Yale Public Safety partners with the New Haven Hiring Initiative

Yale Public Safety continues to make it a priority to hire individuals from the New Haven community whenever possible. In the past few years, they have teamed up with the New Haven Hiring Initiative (NHHI) with great success. When the NHHI hears about opportunities within the department, they immediately connect with New Haven Works (NHW), seeking possible candidates. Meet and greets are arranged allowing Yale Staffing and Public Safety (YPS) managers to speak with prescreened NHW candidates in person. Based on this interaction, YPS sets up a formal interview as appropriate.

“We have had great success with this partnership. At the start, we talked to NHW about the specific skills security officers need to have, and they’ve been terrific in their screening process,” said Chris Brown, Director of New Haven Hiring Initiative. Successful hires must pass a background check, be able to ride a bicycle, and pass the International Police Mountain Bike Association training. In addition to helping residents with resumes and mock interview coaching, NHW developed a program to help people be aware of riding a bike safely.

In 2019, five candidates benefited from bicycle-handling workshops and three of the hired members passed the Security Cyclist exam. In September 2020, NHW contracted two certified League Cycling Instructors from the New Haven Coalition for Active Transportation to facilitate a four-and-a-half-hour Smart Cycling Course. Five members completed the in-classroom lesson, bicycle-handling drills, and the on-road group ride. Two of the five members were recently offered full-time Security Officer positions.

During their probationary period, the new hires receive extensive training and support from the Public Safety managers. The programming includes on-boarding, bicycle and Segway training, review of department operations, reporting and observation skills training, and bias training. In addition, they learn patrol procedures, de-escalation training, the scheduling software, and using Kronos for timecards. Also included are presentations by the Yale Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, who review how they partner with Public Safety and provide tips on putting out a simple fire. Lisa Skelly Brynes, Director of Compliance and Strategic Initiatives, provides training on the Clery Act and the Fire and Safety Report.

New security officers shadow staff at the Central Alarm Station to understand how calls are handled before they are routed to them and trained on using radio communication equipment. After one week of intensive training, new officers are assigned to field training officers and go through eight weeks of field training on all three shifts, learning every post on campus. Lastly, they sit down with the Cultural Properties team to understand what they do.

This entire process takes twelve weeks. After the field training is complete, they are evaluated, and any issues are discussed and worked out. “By the time they are ready to work on their own, they can do the job. We’ve fully prepared them,” said Reggie Chavis.

• Other stories about NHHI hires.