Chief of Police

Dekalb, IL
Northern Illinois University

Salary: $165,000 – $172,000/Annually

Position Summary:

The Chief of Police and Public Safety (CoPPS) serves as the senior law enforcement official responsible for the protection, safety, and security of persons, property, equipment, and facilities in and around Northern Illinois University (NIU) controlled properties.

The CoPPS is responsible for maintaining public peace and order and enforces all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and University policies. The CoPPS is also the principal administrator for planning, directing, and managing the comprehensive law enforcement, public safety and security, and emergency preparedness services for all components of NIU. The CoPPS serves as the ambassador for all safety- and security-related services and works closely with key university, local, state, and federal partners. The CoPPS is responsible for supervisory oversight of the Department of Police and Public Safety (NIUPD).

Essential Functions:

  • Directs the planning, administration, training, and organizational development of the NIUPD, including but not limited to police and public safety operations, safety and security systems and policies, emergency preparedness, threat and risk assessment, finance, budgeting, and business operations.
  • Manages and directs the activities of the agencies senior personnel, including deputy chiefs, commanders (lieutenants), sworn law enforcement supervisors (sergeants), civilian directors and others performing police, public safety, security, and/or administrative functions.
  • Ensures the fair and impartial enforcement of State criminal, traffic, and motor vehicle laws, and adopted edicts from the University Board of Trustees through the comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and application of the Illinois State Statutes and the University’s policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
  • Performs research, planning, and supervisory oversight for the development of NIUPD written directives to ensure compliance with laws and regulations of local, state, and federal government agencies, law enforcement accreditation and NIU policies.
  • Ensures the professional development of NIUPD staff, provides professional guidance and support to subordinate employees, and conducts employee evaluations while maintaining employee morale and esprit de corps.
  • Collaborates with NIU Human Resource Services (HRS) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) on successful negotiation and compliance with NIUPD collective bargaining agreements.
  • Makes decisions relative to personnel practices including the hiring, promotion and discharge of agency employees, with appropriate support from HRS and OGC.
  • Analyzes police, public safety, and security operations and develops strategic plans for optimizing services to meet the demands of stakeholders.

Requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, administration of justice or a related field.
2. Ten years of sworn law enforcement, with at least three years in management.

Preferred Requirements:

  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Experience in a university environment preferred
  • Advanced courses such as FBI National Academy, Southern Police Institute, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police are preferred.

 

https://employment.niu.edu/postings/83882