liaison functions between Children’s and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. • Serves as department leader and liaison upon activation of the campus MRMC – Emergency Coordination Plan (ECP). Has department operational decision making authority to enact safety measures in accordance with Children’s, security department or MRMC-ECP plans and directives. Participates in emergency exercises. Legacy Essential Functions • Ability to provide intervention strategies and collaborative support with various medical disciplines in the safety and care of patients, visitors and staff. Participate in patient care meetings to address patient care and safety related matters. • Ability to read and interpret legal documents detailing court actions, community based protective service agencies (MCCPS) orders/directives directed in the care of children. Ability to assess and define safety plans in accordance with legal and organizational directives. • Serve as department liaison on various organizational committees or other group functions affecting the care and safety of patients, visitors or staff. • Serve as department representative upon activation of Hospital Command Center. Liaison with organizational leadership teams in responding to incidents affecting hospital operations. • Upon request, provide input to Security Supervisors of staff performances. • Responds to emergency situations of various types. Responses may include activities such as crowd control, disturbance resolution, verbal and physical intervention, firefighting duties, medical and other activities of a similar nature, including subsequent appearances in court, hearings, or chambers, as requested. • Performs security inspection tours, and notifies appropriate personnel of problems, as necessary. • Questions or detains suspicious individuals or criminal violators on hospital grounds. Restrains disorderly, combative, or injurious individuals according to established training standards as necessary to prevent imminent harm to self or others. • Directs or escorts employees, staff, visitors, and patients as well as vehicle traffic to all areas of the hospital and grounds, as appropriate. • Provide basic hospital information services, as needed, including being assigned to a Welcome Center. • Performs special assignments and projects as directed. • Performs other related security, general office or record keeping tasks. • Engaged in the department training program. Assists in the development and instruction of various training programs. • Must work varying shifts and extended hours in order to ensure staffing coverage is maintained. Education: • High School graduate or Certificate of General Educational Development (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) Ability to read and write in order to review and complete required incident reports and perform various recordkeeping activities at a level normally acquired through completion of high school. required • Post high school coursework in criminal justice or equivalent field of study preferred Experience: • At least three years of previous security experience required • Experience as a uniformed security officer in a leadership role in healthcare security, corporate security, law enforcement, and/or military service preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities • Currently certified or successfully complete departmental training in Defensive and Arrest Tactics (DAAT) or Defensive Tactics for Security (DTS) within 3 months of hire. • Completion of the International Association of Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Advanced Certification within 90-days of hire. • Ability to successfully complete all required introductory and annual competency training processes. • Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills are necessary in order to effectively interact with a variety of hospital employees, staff and visitors, sometimes under potentially stressful situations. • Intermediate computer skills in order to utilize equipment and systems (PC software applications, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, CAD, Incident Reporting, Surveillance Systems, etc.) at a level normally acquired through attendance at technical courses or related experience. • Analytical skills necessary in order to inspect hospital areas, ensure security of all hospital staff, visitors and patients, and prepare security incident reports, missing property reports, etc. Licenses and Certifications: • BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council required • License Driver's License - State of Wisconsin required Required for All Jobs: • This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job. • Employment is at-will. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. Children's Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law. Certifications/Licenses: BLS-Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association/American Red Cross/National Safety Council, License Driver's License - State of Wisconsin

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