Chief of Police​/Director of Public Safety

The Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety (CPDPS) is the senior public safety and law enforcement official at Johnson

C. Smith University. Reporting to the President or
the President’s Designee, the person in this role is responsible for providing strong strategic leadership for campus safety, policing, security operations, emergency management, crime prevention, regulatory compliance, and institutional preparedness.

The CPDPS is expected to lead a professional, community-centered, prevention-focused campus police and public safety unit that supports the University’s educational mission-vision and community-engaged initiatives. This includes maintaining the operational readiness necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, campus visitors, and University assets; implementing a forward-leaning University safety and security plan; and submitting reports/records as required by the University and local, state, and federal agencies.

The position also serves as a trusted advisor to University leadership on matters involving safety, emergency preparedness, crisis response, institutional risk, and campus events, and as a mentor for personnel in their respective unit.

The Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety (CPDPS) is the senior public safety and law enforcement official at Johnson

C. Smith University. Reporting to the President or
the President’s Designee, the person in this role is responsible for providing strong strategic leadership for campus safety, policing, security operations, emergency management, crime prevention, regulatory compliance, and institutional preparedness.

The CPDPS is expected to lead a professional, community-centered, prevention-focused campus police and public safety unit that supports the University’s educational mission-vision and community-engaged initiatives. This includes maintaining the operational readiness necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, campus visitors, and University assets; implementing a forward-leaning University safety and security plan; and submitting reports/records as required by the University and local, state, and federal agencies.

The position also serves as a trusted advisor to University leadership on matters involving safety, emergency preparedness, crisis response, institutional risk, and campus events, and as a mentor for personnel in their respective unit.

The Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety will:

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for campus police and public safety operations while providing guidance in handling emergencies and urgent issues.
• Advance a community-oriented policing philosophy that emphasizes trust, visibility, accessibility, prevention, and engagement..
• Direct sworn police officers, civilian security personnel, contracted personnel, and other assigned public safety functions.
• Maintain professional standards governing patrol, investigations, use of force, emergency response, reporting, accountability, and employee conduct.
• Conduct and ensure timely completion of investigations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and external law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
• Lead University emergency management and preparedness efforts, including emergency planning, exercises, Incident Command System implementation, emergency notifications, and crisis coordination, and provide updated emergency plan to the campus community.
• Provide leadership and institutional coordination regarding Clery Act responsibilities and other applicable campus safety requirements, and ensure accurate, timely submissions.
• Conduct risk-based planning for on-campus events to include student activities, athletic events, Homecoming, Commencement, VIP visits, and other major University events.
• Support multidisciplinary threat assessment, behavioral intervention, crime prevention, and early intervention efforts.
• Develop departmental policies, training programs, performance standards, succession plans, and professional development opportunities,…