Chief of Police- University Police Department

Chief of Police, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Chief of Police – an experienced and visionary leader to create a safe campus environment that supports student success and embodies UMKC’s commitment to fostering a Culture of Care. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, the position requires a collaborative leader who can advance innovative policing strategies while ensuring all departmental operations align with the University’s academic mission, values, and strategic goals.

• Leadership & Management:
  Provide leadership, guidance and direction for the department, supervising a force of sworn officers, security personnel, and civilian support staff.
• Manage operational, financial and personnel activities to ensure alignment with the University’s mission, vision, and values.
• Maintain departmental accreditation status with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
• Stay current with evolving law enforcement best practices, legal developments and campus safety trends to ensure department effectiveness and compliance.
• Law Enforcement & Security Operations:
  Direct comprehensive efforts to provide a safe, secure, and orderly campus community.
• Oversee crime prevention and enforcement activities, education programs, and law enforcement operations.
• Coordinate and assign personnel for special event security, including sporting events, concerts, guest speakers, and VIP visits.
• Develop and implement protection plans and security measures for public figures visiting university property.
• Community Relations & Compliance:
  Serve as the primary liaison with surrounding law enforcement agencies and criminal justice partners, responsible for maintaining strong relationships that allow UMKC to thrive in the community.
• Work closely with the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Equity and Title IX to ensure compliance with the Clery Act and Title IX regulations, along with FERPA, Title VII, ADA, FOIA, and freedom of speech on college campus.
• Engage in extensive communication and relationship-building with the campus community through outreach, education, and community policing initiatives.
• Emergency Management & Communications:
  Collaborate with campus leadership on strategic priorities related to campus security, safety protocols, and law enforcement matters.
• Ensure functionality and operation of the campus emergency mass notification system.
• Lead crisis response operations during campus emergencies, coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies as needed.
• Communicate effectively with local and national media, as well as the general public, for both routine departmental matters and incident response.

• Education & Experience:
  
  Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience, and at least seven (7) years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
• Certifications:
  
  Must obtain and maintain Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification in accordance with current state requirements. Certification may be required prior to appointment and is mandatory once employed.

• Education & Experience:
  
  Master’s degree in Criminal Justice, Public Safety Administration, Criminology, or related field.
• Experience in higher education or campus law enforcement environment.
• Progressive leadership experience managing multi-tiered law enforcement operations.
• Experience with federal compliance requirements including the Clery Act, Title IX, and campus safety regulations.

• Completion of executive law enforcement training such as Northwestern’s Police Staff and Command College, Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy, Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership programs, and similar recognized law enforcement executive education programs.

• Standard
  
  Hours:
  
  Monday through Friday, 7:00am – 3:00pm, with flexibility to interact with all departmental shifts and campus operations.
• Emergency Response:
  Available on-call 24/7/365 to respond to campus emergencies,…