Chief of Police - University Police Department

Southeast Missouri State University•Cape Girardeau, MO

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of Police provides administrative oversight of campus police and security, emergency management, parking, and police dispatch services to ensure a safe and secure campus environment. Reporting to the Vice President for Finance & Administration, the Chief of Police supervises a team of law enforcement, parking, and emergency personnel and ensures team collaborations with local and neighboring law enforcement personnel. The Chief of Police is responsible for creating a safe campus environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Business Administration, Public Safety Administration, or a closely related field required
Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in law enforcement, public safety, emergency management, or a related field, including supervisory, operational, and budget management responsibilities.
Must possess current Missouri POST Class A Peace Officer License or be eligible to obtain within 6 months of employment
Demonstrated knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and best practices related to law enforcement, campus safety, emergency preparedness, response, and recovery
Experience developing and managing departmental budgets and financial resources
Knowledge of mediation, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving techniques
Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels
Proven ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and respond effectively to sensitive or high-profile situations
Strong leadership, organizational, and personnel management skills with a commitment to fostering a positive and accountable work environment
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively during emergencies and with diverse audiences
Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions

Nice To Haves

Master's degree is considered a plus
Experience in higher education is considered a plus
FEMA Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Certified Public Manager (CPM), or equivalent professional certifications are considered a plus

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and oversight for all University police, public safety, security, emergency management, and parking operations across multiple campuses
Foster a safe, secure, and welcoming campus environment through community-oriented policing, crime prevention, and collaborative public safety initiatives
Direct campus emergency preparedness, incident response, continuity of operations, and critical incident management, including oversight of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), and Incident Command System (ICS)
Serve as the University's senior leader for Clery Act compliance, campus safety reporting, crime statistics, emergency notifications, risk assessments, and regulatory compliance
Oversee security technology and communications systems, including surveillance, alarm, dispatch, and mass notification platforms
Provide administrative leadership for parking, transportation, traffic management, ADA accessibility, and transit operations while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations
Build and maintain strong partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, emergency management organizations, transportation partners, and community stakeholders
Lead organizational planning, budgeting, policy development, accreditation efforts, performance assessment, and continuous operational improvement
Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate department personnel while fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism, wellness, inclusion, and employee engagement
Advise executive leadership on public safety, security, emergency management, and institutional risk management strategies
Represent the University before governing boards, governmental agencies, community organizations, media representatives, and professional associations
Champion innovative, collaborative, and data-informed approaches that support institutional resilience, student success, and the University's strategic priorities