Chief of Police - University Police Department

Salary: Depends on qualifications. Full-time position located in Cape Girardeau, MO.

About the Role

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 collaboration with local and neighboring law enforcement agencies. The role is responsible for creating a safe campus environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests.

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.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Business Administration, Public Safety Administration, or a closely related field required; master's degree is considered a plus.
• 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. Experience in higher education is considered a plus.
• Must possess current Missouri POST Class A Peace Officer License or be eligible to obtain within 6 months of employment.
• 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.
• 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.