Chief of Police (POLICE CHF MGR 4)

University of California, Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Davis Police Department seeks an accomplished Chief of Police to lead campus public safety, strategy, and operations across the Davis and Sacramento campuses. You will provide vision and direction for a comprehensive public safety program aligned with the university’s academic and healthcare missions.

You will advise executive leadership, manage a broad budget, and recruit and mentor a diverse workforce while maintaining trust across the university community.

Qualifications

• Current California POST Management Certificate or ability to obtain within one year.
• Class C California Driver's License or ability to secure quickly; enroll in Employer Pull Notice Program.
• Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, public or business administration.
• Rank of Captain or above, required.
• Command level experience in leading and managing a law enforcement workforce.
• Knowledge of criminal justice system and police practices, including investigations, evidence, and records.
• Knowledge of police operating rules, POBR, and relevant case law.
• Strong oral and written communication to convey policies and reports to a diverse community.
• Decision making to handle routine and complex tasks with legal and personnel considerations.
• Organizational skills to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Leads two full-service, 24/7 police operations on the Davis and Sacramento campuses.
• Acts as overall commander during emergencies where law enforcement is lead agency.
• Oversees safety for dignitaries and UC officials visiting UC Davis.
• Manages recruitment and development of sworn and non-sworn staff; oversees training to meet POST and ICLEA standards.
• Oversees budget and allocation of resources; ensures compliance with university policy.
• Sets strategy goals and measures for department performance and engagement.
• Represents the university as a visible, collaborative leader to stakeholders across campuses.
• Advises executive leadership on public safety and operational priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Oral and written communication

Decision making

Organizational skills

Emergency management

Budgeting

Interagency collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, public or business administration

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Job description

Job Summary

UC Davis Police Chief Recruitment Brochure

The Chief of Police (Chief) serves as the chief law enforcement and public safety executive for the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all police and public safety operations.

The Chief is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive campus public safety program that supports the University's academic, research, residential, healthcare, and administrative missions while promoting a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the broader university community.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor, Finance, Operations and Administration (FOA) the Chief establishes the vision, priorities, policies, and operational strategies for the UC Davis Police Department. The Chief advises UC Davis executive leadership, including the Chancellor and UC Davis Health executives.

The position exercises broad authority and accountability for department operations, personnel, fiscal resources, emergency preparedness, crime prevention, investigations, police services, and strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.

The Chief balances the University's educational mission and values with the responsibilities of a sworn law enforcement agency, exercising sound judgment in complex and often highly visible situations. The position also requires exceptional leadership, integrity, discretion, communication skills, and the ability to build trust across a diverse university community.

Apply By Date

Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 11:59p PST; screening and selection can begin anytime.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must possess a current California POST Management Certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officers' Standards and Training, or ability to obtain this certificate within one year of appointment for out-of-state candidates.
• Must posses a Class C California Drivers License or the ability to secure the same license quickly after hire. Must enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program.
• Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, public or business administration, or similar discipline.
• Achieved the rank of Captain or above, required.
• Command level experience in leading and managing a law enforcement workforce.
• Knowledge of criminal justice system with emphasis on the role of law enforcement as it relates to other agencies within the system, particularly prosecutors and the courts.
• Knowledge of current police methods and procedures, including apprehension and arrest, criminal investigations, collection and presentation of evidence, and police record keeping.
• Knowledge of police operating rules and regulations. Working knowledge of Peace Officers Bill of Rights (POBR). Knowledge of pertinent case law.
• Skills to understand and interpret the rules and regulations of the Police Department, pertinent University and City ordinances and regulations, State and Federal laws and court decisions.
• Oral and written communication skills to develop written narratives, reports, memoranda, correspondence, department policies, procedures and related material and convey them to a diverse community.
• Decision making skills to conduct both routine and complex tasks that require knowledge of law, case law and personnel.
• Organizational skills to achieve timely progress on multiple simultaneous complex projects, distribute effort appropriately among the projects, meet deadlines and maintain a high level of productivity.
• Skills to use police equipment and law enforcement technology, including computer hardware and software, vehicles, firearms, and non-lethal weapons.
• Knowledge to assess performance and communications skills to provide accurate and timely feedback, resolve problems/conflicts, and build effective team environment.
• Skills to develop logical plans, evaluating alternatives and anticipating risks, obstacles, and likely consequences.
• Skills to assess, prioritize, organize and direct others in major event planning or incident response.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree preferred
• Attendance at an advanced law enforcement executive leadership program, such as the FBI National Academy or the Senior Management Institute for Police preferred
• Command-level experience leading and managing a large and complex law enforcement workforce at a multi-site organization, ideally at a university and/or medical center, or similarly complex organization.

Key Responsibilities

Police Operations And Administration (50%)

• Leads two full-service, 24/7/365 police operations on the Davis and Sacramento campuses of significant size and scale. Administers satellite security operations on both campuses for specialized and high-risk areas. Facilitates public safety services for numerous outlying research facilities and clinics.
• Serves as overall commander during an emergency where law enforcement is the lead agency, such as during credible threats, civil unrest, major crimes, and active assailants. Leads the rapid response and deploys appropriate resources during a threat or incident.
• Oversees activities for the safety and protection of controversial speakers, foreign dignitaries, US politicians, and UC officials when they visit UC Davis.
• Oversees patrols of campuses and deploys proactive measures to mitigate crime. Leads the 911 Dispatch and Security Operations Center, a centralized hub serving both the Davis and Sacramento campuses for emergency dispatch and physical-security monitoring during an incident.
• Communicates to the UC Davis community, such as through WarnMe and Aggie Alert, as required by federal law or as deemed necessary to alert and keep the UC Davis community aware of public safety concerns. Communicates highly sensitive matters with empathy to impacted individuals and groups.
• Manages recruitment efforts for both sworn and non-sworn UCDPD staff. Recruits a workforce that is reflective of UC Davis’s diverse community. Manages and mentors UCDPD staff, leading the team through change and growth. Works through employee & labor relations situations, including working with police and other UC unions. Ensures UCDPD training is contemporary and meets or exceeds California POST and ICLEA accreditation standards. Improves department morale by measuring engagement and developing action plans to improve engagement.
• Reviews investigation reports issued by the UC Davis Police Accountability Board (PAB) and incorporates their recommendations into training, policies, and operations. The PAB is an independent civilian board of students, faculty and staff that investigate complaints against UC Davis police officers or security personnel and makesrecommendations to the Chief that promote accountability, transparency, and trust. With support from budget and finance experts, manages an annual operating budget and allocates financial resources within UCDPD. Accepts fiduciary responsibility for complying with university policy, such as in the procurement of services, equipment, and goods. Stewards all university resources entrusted to UCDPD, including weapons, equipment, fleet, and other physical assets.
• Establish department’s strategy goals and objectives. Provides guidance to UCDPD’s management team to drive decisions and actions are consistent with organizational goals. Establishes effective measures for
• organizational achievement. Sets high standards and supports continuous improvement.
• Serves as a highly visible university leader who is viewed by stakeholders across both campuses as an approachable, respected, and collaborative subject-matter expert. Continually strives to more effectively engage with the UC Davis’s diverse community, such as through various outreach efforts.
• Advises