Chief, University Police/ Director of Public Safety

Worcester State University•Worcester, MA

6h•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of University Police / Director of Public Safety is a visionary, community-oriented public safety leader responsible for ensuring a safe, welcoming, and inclusive campus environment at Worcester State University (WSU). This position is charged with directing all law enforcement, emergency response, crime prevention, and public safety operations, with a strong emphasis on equity-driven, trauma-informed, and de-escalation-focused policing strategies. The Chief is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the department, ensuring compliance with all applicable university policies and local, state, and federal laws, including standards set by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, Clery Act, Title IX, and other relevant higher education regulations. The Chief commands a force of 15 sworn officers and support personnel, and represents the University in key community, civic, and professional safety initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or related field.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible police experience, including 5 years in a supervisory or command level role.
Demonstrated experience with community policing & threat assessment.
Must have successfully completed an accredited Police Academy and must meet and maintain all mandatory certification requirements by the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC).
Out-of-state candidates will be expected to promptly obtain a permanent exemption from the MPTC entry-level requirements for full-time police officers, including successfully completing the Massachusetts Municipal Police Officer Online Exemption Program and examination and to become POST-certified within six months of hire.
Must pass physical/medical and psychological examinations as required by the university.
Must possess or obtain a valid License to Carry a Firearm in Massachusetts.
Ability to pass a comprehensive background check and drug screening.
Must maintain First Responder/CPR or obtain within a specified period.
Valid license to operate a motor vehicle
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of budget management specific to a public safety agency.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree strongly preferred.
Graduation from a law enforcement command or leadership academy.
Experience managing accreditation processes (e.g., CALEA, IACLEA, or Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission).
Experience serving multicultural communities including multilingual skills.
Experience as police in a higher education setting.
Experience with labor relations, unionized environments, and collective bargaining.
Possess an understanding of mental health issues, as well as the value of having officers trained as mental health officers and being front-line contacts in this area.
Experience working with the Clery Act, Title IX, FERPA, and other campus safety regulations.

Responsibilities

Lead a 21st-Century, Community-Oriented Police Department: Foster a departmental culture grounded in service, transparency, equity, and accountability. Embed community policing and procedural justice principles into all policies and operations. Promotes an interactive, positive relationship between the University Police Department and other departments or offices of the University, students, parents, faculty and staff with the goal of building trust and strong working relationships between the department and the community. Build meaningful relationships with local residents and city officials. Participate in justice programs, student forums, and safety outreach events. Ability to adapt policies and procedures to police reform measures on the local, state, and federal level.
Emergency Response and Strategic Safety Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive campus safety plans in coordination with senior leadership and community stakeholders. Conduct regular threat and security assessments and ensure campus-wide readiness for emergencies. Serve on the University's Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) & Emergency Response Team (ERT) and may serve as Incident Commander. Coordinate with local, regional, and state emergency agencies in crisis planning, preparedness, and incident response.
Policy Development, Compliance, & Accreditation: Develops and maintains the Worcester State University Police Department mission and the policies and procedures in support of that mission, which is aligned to the university mission. Create, review, and update departmental policies in line with POST Commission guidance, CALEA, and IACLEA accreditation best practices. Maintain strong internal controls to ensure compliance. Oversee accurate, timely reporting of campus crime statistics and safety information. Responsible for preparation of crime portions of Clery Report. Collaborate with Title IX Coordinator and Student Affairs to support victim-centered approaches to safety. Use crime analysis and data dashboards to inform patrol patterns, resource allocation, and performance metrics. Publicly share information to build trust and transparency.
Personnel Training, Recruitment, and Labor Relations: Promote continued education among staff, including POST compliance and mandated training (e.g., de-escalation, fair policing, mental health response, trauma-informed practices, etc.). Lead recruitment of a diverse and skilled workforce; ensure compliance with POST Commission standards and WSU's goals. Oversees ongoing staff leadership development as well as disciplinary action, evaluation, and promotion in accordance with union and college human resource policies.
Parking, Transportation, and Access Management: Oversee parking enforcement, permit issuance, and appeal processes. Implement fair and accessible traffic and pedestrian safety policies in partnership with the local community. Oversee access control and camera technology on campus, developing replacement cycles and technology oversight.
Investigations: Supervise all internal and criminal investigations, ensuring legal compliance, transparency, and trauma-informed practices.
Budget Oversight: Prepare and manage departmental budgets, grants, and resources to support modern public safety tools, staffing, and community engagement.
Other Duties as Assigned: Perform responsibilities as designated by the Executive Director of Emergency Management and Institutional Safety and serve as an institutional safety resource. On call responsibility required.
Demonstrates civility and professional, customer-service oriented behavior, worthy of emulation by other staff and students.
Responsible for contributing to the WSU Strategic Plan.
Responsible for contributing to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action objectives.
Performs other duties as assigned.