Chief of Police

Prairie State College; Chicago Heights (IL); On-site; USD 99,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts)

Life Insurance

Wellness Program

Retirement Savings (403B/457B)

Tuition Waivers

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Prairie State College is seeking a Chief of Police to lead the PSC Police Department, directing safety operations for all constituents and assets. The role oversees policies, personnel, and security programs to ensure a safe campus environment.

The Chief reports to senior leadership and collaborates with external law enforcement and higher education partners to maintain preparedness and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Completion of Illinois Police Mandatory Training Act Certification.
• Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, Police Science, Behavioral Science, Management, or related field with ten years in a Police/Public Safety Agency and five years in a supervisory role (or equivalent Certificate with 15 years and 10 years supervisory).
• Extensive knowledge of law enforcement; safety and security; NIMS emergency preparedness and policy development.
• Knowledge of current law enforcement methods, due process requirements, and state/federal reporting mandates.
• Ability to pass a physical examination and criminal background check.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Record of effective interaction with public groups, individuals, and law enforcement agencies.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Computer literacy.

Responsibilities

• Provides high quality crime prevention, protection, and law enforcement services to campus.
• Ensures adequate police and security coverage for the College.
• Develops and maintains budgeting, resources, reports, and management within the area.
• Maintains safety services including fire protection, traffic control, parking, and noise/crowd control.
• Manages security systems, video surveillance, and mass notification platforms.
• Performs vulnerability assessments and campus drills; crisis readiness.
• Coordinates emergencies and issues alerts via campus systems.
• Represents the department at meetings and as public safety advocate.
• Enforces College policies related to safety and conduct; ensures compliance with laws.
• Develops emergency plans for response, evacuation, and notification.
• Conducts investigations and writes reports; proposes solutions.
• Compiles annual crime statistics for Clery Act compliance.
• Manages facility information on Rapid Responder; updates plans and access.
• Supports events and student activities with safety coverage.
• Liaises with law enforcement, local communities, and higher education consortia.
• Interacts with campus community to foster a safe environment.
• Supports substance abuse prevention and health programs.
• Participates in safety instructional programming.
• Performs duties assigned by the Executive Director.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Public interaction

Computer literacy

Valid driver’s license

Emergency planning knowledge

Leadership

Policy development

Education

Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice

Executive certification / Command Officers Development

10+ years in police/public safety leadership

Job description

Position Summary

The Chief of Police serves as the chief law enforcement officer for the College. The Chief of Police provides leadership and oversight to the Prairie State College Police Department in providing a safe campus environment. The Chief of Police is responsible for the direction, management, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs, personnel, and activities related to the safety and security for all constituents, as well as the assets of the College.

Reporting and Supervisory Relationships

• Direct reporting relationship to the Vice President, External Affairs and Chief of Staff


• Direct supervisory relationship to police lieutenant and indirect relationship to police officers.

Key Responsibilities

1. 1. Provides high quality, professional crime prevention, protection, and law enforcement services to maintain and promote personal safety and the security of property for the campus.


2. 2. Ensures adequate police and security coverage for the College.


3. 3. Develops and maintains proper budgeting, fiscal and personnel resources, report preparation, and management within the assigned area.


4. 4. Develops and maintains safety and security services including, but not limited to, fire and loss prevention, traffic control, parking, key control, noise reduction, and crowd control.


5. 5. Manages the various security and video surveillance, electronic door access and mass notification systems.


6. 6. Performs regular vulnerability assessments and security/safety audits and campus drills to ensure the campus and staff is crisis ready.


7. 7. Coordinates and provides responses to emergencies and issues alerts and emergency notifications utilizing the campus alert and public address systems.


8. 8. Acts as the public safety advocate for the campus community with both internal and external constituents and represent the department at meetings or functions.


9. 9. Recommends and enforces College policies and regulations related to safety, security and conduct.


10. 10. Ensures enforcement of and compliance with local, state, and federal laws and completes all reports regarding campus safety.


11. 11. Develops fire response, power loss, weather emergency, injury and illness, hazardous materials, and other emergency plans and procedures for response, evacuation, and/or notification.


12. 12. Conducts investigations and prepares written reports regarding incidents or accidents and recommends solutions or actions as appropriate.


13. 13. Compiles and publishes annual crime statistics to assure timely compliance with the U.S. Department of Education and the Jeanne Clery Act.


14. 14. Manages facility information on the web based Rapid Responder system, such as, floor plans, emergency plans and other facility changes, including user access.


15. 15. Assists and ensures safety and security for College-wide events and student club-sponsored programs and activities.


16. 16. Serves as liaison with appropriate law enforcement agencies, local communities and higher education consortiums.


17. 17. Interacts as needed with the entire campus community to develop and maintain a safe, secure, and welcoming environment.


18. 18. Supports and contributes to substance abuse prevention programs, and health promotions and services.


19. 19. Develops, participates, and assists in public safety and services instructional programming.


20. 20. Performs professional and administrative duties assigned, as appropriate, by the Executive Director, in addition to the delineated responsibilities.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements

Employee is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions. Employee may be involved in heavy work which may require lifting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and must be able to operate equipment involving arm and leg controls.

Minimum Qualifications

1. 1. Completion of Illinois Police Mandatory Training Act Certification.


2. 2. Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, Police Science, Behavioral Science, Management, or other related fields and ten years of experience in a Police or Public Safety Agency with five years in a supervisory role; or a Certificate of Command Officers Development, or similar certificate, certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, and 15 years of experience in a Police or Public Safety Agency with 10 years in a supervisory role.


3. 3. Extensive, current knowledge of law enforcement; safety and security; National Incident Management System ( NIMS ) emergency preparedness process and demonstrated skill in emergency planning and policy development.


4. 4. Knowledge of current law enforcement methods, due process requirements, and state and federal reporting mandates.


5. 5. Ability to pass a physical examination and criminal background check.


6. 6. Valid Driver’s License.


7. 7. Record of effective interaction with public groups, individuals, and law enforcement agencies.


8. 8. Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.


9. 9. Computer literacy.

Preferred Qualifications

1. 1. Master Degree or advanced study in an appropriate field.


2. 2. Experience working in a college or university public safety or campus police department.


3. 3. Experience with the CALEA accreditation process.


4. 4. Grant writing or development experience.

Anticipated Work Hours and Days

As required

Salary

Salary $99,000- $120,000

What We Offer

• Medical


• Vision


• Flexible Spending Accounts


• Life Insurance (at no cost to You!)


• Wellness Program


• 403B/ 457B Retirement Savings


• PSC Tuition Waivers


• Tuition Reimbursement


• and much more!

Special Instructions to Applicants

All applications must be submitted electronically through the Prairie State College website.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have an Illinois Police Mandatory Training Act Certification? Please upload in "Other Document".
  
  
  
  • Yes
  
  
  • No
  
  
  
  


• * Do you have Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, Police Science, Behavioral Science, Management, or other related fields and ten years of experience in a Police or Public Safety Agency with five years in a supervisory role; or a Certificate of Command Officers Development, or similar certificate, certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, and 15 years of experience in a Police or Public Safety Agency with 10 years in a supervisory role?
  
  
  
  • Yes
  
  
  • No
  
  
  
  


• * Do you have extensive knowledge of law enforcement; safety and security; National Incident Management System (NIMS) emergency preparedness process and demonstrated skill in emergency planning and policy development?
  
  
  
  • yes
  
  
  • no
  
  
  
  


• * Do you have knowledge of current law enforcement methods, due process requirements, and state and federal reporting mandates?
  
  
  
  • yes
  
  
  • no
  
  
  
  


• * Do you have a valid driver’s license?
  
  
  
  • yes
  
  
  • no
  
  
  
  


• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  
  
  
  • Prairie State College Website
  
  
  • CareerBuilder
  
  
  • Community Jobs
  
  
  • BlacksinHigherEd
  
  
  • HispanicsinHigherEd
  
  
  • VeteransinHigherEd
  
  
  • Chronicle of HigherEd
  
  
  • Other
  
  
  
  


• * What is your salary expectation?
  

  (Open Ended Question)

  
  

Required Documents

• Resume


• Cover Letter


• Other Document


• Copy of Professional License/Certification

Optional Documents

• Unofficial Transcripts