Public Safety Career Cluster

1. Public Safety Career Cluster Colorado Community College System

2. Public Safety PathwaysPlanning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support service • The Public Safety cluster is divided into 5 career pathways • Correction Services • Emergency and Fire Management Services • Security and Protective Services • Law Enforcement Services • Legal Services

3. Corrections ServicesResponsible for guarding people who have been arrested or convicted of a crime-their primary mission is to protect the public • Correctional Officer -- $39,020 • High School Diploma or Equivalent • Probation Officer -- $47,200 • Bachelor’s Degree • Social Workers -- $42,480 • Bachelor’s Degree • Criminal Justice Teachers -- $58,040 • Bachelor’s Degree to Doctoral Degree

4. Emergency & Fire Management ServicesResponsible for putting out fires, treating injuries, and performing other vital functions-firefighters and emergency service workers help protect the public • Firefighter -- $42,250 • Postsecondary Non-degree Award • Emergency Management Director -- $59,770 • Bachelor’s Degree • EMT and Paramedic -- $40,360 • Postsecondary Non-degree Award + EMT/Paramedic License • Hazardous Materials Remover -- $37,600 • High School Diploma

5. Law Enforcement ServicesDuties include controlling traffic, investigating crimes, maintaining order, enforcing laws, issuing tickets, and investigation of accidents • Police Patrol Officer -- $55,270 • Associate’s Degree to Bachelor’s Degree • Forensic Science Technician -- $51,570 • Bachelor’s Degree • Bailiff -- $36,840 • Associate’s Degree to Bachelor’s Degree • Transportation Security Screener -- $32,970 • High School Diploma • Detective & Criminal Investigator -- $74,300 • Associate’s Degree to Bachelor’s Degree

6. Legal ServicesPeople working in this field hold positions of great responsibility and are obligated to follow a strict code of ethics • Lawyer -- $112,760 • Doctoral or Professional Degree • Court Reporters -- $47,700 • Postsecondary Non-degree Award • Judge -- $91,800 • Law Degree • Mediator -- $91,800 • Master’s Degree in Public Policy or a Law Degree • Paralegal/Legal Assistant -- $46,680 • Associate’s Degree

7. Security and Protective ServicesEmployees in this field often work in public buildings, factories, warehouses, government buildings, and military bases-they protect products, computers, machines, laboratories, and/or people • Security Guard -- $23,970 • High School Diploma • Loss Prevention Manager -- $42,870 • High School Diploma • Private Detective/Investigator -- $42,870 • Postsecondary Non-degree Award • Animal Control -- $31,680 • Postsecondary Non-degree Award

8. Knowledge • Law and Government • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. • Public Safety and Security • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. • English Language • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

9. Knowledge Continued • Administration and Management • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. • Psychology • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. • Customer and Personal Service • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

10. Knowledge Continued • Personnel and Human Resources • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems. • Education and Training • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Sociology and Anthropology — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins. • Computers and Electronics • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

11. Student Organizations • HOSA – Future Health Professionals • This organization is for students interested in pursuing careers in the health field. These fields would include Emergency Management Services (EMS, EMT, Fire Science) and Medical Forensics. • SkillsUSA • This organization is for students interested in pursuing careers in the law enforcement field. These fields would include police, criminal justice, crime scene investigations, etc.

12. Skills • Active Listening • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. • Speaking • Talking to others to convey information effectively. • Coordination • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. • Critical Thinking • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

13. Skills Continued • Management of Personnel Resources • Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job. • Monitoring • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. • Reading Comprehension • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

14. Skills Continued • Time Management • Managing one's own time and the time of others. • Judgment and Decision Making • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. • Learning Strategies • Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

15. Is Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security the Right Cluster for You? • 1. Do you do well in English courses? • 2. Do you have a clean police record? • 3. Do you enjoy meeting and interacting with strangers? • 4. Do you keep your cool in stressful or dangerous situations? • 5. Do you watch shows such as CSI and Law and Order?

16. 6. Do you believe that public service is rewarding? • 7. Are you more comfortable being outdoors than being inside? • 8. Do you enjoy using technology such as computers? • 9. Are you good at taking orders, obeying rules, and following instructions? • 10. Are you interested in homeland security? • If you answered “yes” to 5 or more questions this might be the right career cluster for you!