Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police

Decatur, IL
Millikin University

Salary: $75,000/year

Position Summary:

Direct and oversee all police, security and emergency management activities and responsibilities at Millikin University. Act as the University’s Clery Coordinator. Protect those who work, study and visit the university, as well as property, buildings, equipment and grounds. Prepare budgets, hire and train department personnel, create successful partnerships, both on-campus and off, sufficient to ensure the ethical and professional delivery of all services.

Essential Functions:

  1. Manage and supervise a 24/7 campus law enforcement and security operation both directly and through a team of subordinates.
  2. Personally perform, or ensure fully competent security, for major campus events.
  3. Overall responsibility for recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, retention and performance management and assuring the use of appropriate human resources practices within the department.
  4. Implement professional accountability mechanisms to ensure that policing and security operations meet accepted performance standards and treat all persons within the scope of authority in a civil, professional, and ethical manner while taking action to ensure the protection of their civil rights.
  5. Monitor assigned budget and implement administrative mechanisms to ensure the department is a good steward of its assigned resources including people, facilities, and equipment and assure that the agency complies with all applicable administrative policies.
  6. Chair, plan, organize, train, and coordinate the University’s Emergency Preparedness Plan and Risk Threat Assessment Team. Ensures that written emergency plans meet the requirements of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
  7. Plan, organize, coordinate, and conduct periodic emergency exercises.
  8. Acts as Incident Commander of the University’s Emergency Response Team during weather emergencies and all critical events.
  9. Review safety audit inspections and other regulatory compliance actions and ensure proper corrective actions are taken.
  10. Keep accurate records of Police calls for service, criminal offenses, traffic accidents, citations, arrests, student code of conduct violations, and on any and all other requirements of the University and of statute.
  11. Ensure that the University meets all requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act. Accurately report all required data to the Department of Education regarding campus crime, while meeting required timeframes.
  12. Assist in managing activities associated with purchasing, maintaining and checking out of Public Safety and University transportation vehicles.
  13. Maintain an awareness of best practices and incorporate into department operations in a manner that promotes improved campus safety and proactively incorporates law enforcement de-escalation techniques and positive mental health interventions among other areas of focus.
  14. Act as primary spokesperson and advocate for Millikin’s Office of Public Safety, maintaining an active and engaged dialogue with a diverse cross section of community members and partners, including university committees and engaging with faculty, staff and student organizations and representative bodies.
  15. Deliver presentations to both staff and public during meetings and forums, briefing the news media on significant incidents or events, and presenting complex information to senior leaders or governing boards.
  16. Maintain active and productive relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement and public safety partners and position Millikin University as an important member of the local and statewide law enforcement community.
  17. Perform other job-related duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s Degree Required.
  • Experience in leading emergency planning and management.
  • A minimum of five years of supervisory experience in a law enforcement agency that includes sworn law enforcement officers with preference give to prior experience as an agency head, deputy agency head, or in a command-level role.
  • Proven track record of ethical, effective leadership in Public Safety and/or Law Enforcement.
  • The ability to think and plan strategically, to exercise excellent judgment and decision-making in stressful situations, and to problem-solve in a collaborative manner.
  • Previous experience administering and managing a delivery of comprehensive police services with a community-oriented and problem-solving approach, including trauma, mental health awareness and protection of life and property.
  • State Certified Law Enforcement Officer designation (or waiver eligible)
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
  • Outstanding written and oral communications skills.
  • Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment and commitment to do so as a staff member at Millikin University.
  • Working knowledge of legal issues related to campus police administration including, but not limited to, the laws of arrest, search and seizure, use of force, civil liability, FERPA, FMLA, Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Campus Crime and Reporting Act.

Preferred Requirements:

  • Seven or more years of leadership experience in a law enforcement agency that includes sworn law enforcement officers.
  • Previous college or university law enforcement experience.
  • A master’s degree or graduation from a recognized law enforcement leadership program such as the FBI National Academy, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command Certification, Senior Management Institute for Police, FBI Executive Leadership Institute or substantially equivalent.
  • ASIS-Certified Protection Professional.