Chief, University Police/ Director of Public Sa...

Worcester State University is a liberal arts and sciences university with a long tradition of academic excellence dating back to 1874. Our workforce is dedicated to academic quality, student-centered programming, engaged citizenship, open exchanges of ideas, diversity, and inclusiveness. Worcester State is centrally located in Massachusetts, about an hour's drive from Boston, Springfield, and Providence, Rhode Island. Our 58-acre campus serves over 6,000 students—approximately 5,300 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students.

About the Role

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 directs 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 commands a force of 15 sworn officers and support personnel and represents the University in key community, civic, and professional safety initiatives.

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.
  • Promote interactive, positive relationships between the University Police Department and students, parents, faculty, staff, and local residents.
  • Build meaningful relationships with city officials and participate in justice programs, student forums, and safety outreach events.
  • Adapt policies and procedures to police reform measures at local, state, and federal levels.
• 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
  • Develop and maintain the department’s mission and policies aligned with the university’s mission.
  • Create, review, and update departmental policies in line with POST Commission guidance, CALEA, and IACLEA accreditation best practices.
  • Oversee accurate, timely reporting of campus crime statistics and safety information, including preparation of the Clery Report.
  • Collaborate with the 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.
• 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).
  • Lead recruitment of a diverse and skilled workforce; ensure compliance with POST Commission standards and WSU's goals.
  • Oversee staff leadership development, 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.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Emergency Management and Institutional Safety, including on-call responsibilities.
• Demonstrate civility and professional, customer-service oriented behavior.
• Contribute to the WSU Strategic Plan and Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action objectives.

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 and threat assessment.
• Successfully completed an accredited Police Academy and meet all mandatory certification requirements by the Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC).
• Out-of-state candidates must obtain a permanent exemption from the MPTC entry-level requirements, including completing the Massachusetts Municipal Police Officer Online Exemption Program and examination, and 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 certification or obtain within a specified period.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of budget management specific to a public safety agency.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.
• Understanding of mental health issues and experience with officers trained as mental health officers.
• Experience working with the Clery Act, Title IX, FERPA, and other campus safety regulations.

Pay

The firm annual salary for this position is $150,000.

Benefits

• Choice of 8 different pre-taxed health insurance plan options.
• Choice of pension or 401(a) and supplemental plan retirement options.
• Life insurance up to 8x the annual salary.
• Long-term disability coverage.
• Dental insurance.
• 20 vacation days accrued per year.
• 15 sick days accrued per year.
• 5 personal days per year.
• Paid holidays.
• Tuition remission for self, spouse, and dependent children.