Chief of University Police - Missouri Southern State University

General Statement of Job

The Chief of Campus Police ensures that faculty, staff, students, and visitors at MSSU are safe and successful by performing the following duties.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties:

Provides leadership in maintaining a safe and secure campus environment.

Ensures timely and effective communication with key campus stakeholders, including supervisor, university administration, faculty, and staff. Maintains open lines of communication to facilitate collaboration during incidents, emergencies, and daily operations, fostering a shared commitment to campus safety and aligning with institutional priorities.

Manages the operations of the University Police Department and collaborates with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure coordinated efforts in campus security and emergency response.

Develops, implements, and evaluates departmental policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with university goals, best practices, and legal requirements in law enforcement and campus safety.

Oversees and provides direction to University Police officers and sergeant(s), ensuring professional conduct, effective performance, and adherence to departmental and legal standards.

Manages the scheduling of officers to maintain optimal campus coverage.

Oversees officer training programs, ensuring readiness and professional development in areas such as campus-specific law enforcement and crisis response.

Supervises dispatch operations, ensuring dispatcher(s) are properly scheduled and trained to coordinate law enforcement responses effectively and maintain clear communication during incidents.

Ensures the efficient and thorough execution of all criminal investigations. Reviews reports, manages arrests, and coordinates the submission of cases to the prosecutor’s office for legal adjudication. Ensures all reports are forwarded to campus stakeholders on a consistent basis.

Facilitates joint training exercises and initiatives with local and regional law enforcement agencies, enhancing interagency cooperation and preparedness for large-scale incidents.

Oversees the department’s financial operations, including budgeting, procurement, and resource allocation. Prepares and reviews grant applications to secure funding for departmental needs and technological advancements.

Develops and manages firearms training programs, ensuring officers meet safety and qualification standards. Conducts remedial sessions for officers as necessary to maintain compliance with safety protocols.

Collaborates with university administration in the development of policies related to parking management, traffic flow, campus lighting, fire safety, and hazardous materials removal, ensuring a safe campus infrastructure.

Performs other related duties as required.

Education, Experience, and Licenses

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Criminal Justice or related field is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in law enforcement, safety, security, or related field, with experience in a supervisory capacity including personnel management.
• Police Administration Training certification required. FBI Range Master Course, Administrative Officer's Course, and National Incident Command Administration Training preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and successful experience, obtained from a combination of formal education and work/life experience to include, but not limited to: Severe Weather Events, Active Shooter, Abductions, and other unforeseen circumstances.
• The employee must maintain all the continuing education requirements to remain POST certified as a condition of continued employment. If not currently certified, certification of successful completion must be secured within three (3) months of employment.
• Must have a valid Driver’s License and be able to meet the University’s insurance requirements for driving University vehicles.
• The employee must maintain all the continuing education requirements to remain POST certified as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Proficiency in writing routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to compute various units of measure for statistical analysis.
• Strong decision-making skills regarding department budgets, including processing purchase orders, managing grant funds, inventory control, and fund allocation.
• Authorized to oversee purchasing authority up to $5,000 without supervisor approval.
• Ability to maintain composure and professionalism while communicating effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Skilled in solving real-world problems and handling diverse challenges where established procedures may not apply.
• General knowledge of computer operations, with a preference for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Skilled in the supervision of staff, with the ability to develop, implement, and maintain policies related to technology systems.
• Ability to manage the budget within assigned departments and make recommendations impacting financial planning and allocations.
• Competence in managing inventory/property, preparing purchase orders, and overseeing financial processes such as grant management.
• Proficiency in using office equipment (e.g., copy machines, multi-line phone systems) and computer applications for word processing and accounting.
• Ability to operate or coordinate the repair of medium-sized equipment and machinery.

Physical Demands/Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those required by a University Police Officer to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the officer is regularly required to stand, walk, and run for extended periods, sometimes over uneven terrain or stairs. The officer must frequently use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or equipment, including firearms, handcuffs, and radios. They are also required to reach with their hands and arms, including accessing items in vehicles, buildings, or other environments. Sitting in a patrol vehicle for long periods while remaining alert and responsive is common. Physical activities such as bending, crouching, climbing, and balancing during patrols or emergency responses are also required. The officer must hear and communicate effectively, including using radios, telephones, and other communication devices. Occasionally, the officer must lift and/or move up to 70 pounds, such as during emergency rescues, lifting equipment, or assisting individuals. The position demands the ability to perform physically demanding tasks during high-stress or emergency situations, including restraining individuals or providing first aid. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Additionally, the ability to detect and recognize smells, such as gas leaks or smoke, which may indicate safety hazards, is essential.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

NOTICE: The above job profile does not include all essential and nonessential duties of this job. All employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact Human Resources to review and discuss the essential and nonessential functions of the job. An employee with a disability can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if she/he can safely perform the essential function of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.