Deputy Chief of Police

University of Nevada Las Vegas•Las Vegas, MD

4d•$150,000 - $160,000

About The Position

University Police Department (UPD), Southern Command invites applications for Deputy Chief ( two positions open). We appreciate your interest in employment at our growing division. ROLE of the POSITIONS The Deputy Chief (DC) of Police positions are divisional commanders who provide strategic leadership within assigned operational areas and plan, direct, and monitor police operations while performing police administration work of considerable difficulty and scope. The incumbents serve as senior operational leaders within UPD, Southern Command, overseeing and supervising assigned full- and part-time staff and designated operational divisions including: Patrol Section (sworn personnel), Non-Sworn Support Section (Community Service Officers and Student Cadets), Special Events Section, Community Outreach & Problem-Solving Section, Investigations & Intelligence Services, Emergency Planning & Threat Assessment, and Strategic Operations. Collectively, these positions ensure the effective operation of UPD across a complex environment serving approximately 100,000 people across 800+ square miles and multiple campuses, making it one of the largest university police jurisdictions in the western United States. As command-level administrators, the Deputy Chiefs provide oversight and coordination of accreditation initiatives under the direction of the Chief of Police, ensuring compliance with national law enforcement standards. The incumbents may direct comprehensive accreditation processes through organizations such as the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), ensuring the department meets or exceeds national best practices and professional standards. As senior executive staff members, the Deputy Chiefs contribute to and lead the development of strategic and operational plans for comprehensive law enforcement operations, emergency preparedness, and campus security initiatives. These positions require advanced expertise in risk management, crisis leadership, and interagency coordination at federal, state, and local levels. The Deputy Chiefs maintain executive oversight of all special events across the UNLV system, including high-profile events at Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion, and other major venues, coordinating with federal agencies, major event promoters, and dignitaries. The incumbents develop sophisticated risk-based analyses and threat assessments to ensure appropriate deployment of law enforcement resources for both routine operations and major events throughout the year. The positions require extensive collaboration with internal and external agencies at the executive level, coordination of comprehensive training programs for all UPD personnel, and service as key departmental liaisons for federal task forces and homeland security initiatives. The Deputy Chiefs assist the Chief of Police in departmental budget planning, grant management, and resource allocation within assigned areas of responsibility.

Requirements

Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including supervisory and command-level experience.
Peace Officer Certification: Current Nevada POST certification required or able to obtain within one-year of date of hire

Nice To Haves

Education: Bachelor's and master's degrees preferred
Federal Experience: Experience working with federal law enforcement agencies or task forces
University Experience: Experience in higher education law enforcement or large institutional security operations
Specialized Training: Completion of advanced law enforcement leadership programs (FBI National Academy, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, etc.)
Advanced Certifications: Preferred certifications in specialized areas such as emergency management, executive leadership, or homeland security

Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Police Operations (40%) Serve as a senior executive leader providing strategic direction and command oversight for patrol, investigations, special operations, and community policing.
Lead the development and implementation of proactive, intelligence-led policing strategies to address emerging risks in a large, multi-campus environment.
Direct critical incident response and serve in Incident Command or Unified Command roles during major emergencies.
Oversee recruitment, supervision, performance management, and leadership development of sworn and professional staff.
Establish performance standards, accountability systems, and operational metrics to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement.
Organizational Excellence, Professional Standards & Compliance (30%) Oversee departmental policies, professional standards, accreditation (IACLEA, CALEA), and regulatory compliance.
Direct administrative investigations, use-of-force review, body-worn camera oversight, and quality assurance programs.
Lead comprehensive training initiatives addressing contemporary policing practices, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and community engagement.
Ensure compliance with POST requirements, federal mandates, and university policies.
Assist the Chief of Police with budget development, grant management, and strategic resource allocation.
Campus Safety Strategy, Major Events & Strategic Partnerships (30%) Provide executive oversight for security planning and operations for high-profile athletic, entertainment, and dignitary events.
Develop and implement threat assessments, emergency preparedness plans, and campus-wide response protocols.
Coordinate multi-agency operations with federal, state, and local partners for large-scale and complex events.
Serve as executive liaison to university leadership, regional law enforcement agencies, and federal task forces.
Represent the department in executive forums, regional security councils, and professional law enforcement associations.

Benefits

Generous compensation packages, separate paid time off for annual and sick leave, and holidays
Excellent health insurance including medical, dental, and vision
No state income tax
Comprehensive retirement plans and voluntary benefits programs
Tuition discounts at Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) schools
Tuition discounts for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents
Flexible work schedule (depending on your department)
Employee recognition and appreciation programs
Personal and professional development opportunities
UNLV athletics ticket discounts
Employee discount at UNLV’s Student Wellness Recreation Center
Statewide employee purchase program discounts
RebelCard discounts on and off campus
Wellness programming for all UNLV faculty and staff at no cost