Campus Public Safety​/Campus Police Chief

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Portland State University

• Proposed
  
  Start Date:
  
  05/01/2026
• Classification
  
  Title:
  
  Safety and Security
• Rank: N - No Rank
• Working Title: Campus Public Safety/Campus Police Chief
• Department: 600200 - CSS Campus Security
• Position Number: D93540
• Representation: UU - Unclassified Unrepresented
• Renewable: Renewable
• Position FTE: 1.0
• Tenure Status: F - Fixed Term

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept: Portland State University is Oregon's most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America's most dynamic cities. Our mission to "let knowledge serve the city" reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands‑on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree‑lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state‑of‑the‑art science labs. We are proud of our world‑class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

Position Summary: The Campus Police Chief administers, plans, and directs all services provided by the Campus Public Safety Office as a model of 21st Century community policing. This position requires a visionary leader with a strong ability to collaborate with faculty, staff and students in creating a culture of community for a modern urban university campus. The Police Chief supports a safe and welcoming environment on campus through management of police officers, public safety officers, dispatchers and physical safety personnel.

The Campus Police Chief reports to the Associate Vice President of Risk and will supervise approximately 30 employees, some of whom are represented by a police union.

• BA or MA from an accredited university, preferably in law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration or a related field.
• Progressively responsible experience and leadership in a public safety/law enforcement role.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience leading a diverse and inclusive workforce and community in examining the impact that policies and practices have on different communities.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with collaboration between law enforcement and mental health providers in developing a compassionate and effective response to persons in crisis.
• Experience working with police unions.
• Must have held Basic, Advanced, and Supervisory Police certification from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training within the past five years, or an out‑of‑state equivalent recognized by Oregon DPSST and the ability to re‑activate certification.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and evident engagement with community.
• Possession of a valid State‑issued driver's license.

• Graduate from advanced police command training such as the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety or the Southern Police Institute.
• Experience in providing police services in a higher education environment, particularly within a residential community.
• Experience in law enforcement and/or public safety at an urban college or university.
• Experience with incident and threat assessment techniques as well as knowledge of Clery Act.
• DPSST Management and Executive Police Certification

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU's policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Contributes…