Chief of Police

Description

The Chief of Police serves as the chief law enforcement executive for Suffolk University responsible for ensuring a safe secure and welcoming environment for students faculty staff and visitors. This position provides strategic leadership policy direction and operational oversight for campus police and public safety operations.

The Chief of Police reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and works collaboratively with University leadership and external agencies including Boston Police Department to uphold the highest standards of safety ethics and professionalism positioning the department as a responsive police department that is recognized as committed to the safety and care of the members of our vibrant and diverse university community.

Suffolk University is a dispersed urban campus in the heart of downtown Boston requiring an approach to policing and public safety that engages the campus community as well as the greater Boston community to ensure the safety and well-being of our students staff faculty in a complex environment where the university campus and the city blend together.

Suffolk University implemented the arming of sworn police officers and the next Chief must continue the Universitys efforts to address any and all community concerns with empathy transparency and a commitment to inclusive decision-making. The Chief will serve as both a law enforcement leader and a community partnersomeone who actively listens engages in meaningful dialogue and leads with strong ethics and integrity.

The Chief will be expected to lead with vision and compassionfostering a culture of professionalism accountability and support. Ensuring officer wellness promoting inclusive leadership development and creating advancement pathways will be central to the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership planning and direction for all law enforcement and public safety operations on a university campus in an urban environment.
• Utilize best community policing practices to develop a kind and compassionate community policing philosophy and implement and maintain a progressive policing philosophy that ensures officers are visible accessible and engaged with the student body staff faculty visitors and community in a complex university environment.
• Model and promote the Universitys deep commitment to the values of diversity equity inclusion and community and human relations and keep these concepts as top priorities at all times.
• Cultivate a culture of respect accountability and professionalism within the department by modeling positive behavior reinforcing community policing principles and fostering trusting relationships with students staff and faculty.
• Commit to a comprehensive culture of collaboration and partnering both within the University and externally for maximum effectiveness build relationships as a foundation of the campus culture and foster strong collaborations in all endeavors to assess real needs design student-centered programs provide high-end customer service at all times and ensure the overall success of the universitys public safety efforts.
• Develop and implement departmental policies procedures and long-term strategies that support the Universitys mission goals and community values.
• Oversee investigations patrol operations emergency response and special events to ensure the safety of the campus community.
• Partner with Student Affairs and other University departments to establish best practices for responding to student issues including mental health crisis and ensure that student issue protocols for the department are clear and routinely followed.
• Manage departmental budgets staffing equipment procurement and resource allocation to achieve operational efficiency.
• Foster a culture of transparency accountability and respect through effective supervision and professional development.
• Serve on University crisis incident and emergency response committees as appropriate.
• Serve as the Universitys primary liaison with local state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as community partners.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations including the Clery Act Title IX and other federal and state mandates.
• Promote community-oriented policing principles that encourage engagement trust and collaboration across diverse campus populations.
• Prepare and present reports briefings and policy recommendations to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees. Advise university leadership regarding university-wide strategies to prevent crime and enhance the safety security and well-being of the university community
• Clery Act Compliance Program - Oversee the universitys compliance efforts concerning the Clery Act.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelors degree (Masters degree preferred).
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience including five (5) years in a senior management or command role.
• Certification as a law enforcement officer under state standards.
• Proven ability to manage complex operational and administrative functions.
• Strong leadership communication and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to manage complex organizations.
• Experience in higher education or a similar environment is highly desirable.
• Proven record of implementing community policing emergency management and policy development initiatives. A proven record of building trust across diverse populations especially students staff and faculty.
• Commitment to visibility and accessibility in everyday campus life not just in times of crisis.