Chief of Police

Compensation

$84881.00 Annual

Job Description Summary

The application deadline for this position is 11:59pm EST on June 25 2025.

The Santa Fe College Police Department (SFPD) is nationally recognized for excellence and community policing efforts. Beyond just enforcing state laws and college rules every police department member is dedicated to working in partnership with the college community toward the goal of a safe Santa Fe.

The Chief of Police serves as the highest-ranking law enforcement official for the College providing executive leadership for the SFPD. This role oversees the full scope of departmental operations including strategic planning administration coordination and performance evaluation across all law enforcement and campus security functions. The Chief leads the colleges efforts in law enforcement infrastructure security emergency preparedness and safety-related crisis communications ensuring a comprehensive and holistic approach to campus protection and public safety.

With a commitment to preserving peace safety and constitutional guarantees of all individuals the Chief is responsible for ensuring the protection of the college community and its facilities which includes the Northwest Campus and six educational centers across Alachua and Bradford Counties. This position ensures a proactive visible and consistent police presence on all college campuses and centers while upholding local state and federal laws as well as college rules regulations and procedures.

As a leading College official the Chief also leads the Emergency Management Team and serves as a core member of both the Cabinet and the Behavioral Intervention Team. In this capacity the Chief advises leaders of the college and the President on matters related to campus policing infrastructure security emergency response and law enforcement related liability. Through visible leadership effective communication and close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders the Chief fosters a safe secure and responsive college environment focused on public safety and security risk mitigation.

**The starting salary is $84881. Any salary amount above this is commensurate upon an individuals qualifications.

Job Description

Responsibilities and Duties Include:

• Provides executive leadership for the SFPD and ensures adequate staffing that supports a safe campus environment for students faculty staff and visitors of the college including supervision guidance mentoring and evaluation of direct reports.

• Leads the development and implementation of policies and procedures specific to law enforcement adhering to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Standards and Training Commission requirements and College Rules regulations and procedures.

• Oversees the development administration and monitoring of the SFPDs annual budget ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with institutional priorities; monitors expenditures related to personnel equipment training and other operational needs to ensure prudent use of college resources.

• Supervises sworn personnel who perform law enforcement functions such as arrests traffic control parking enforcement safety escorts and emergency first aid.

• Enforces and/or supervises enforcement and investigation into violations of criminal law.

• Provides coordinated leadership for the colleges Emergency Management Team and serves as Incident Commander during major safety related events such as natural disasters and critical campus incidents.

• Oversees the development training execution and continuous improvement of emergency preparedness plans and after-action reviews across all campus locations to continuously improve responses to emergencies.

• Works with internal departments on implementing various security technologies such as access controls surveillance and signage; ensures the correct placement of video surveillance on all campuses appropriate monitoring stations and campus signage and safety devices in parking lots and roads.

• Coordinates building access and security infrastructure during both routine operations and emergencies including lockdowns closures evacuations weather-related responses and special events.

• Oversees the activities and actions of college outsourced and external emergency personnel during emergency situations; ensures all required documentation is completed in a timely and accurate manner.

• Develops implements and monitors campus emergency action plans including special events in collaboration with appropriate departments; these events include but are not limited to the Spring Arts Festival college commencement ceremonies Boo at the Zoo and plans related to other local activities.

• Identifies and addresses campus security vulnerabilities and recommends improvements to minimize risk and enhance readiness across all college locations.

• Ensures compliance with all regulations of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in collaboration with the Information Technology Services department including security of data protocols for accessing criminal records and network security.

• Prepares presents and/or assigns safety and prevention education programs for employees and students to improve safety awareness and educate the college community on appropriate responses to sexual misconduct violence on campus and other similar safety issues; teaches and trains safety related topics to the College and broader community.

• Ensures accurate and timely campus-wide communications during emergencies including activation and oversight of the colleges emergency notification systems.

• Liaises with law enforcement agencies to secure cooperation with and assistance to the SFPD as needed; initiates mutual aid agreements with other agencies as needed to secure interagency cooperation.

• Collaborates with appropriate college administrators and leaders to meet with individuals who violate college safety or security policies and procedures; advises on appropriate actions and responses to public safety violations.

• Serves as a core member of the Cabinet and advises constituents on public safety strategy policing priorities emergency management readiness and law enforcement related liability.

• Serves as a core member of the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and other threat assessment functions.

• Serves on various college and community boards committees and councils as a representative of the college and the SFPD as designated.

• Fosters positive and proactive working relationships with SF departments the student body outside agencies and the public and ensures the same for all SFPD staff.

• Maintains competence in areas of police skills in accordance with FDLE standards and requirements such as firearms first responder interpersonal skills arrest procedures and use of specialized police equipment.

• Maintains knowledge and understanding of core law enforcement and higher education concepts such as FERPA Clery Act Title IX emergency notifications timely warnings uniform crime reporting (UCR) etc.

• Provides safety escorts for faculty staff and students as needed.

• Delegates responsibilities and tasks as needed to support departmental goals.

• Complies with all published College Rules procedures guidelines and laws/regulations governing public employees including but not limited to those related to document retention and destruction FERPA and confidentiality.

• Strictly honors the privacy security and confidentiality of employee and student records and other sensitive information according to appropriate state federal and college regulations policies and procedures.

• Provides service excellence through courteous informed accessible and professional engagement.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Reports to: Vice President Public and Governmental Affairs and Chief Operating Officer

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:A bachelors degree in a related field with at least eight (8) years of sworn law enforcement experience or a combination of education and/or experience equal to twelve (12) years. At least four (4) years of supervisory experience as the Lieutenant Captain Major or similar role is required.

Additional Requirements:Must successfully pass the background investigation physical examination drug testing and polygraph. Must have a valid Florida Drivers license and be authorized to drive for the College. Completion of a state certified Police Academy and passing score on the State Law Enforcement exam. Must have FDLE certification Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training certification or other relevant training. Must maintain mobility physical strength and stamina to ensure the ability to see hear stand bend lift carry walk or run is upheld.
Preferred:Ten (10) or more years of sworn law-enforcement experience and prior work experience in higher education settings. Experience and/or education in leading an emergency management team.

General Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment.

• Adaptability to Change able to be flexible and supportive able to positively and proactively assimilate change in rapid growth environment.

• Analytical Aptitude & Problem Solving - able to analyze information problems situations practices and/or procedures collect and interpret data reason logically establish facts identify and define existing and potential issues recognize the interrelationships among elements draw valid conclusions develop recommendations as well as alternative courses of action select appropriate course follow up and evaluate.

• Communication able to effectively communicate in a professional diplomatic empathetic and tactful manner using preferred method and level as applicable to the job.

• Critical Thinking & Judgement - able to make well-reasoned sensible and timely decisions based on careful objective review and informed analysis of available information considerations and other factors.

• Customer Service ability to respond promptly and courteously to all questions from students and faculty demonstrating patience and persistence when helping students with little or no computer skills.

• Ethics able to demonstrate integrity professionalism civility and a high degree of ethics in all job-related actions.

• Leadership has demonstrated success as an entrepreneurial high energy driven hands-on leader. Possess expertise in selecting training developing coaching mentoring and retaining a highly motivated workforce.

• Organization & Time Management able to plan schedule and organize tasks related to the job to achieve goals within or ahead of established time frames.

• Problem Solving proven skills in identifying issues determining their cause developing creative solutions and following through with implementing resolutions.

• Team Orientation & Interpersonal highly motivated team-player with ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with all levels within and external to the organization.

• Relationship Management able to personally provide high level of interactive service to others building relationships and addressing identified needs.

• Results Orientation proven ability to set and exceed established targets.

• Systems & Software - proficient level of knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or relevant position software programs.

• Detail Oriented - Proven accuracy and attention to detail.

• Multi-task - Ability to expeditiously organize coordinate manage prioritize and perform multiple tasks simultaneously to swiftly assess a situation determine a logical course of action and apply the appropriate response.

Application Process: All applicants must submit a completed online SF application a letter of intent an up-to-date resume/curriculum vitae and unofficial academic transcripts (if applicable) to be considered for this position. Unofficial transcripts are only accepted for review purposes official transcripts are required prior to any offer of employment being made.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

Santa Fe College (SF) is committed to maintaining a work and educational environment that embraces diversity and where no member of the college community is excluded from participation in denied the benefits of or subject to discrimination in any college program or activity based on: their race ethnicity national origin color religion age disability sex pregnancy status gender identity sexual orientation marital status genetic information political opinions or affiliations or veteran status. This commitment applies to employees volunteers students and to the extent possible to third parties applicants for admission applicants for employment and the general public. regarding non-discrimination policies or concerns about discrimination or harassment including concerns about sexual harassment or sexual violence under Title IX should be directed to:

Santa Fe College reserves the right to extend deadlines and/or not to offer advertised positions. Preference will be given to eligible veterans and spouses of veterans.