Law Enforcement Captain

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

About The Position

The University of South Florida Police Department (USFPD) is a fully certified and accredited law enforcement agency serving its campuses and community. The Law Enforcement Captain oversees and directs activities relating to the agency’s law enforcement and support functions, ensuring services are community-minded, culturally sensitive, and supportive of student success and academic achievement. The Captain serves on the Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety’s staff and assists with determining fiscal requirements and preparing budget proposals for assigned areas. The role manages sworn and non-sworn personnel within an assigned bureau and ensures university law enforcement services meet objectives established by the State of Florida, Board of Trustees, and USF Administration. The Captain assumes full management responsibility for the Division of Public Safety in the Director’s and Assistant Director’s absence. Duties also include command-staff participation, policy and procedure development, personnel evaluation, budget oversight, internal investigations, labor grievance representation, promotional processes, and coordination of police field operations during major campus incidents or disasters. The position maintains agency objectives consistent with accreditation standards and is designated as essential personnel, potentially requiring participation in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities outside normal work hours, including during university closings.

Requirements

Meet the requirements of Chapter 943, Florida Statutes.
Have at least seven consecutive years of sworn law enforcement experience.
Eligible internal candidates must have four years of progressive supervisory experience, including the rank of Lieutenant.
External candidates must have held the rank of Lieutenant or above, or served in an equivalent sworn law enforcement leadership position with comparable duties, responsibilities, and authority, within the last 24 months.
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required; the stated degree equivalency clause allows four years of direct experience in place of a bachelor’s degree, subject to applicable employment eligibility requirements.
Maintain mandatory job-related certifications, including firearms qualification, first aid, CPR, and a Florida State driver’s license.
Applicants must be at least 19 years of age, be U.S. citizens, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and meet the stated conviction-related eligibility criteria for Florida State Law Enforcement Certification.
Applicants must not have used illegal drugs in the last three years and must pass a physical ability test, post-offer physical and psychological examinations, and a rigorous background investigation.
Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume.
Meet the department’s background, integrity, driving, conduct, dependability, and drug-use eligibility criteria.

Nice To Haves

A master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Law enforcement management experience or supervisory experience with specialty units or programs.

Responsibilities

Manage and direct sworn and non-sworn personnel within the assigned bureau.
Ensure law enforcement services are provided consistently with objectives established by the State of Florida, Board of Trustees, and USF Administration.
Assume full management responsibility for the Division of Public Safety when the Director and Assistant Director are absent.
Serve on the Chief’s/Director’s Command Staff and assist in formulating and approving departmental policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
Assist in developing and implementing standard operating procedures for police personnel.
Develop, coordinate, and attain goals and objectives for personnel in the assigned bureau.
Ensure programs and activities reflect a commitment to Community Oriented Policing.
Evaluate directly supervised personnel according to established performance standards.
Help determine fiscal requirements for Operations and Support elements and prepare budget proposals for assigned areas.
Maintain appropriate fiscal controls after budget approval to ensure spending follows departmental guidelines.
Conduct and review assignments, including internal investigations of complaints against department personnel.
Serve as a management representative in PBA and AFSCME grievances and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements and the Police Officers Bill of Rights.
Formulate and conduct promotional processes for agency supervisory positions.
Coordinate on-site police field operations during major criminal incidents or disasters on campus, liaising with USF divisions and other local, state, or federal organizations and law enforcement agencies.
Maintain assigned duties and agency objectives in accordance with accreditation standards.
Participate in preparedness, response, and recovery activities outside normal work hours when required as essential personnel.
Perform other duties as assigned.