University of North Texas 
Careers at the UNT Police Department
Welcome from Chief Ramona Washington
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Thank you for your interest in the UNT Police Department. We are a close-knit department that values our employees. We believe that each of us can make a positive impact in the lives of others. The professional growth of our employees is important, so we emphasize training, community-oriented policing skills, and outreach to the university campus and our surrounding community. Our staff, officers and administrators work as a team to make the University of North Texas a safe place to work and learn. We are fortunate to be a part of a university that is creative, caring and shows appreciation for our department. If you have an interest in joining a team that supports one another and aims to make a difference in the community, we invite you to learn more about us and apply for a position Sincerely, Ramona Washington |
Sworn Positions
Working with the UNT Police Department will be an experience you won’t get elsewhere. The UNT campus, including our police department, is a tight-knit and inclusive community that supports our diverse students, faculty and staff. Many of our officers are UNT graduates or students because we put a high value on education and training. That emphasis led our department to a rare dual accreditation, showing both our concern for our community and our dedication to professionalism. Our 46 state certified police officers enforce municipal and state laws, and UNT policies, while providing service to campus 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The department has full law enforcement jurisdiction within the UNT campus, city of Denton, and any county where UNT maintains property. We proudly serve these areas, taking time to get to know our community and partnering with them to provide a safe environment for their learning and professional development.
Training
New officers will attend a local police academy, if unlicensed. The academy is followed by an intense and demanding field training program, which is completed by all officers. Officers will receive additional training throughout their career. This will include state required training, department mandated training, as well as specialized training for individual officers or units.
Assignments
Police department employees work in one of two reporting units; Operations or Support Services.
Operations
Officers begin their career in Operations working on a patrol shift. Officers work on one of four shifts which are 12 hours in length and provides 24 hour coverage (2 day shifts and 2 night shifts). This schedule affords patrol officers with every other weekend off (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The shifts rotate between days and nights about every four months.
Patrol officers provide law enforcement services to the main campus and surrounding area, UNT Discovery Park, remote university offices, and UNT property throughout the Denton area. These services include, but are not limited to, responding to calls for service, apprehending criminal suspects, writing reports, conducting traffic enforcement, completing preliminary investigations, as well as other pro-active law enforcement and community engagement services. Officers patrol in marked vehicles, on foot, and bicycle.
An important part of Operations is the field training officers (FTOs). Made up of seasoned officers, our FTOs play a vital role in developing new officers by training these officers in the field.
Operations is also responsible for coordinating and scheduling officers for special events, and provides a representative for the university event safety committee. Officers can sign up to work these events for overtime compensation. Special events include athletic events, university graduations, high school graduations, campus sponsored events, and private parties held on campus.
Investigative Services
Investigative Services is made up of detectives who investigate crimes reported to the police department, and civilian support staff who maintain police records, evidence and property. Detectives receive specialized training to investigate a wide variety of offenses including: burglary, robbery, assault, sexual offenses, and death investigations. Detectives may work to recover stolen property, conduct forensic examination of a crime scene, obtain and serve search and arrest warrants, and prepare cases to file with the district attorney’s office. Detectives also conduct detailed interviews with victims, witnesses and suspects.
The cases worked by our detectives take them to locations not only on campus, but also throughout the city of Denton, the DFW Metroplex and anywhere an investigation may lead them.
Support Services
Support Services is made up of officers and civilians who work in law enforcement accreditation, training, community relations and police dispatch. A civilian accreditation manager overseas department policy and makes sure the agency complies with standards set forth by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Inc. (IACLEA).
The training unit overseas all department training and maintains each officers’ training file. The training unit works with outside agency instructors, as well as department members who are law enforcement instructors. Experienced officers may choose to become a law enforcement instructor and teach law enforcement classes for the department and outside agencies. Continuous training throughout an officer’s career can include classroom instruction, firearms training as well as scenario based training.
The community relations unit is made up of officers who specialize in working with our community to promote safety and better understanding between the community and police department. They work with community members and groups on campus, and provide public presentations for the campus community. These presentations are conducted for community groups, students, faculty and staff.
The police department houses a fully functional dispatch center with state-of-the-art radio and computer equipment. Dispatchers receive emergency and non-emergency phone calls, dispatch officers via radio and monitor their activity, and monitors the fire and burglar alarm systems for the entire campus. The dispatch center is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The dispatch unit is staffed by a supervisor and eight dispatchers.
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Officers make up the majority of the police department and can be found on patrol shifts, working as detectives in Investigative Services, and staffing the community relations unit. While the officer rank is not considered a supervisor, because of the nature of police work, officers have a great deal of responsibility and discretion. |
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Corporals can be assigned to any unit within the police department. On a patrol shift, corporals serve similar roles to patrol officers, but may take on a higher level of responsibility. Corporals also serve as field training officers, patrolling with and training new officers. Other areas of the department corporals can be assigned to include the Investigative Services, community relations unit, and administrative support. |
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Sergeants are first line supervisors in the department. On patrol, sergeants lead a shift of officers and may be the highest ranking member of the department on duty. Sergeants are also found supervising detectives in the Investigative Services unit and leading the department’s training unit as Training Coordinator. |
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Lieutenants are command staff level officers in the department. In the Field Services unit, a lieutenant serves as either the day shift or night shift watch commander and supervises two patrol shifts and their respective sergeants. A lieutenant may also serve as a supervisor in the Investigative Services unit or in an administrative supervisory role. |
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Assistant Chiefs are executive command staff level officers in the department and report directly to the Chief of Police. Assistant Chiefs lead one of two units; Operations or Support Services. Assistant Chiefs are not only responsible for the supervision of their units, but also work on budgeting, long term planning, and special event coordination. |
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The Chief of Police is responsible for overall command of the police department and its nearly 70 employees. The Chief directly supervises the Assistant Chiefs, business manager and their executive assistant. |
Get to Know Us
- The University of North Texas Police Department was established in 1970.
- About half of our department employees are UNT alumni. The pursuit of higher education is important to us.
- Our department is dually accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
- UNT was established in 1890 and has strong roots in the surrounding community. The campus welcomes 400,000 visitors each year.
- UNT was named one of the Safest College Campuses in the nation by Alarms.org and was ranked among the top 50 safest large colleges and universities in the nation by CollegeChoice.net.
Sgt. Scott Windham
Recruiting
Civilian Jobs
Civilian employees fulfill a critical and significant role within the UNT Police Department. Many times they are the “face” or first contact many people have with the University. It is the position of the UNTPD to utilize our sworn members in positions where law enforcement training and experience are the primary skill set. The civilian members perform support functions requiring an entirely different, but just as crucial, skill set. Some of the civilian positions are:
Police Dispatcher
A dispatcher must complete training and successfully pass tests proving competence in running a computer aided dispatch system. They must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with persons calling the dispatch center for information or assistance, and convey pertinent and sometimes critical information to the appropriate officers on the road. Typically, a dispatcher will be assigned to a shift, and stay with that shift as it rotates throughout the year.
Accreditation Manager
The Accreditation Manager is responsible for maintaining the UNTPD’s accredited status with the Commission on Accreditation For Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), an international law enforcement accrediting body; and, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Inc. (IACLEA), the accrediting body for college and university law enforcement. In addition, this position conducts staff inspections of each division every three years; provides research for and assists with writing policies; and, assists with the verification of Clery and Title IX data and statistics.
Business Manager
The Business Manager oversees the day to day operations of all support business conducted by the UNTPD. This includes working with the Chief on the annual budget; processing all purchasing and travel forms; monitoring and processing payroll and employee time; processing all purchase card activity; and supervising the Procurement Specialist.
Procurement Specialist
The Procurement Specialist is primarily responsible for all procurement activities. In addition, this position processes all account receivables and payables; and, assists the Business Manager in whatever capacity required.
Property and Evidence Custodian
The Property and Evidence Custodian is responsible for processing all submitted evidence. This includes preparing lab submittals, investigative reports, tracking, logging and barcoding all evidence and property. There is a great deal of responsibility in working with the courts to ensure proper disposition of evidence and property; preparing affidavits; obtaining proper signatures; and following through with court ordered dispositions. This position also works with all found and surrendered property to ensure it is returned to the proper persons or auctioned off as appropriate. The Property and Evidence Custodian also serves as the department’s fleet manager, and works closely with the Operations Commander in making sure all vehicles assigned to the UNTPD are maintained or made ready for the officers after purchase. This includes determining what equipment is needed, contacting the appropriate vendors and, setting up schedules to have the work completed.
Records Specialist
The Records Specialist works in the Criminal Investigations Division ensuring that all law enforcement reports are processed correctly; statistics are counted correctly; arrestees are coded and tracked accurately; and all case documentation is accurately tracked and accounted for. In addition, the Records Specialist must comply with all court demands for discovery, and individual requests for copies of files and records.
Executive Assistant to the Chief
The Chief’s Executive Assistant is responsible for all of the UNTPD Human Resource files, which includes ensuring that all “on-boarding” requirements and training are met for each employee. In addition, the Executive Assistant not only supports the Chief, but the Assistant Chiefs over Operations and Support Services. This position handles all of the Command Staff’s travel arrangements, plus the Chief’s calendar and all meeting requests. The Executive Assistant makes sure that all records and documents for each UNTPD employee is kept up to date. The Chief relies on the Executive Assistant for many special projects, as well.
Technical Services
Technical Support is comprised of a manager and a specialist. Their primary function is to ensure that everything to do with computer software, hardware, vehicle laptops, cell phones, and radios in all employees electronic activities are kept in operational and secure readiness. This group also manages all of the alarm systems on campus, to include the panic button alarms. The Technical Services Manager is responsible for vetting all new equipment and making recommendations to the Command Staff on any IT related purchases. In addition to the technical support, this unit also provides forensic assistance when criminal cases include computers, cell phones, or anything else within their purview.
Public Safety Officer
Public Safety Officers (PSO) provide guest services to students, faculty, staff and visitors at UNT Discovery Park. While helping those at Discovery Park, PSOs serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the police department.
UNT Police Department Internship Opportunities
Supporting the education of UNT students is important to our department. We want to help you learn more about what we do!
Our department accepts internship applications for the Fall and Spring semesters. An internship applicant must be able to enroll in a three-hour UNT college credited internship class, such as Internship in Criminal Justice (CJUS 4850).
Interns receive a wide range of police department experiences and knowledge of operations. Learning options vary by semester but may include assistance with patrol operations, the K-9 officer, criminal investigations, dispatch communications, community relations and departmental training.
Interested students should reach out to Cpl. David Causey three months prior to the start of the semester they are considering for their internship. On occasion, other internship opportunities may arise such as for journalism internships, etc. Please contact us regarding such programs.
Internship contact information:
For information regarding internship positions, contact:
Cpl. David Causey
Community Relations 940-369-7691
Employee Stories
Sergeant Terrance “Shaun” Harris
I began my law enforcement career as a jailer at the Denton County Jail. I also worked as a Deputy Sheriff and worked as a Senior Deputy at the Denton County District Clerk's Office-Felony Division before joining the UNT Police Department.
I got to know and befriend several UNT officers while working book-in at the jail and decided to pursue a career at UNT. All the UNT officers who came into the jail were very knowledgeable and seemed happy to work there.
I have served the UNTPD since 2003 and currently work as a patrol sergeant. I was selected by my peers as Officer of the Year in 2005 and 2010, and have been the recipient of the UNT Star Performer Award three times.
My job as a patrol sergeant entails reviewing, correcting, and approving daily shift paperwork. Also, I complete evaluations, time keeping, counseling, monitor patrol officers, and monitor radio for all calls, especially major calls for response to the scene to assure proper handling of the situations among other activities.
The best part of the job is helping and protecting others. I love the closeness, the camaraderie, and vision of UNT PD. My greatest accomplishment was being blessed to become a UNT patrol sergeant and overseeing shift duties to assure that the best service is being provided to the UNT community.
UNT PD supports my professional growth by providing continuing training so that I may grow my knowledge of the profession and to support my personal improvement.
I love the UNT community, it is a close united family that loves and supports each other, while maintaining accountability and supporting learning for all. UNT PD adamantly works hard to keep the campus and all safe and protected, while the learning processes are conducted. UNT PD is a great place to work and I am so thankful that I am part of it!
Go Mean Green!
Sergeant Emily Voelkel
I have served as a Police Officer at the UNT Police department since 2015. I currently work patrol and am working toward my bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice at UNT by taking advantage of the UNT tuition assistance for full-time employees.
During my career at the UNT Police Department, I have received two Star Performer awards and was selected by my pears as Police Officer of the Year in 2017.
My goal is to obtain a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. It was an ideal situation to be able to attend UNT as a student, and serve the campus and the community as a police officer. I will be gaining law enforcement experience coupled with a bachelor's degree at the same time.
My job as a patrol officer is to keep the campus community safe. Throughout my career as an officer here, I have obtained my defensive tactics certificate and help teach the TEST (Threatening Encounters and Strategies Techniques) classes that are offered to UNT students, faculty and staff. I have also received specialized training in many aspects of patrol and most recently obtained my Breath Test Operators Certification. This allows me to operate the Intoxilyzer to obtain a breath sample from those who consent after a DWI/DUI arrest.
What I like most about my job at UNT PD is that I can be a helping hand for the community that I serve and am a part of. I love the UNT community. Our police department offers the best assistance to the community, going above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of those we serve.
Lieutenant Nick Brauchle
The best part about my job is the service oriented mindset of the UNT Police Department and being a K-9 Handler. I have served with the police department since 2014 and currently work as a patrol officer and K-9 handler. Prior to my career in law enforcement, I was in the Army Infantry Airborne in the 1/509th. That is when I realized that I wanted to work for a police department that had the community's support, and UNT definitely does.
I currently have an Intermediate Peace Officer License, am certified on the Intoxilizer 9000, a Field Training Officer, and a K-9 Handler. In patrol, we answer calls for service while patrolling the campus community. I train a lot with my K-9 partner, Keegan, who is a lab trained in explosives detection, and is a minor celebrity on campus. Check for him on social media - #K9Keegan!
My greatest accomplishment so far at UNT PD is being selected for the K-9 Handler position. It's challenging and very rewarding at the same time. A significant portion of my career here will be dedicated to this.
The UNT community is very special and I love the support it has for the Police Department.
On the flip side, the UNT Police Department works extremely hard at maintaining positive
relations within the UNT community. It makes coming to work every day feel like it's
not just a job. There's a saying that goes something like, “If you go to work every
day and it doesn't feel like work, then you picked the right career or the right company.”
That's how I feel here at UNT.
Corporal Riley Dixon
I began working part-time as a student employee at the UNT Police Department while I was going to school, and then, after I graduated was hired as a police officer recruit July 2017 and sent to the police academy. I graduated from UNT with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and have been a commissioned police officer since January 2018.
I currently work 12 hour shifts patrolling the UNT campus to ensure the safety of the community. You will find me in my patrol vehicle, on foot, and even patrolling on bicycle as I have been certified to conduct bicycle patrol.
While working as a student employee, I was able to learn a great deal about the department, UNT and the people that worked at the police department. I realized how great of an environment it was to work in. The support from the community and administration at the university makes UNT PD a very attractive place to work along with the focus of proactive community policing.
The best part of the job is the variety of things I am able to do and the people I am able to interact with. Every day and every call is different and I love being able to help people in all stages and facets of life.
UNT PD is exceptional in that its officers receive a large amount of training. The department strives to keep us trained on the most current and effective tactics, laws and procedures in law enforcement so that each individual officer is best prepared to serve the community.
The department challenges officers to never stop learning and to always hold the highest standards. The campus community and the police department should be a model to other communities and how their relationships should work. Having mutual respect and trust between the police department and its constituents/citizens is paramount to effective community policing.
Dispatcher Meagan Rodriguez
After I graduated from UNT with a Rehabilitation Studies degree, I started working for the parking office, which at the time, was part of the police department. I was looking to take advantage of the UNT tuition assistance to get my masters and I heard about the dispatcher job and it seemed like an exciting opportunity. I fell in love with the job and that's history.
I have worked at the UNT Police Department since 2013. In 2013, I was selected by my peers as the department Employee of the Year. Also, I have won the Star Performer award several times. I am an Advanced Telecommunicator for which I have attended various classes through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to obtain. I answer 911 calls as well as regular non-emergency lines helping students, staff and faculty. I document activity for the officers and I check on them during routine stops making sure they are not out with anyone who is wanted or dangerous.
As a department we also work closely with the Denton Police Department with any issues that may be close to campus and monitor their radio for any event happening near UNT or that may affect the campus community. I love helping people regardless of how big or small the situation may be. I also love the excitement of the job and being able to help keep the officers and community safe.
I really love the UNT community, and have since I was a student. It's a welcoming place full of people who support you. I think the police department has a great relationship with the community and strives to keep it safe. I like the police department's openness and willingness to listen to what our community has to say and to work towards making this campus as great as it can be.
Police Benefits
The UNT Police Department offers a comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package.
Salary
Police Recruit / Officer $62,000 - $82,100
Certification Pay
Officers earn additional pay for their highest obtained TCOLE certificate.
Basic $2,400 per year
Intermediate $4,800 per year
Advanced $7,200 per year
Master $9,600 per year
Hazardous Duty Pay
UNT police officers are entitled to hazardous duty pay in accordance with applicable law. Hazardous duty pay shall be in the amount of $10 per month, for each year of service with the state of Texas, up to and including 30 years of service.
Promotional Opportunities
Additional department ranks include, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Promotion to other ranks are made through a competitive promotional process.
Overtime
Officers have the opportunity to work a variety of special events throughout the year and earn additional income. Special events include athletic events, university graduations, high school graduations, campus sponsored events, and private parties held on campus. Officers are compensated at time-and-a-half while working overtime.
Employee Tuition Benefit
The University of North Texas offers an Employee Tuition Benefit to all eligible UNT and UNT System component institution employees, and dependents. The Employee Tuition Benefit covers the Board Designated Tuition, Differential Tuition and Mandatory Fees. Recipients are responsible for all other tuition and fees.
Equipment
Uniforms, duty gear, and uniform dry cleaning are provided by the department.
Time Off
New employees earn eight hours of vacation time, per month, from their first day of employment through five years, and accrue additional time per month as years of service increase. Employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. The University also observes about 14 holidays per year.
Retirement
Employees participate in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. This is a state run defined benefit plan.
Insurance
Full medical insurance and $5,000 basic life insurance is provided at no cost to the employee. Additional insurance coverage is available for the employee and dependents, at a reduced cost.
Other Benefits
Being a UNT World employee means being part of a diverse and enriching community. Each campus has its own unique offerings for its employees, from cultural events to fitness facilities, sports, academic, and research presentation events. And, you can also enjoy discounts on merchandise, travel, event tickets, and more with employee discount programs!
For more information on UNT benefits, visit https://hr.untsystem.edu/benefits.
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Police Officer Candidates (not certified)
Conditional Job Offer
Full Job Offer |
Police Officer Candidates (certified)
Conditional Job Offer
Full Job Offer |
Dispatcher Candidates
Conditional Job Offer
Full Job Offer |
You are encouraged to view current employment vacancies and submit an on-line application at jobs.untsystem.edu. In order to be considered for employment, you must first submit an on-line application.
After completing the on-line application, police recruit and dispatcher applicants are required to complete the Application Supplement found on the upper right-hand corner of this page and turn that application supplement into the police department. Please note, your application will not be considered until both the on-line application and the application supplement have been completed. Police Officer applicants who are currently TCOLE certified, are certified out-of-state officers or those currently in a police academy do not need to complete the Application Supplement. Those candidates will be screened by the hiring committee for a possible Oral Interview Board.
Applicants may then be asked to complete a Personal History Statement. If selected to complete a Personal History Statement, you will be contacted by the department and provided instructions.
All qualified applicants will be given consideration and notified by phone if they have been selected to participate in an oral interview board. The oral interview board will pertain to your background, Personal History Statement, and job requirements. Based on these findings, the board will then consider your application for a formal background investigation. Dispatch applicants without prior experience will be asked to complete a CritiCall dispatch test, which is a dispatch skills assessment. Applicants with prior dispatching experience may be asked to complete a CritiCall dispatch test depending on their prior experience.
Upon favorable recommendation from the board, your application will be assigned to a background investigator. The investigator will conduct a thorough background investigation to verify your qualifying credentials, review any criminal record, and verify personal references. Background investigations will be reviewed and forwarded to the Chief of Police for recommendation for a final interview.
If chosen to move forward following the background investigation, you will be invited to a command staff interview. The Chief of Police will make the final determination on whether to make an offer of employment. All offers of employment will be contingent on satisfactory results of a criminal history check and employment verification coordinated by the Human Resources Department. Offers for employment for police officer and dispatcher positions will also be contingent on satisfactory results of the following exams:
- Police Officer: Medical & Drug Screen, Psychological Assessment and Polygraph
- Dispatcher: Psychological Assessment and Drug Screen
The complete selection process from the time your application is considered through the background investigation may take several weeks to accomplish. The position will remain open until a good pool of qualified applicants has applied or until the best qualified applicant is selected.
Applicants may view the status of their application any time by logging into the application system and will be notified by email from the application system when the position is filled. In the event that you are not selected for this position, you may apply for a similar or any other position within our department or the University of North Texas.
Again, thank you for your interest in the University of North Texas Police Department.
To be notified of future police department openings, submit your information athttps://jobs.untsystem.edu/interest_cards. Make sure you check the Police Department/Public Safety box. This site is run by
UNT System Human Resources, so you will be notified of job openings for all UNT System
campus police departments, not just our campus.
Please do not send any applications, resumés, or any other application material directly
to the UNT Police Department unless you have completed an on-line application or have
been specifically asked to do so. This will help avoid any possible loss of materials
or personal information
The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit - and takes actions to prevent - discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, family status, genetic information, citizenship or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, facilities, and employment practices. The University of North Texas System immediately investigates and takes remedial action when appropriate.
The University of North Texas System also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge, or testify, assist or participate in an investigative proceeding or hearing.
Sgt. Scott Windham
Recruiting