Senior Police Investigator

American University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 58,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

American University in Washington, DC, seeks a Senior Police Investigator to lead complex investigations, supervise junior officers, and coordinate multi-agency efforts to protect the AU community. Reporting to the AVP of University Police Services, this role emphasizes threat assessments, crime analysis, and compliance with the Clery Act, HEOA, and VAWA, while guiding policy and training.

The position is full-time, on-campus, non-exempt, with 40 hours weekly and on-call duties, requiring a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; 5+ years of progressive law enforcement investigative experience preferred.
• Extensive experience in multi-agency investigations, Clery Act compliance, and strategic threat mitigation.
• Must possess or be able to obtain University Special Police Commission in DC; valid driver's license and related credentials.

Responsibilities

• Leads high-level and sensitive investigations involving criminal activity, student/employee misconduct, fraud, and external threats.
• Provides strategic threat intelligence and risk mitigation recommendations to senior leadership.
• Oversees Clery Act compliance activities, annual security reporting, and regulatory reporting requirements.

Skills

Complex investigations

Interviews & interrogation

Threat assessment

Law enforcement collaboration

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Forensic evidence handling

Job description

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University.

Department:

University Safety and Security Services

Time Type:

Full time

Job Type:

Regular

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Work Modality:

Full On Campus Presence

Union:

Excluded

Job Description:

Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Vice President (AVP) of University Police Services, Emergency Management, and Transportation Programs, the Senior Police Investigator serves as the principal investigative resource for the American University Police Department (AUPD). This position is responsible for leading complex criminal, administrative, and internal investigations, overseeing threat assessments, and ensuring full compliance with Clery Act and related federal regulations. The Senior Investigator develops and implements advanced investigative strategies, coordinates multi-agency investigative efforts, and provides senior-level consultation to AUPD leadership on crime trends, security risks, and policy development. This position requires specialized expertise in crime analysis, intelligence gathering, and risk mitigation, supporting the university’s commitment to campus safety and compliance. The incumbent also plays a critical leadership role in training, mentoring, and advising police personnel on investigative best practices and emerging security threats.

Essential Functions:

• 1.) Complex Investigations & Leadership: Leads high-level and sensitive investigations involving criminal activity, student misconduct, employee misconduct, fraud, and external threats impacting American University. Develops and implements advanced investigative strategies, including surveillance, intelligence gathering, forensic analysis, and behavioral threat assessments. Conducts comprehensive interviews of victims, suspects, and witnesses using advanced interrogation and rapport-building techniques. Obtains and executes arrest warrants, subpoenas, search warrants, and court orders, working closely with prosecutors and legal entities. Supervises, trains, and provides technical guidance to junior investigators and AUPD officers engaged in investigative duties. Acts as the lead investigator in critical incidents, including sexual assaults, violent crimes, and major administrative investigations affecting university personnel.
• 2.) Advanced Threat Assessments & Risk Mitigation: Conducts in-depth assessments of internal and external threats to American University students, faculty, staff, and property. Provides strategic threat intelligence to AUPD and university leadership, recommending risk mitigation strategies and emergency response protocols. Serves as liaison to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, ensuring coordinated response to potential threats. Utilizes advanced threat analysis tools, social media monitoring, and investigative databases to assess risk indicators and prevent incidents. Plays a critical role in emergency management planning, assisting with active threat response strategies.
• 3.) Clery Act, HEOA, & Regulatory Compliance Leadership: Oversees the university’s compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and related regulations. Supervises the preparation, publication, and distribution of the Annual Security Report and submission of annual crime statistics to the U.S. Department of Education. Leads campus-wide training initiatives to ensure compliance with the Clery Act, Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Advises university leadership on regulatory changes affecting security and investigative policies. Directs the issuance of timely warnings, emergency notifications, and crime alerts to ensure the safety of the AU community.
• 4.) Crime Analysis & Intelligence Integration: Leads crime trend analysis and predictive policing strategies, leveraging data to drive resource deployment. Oversees crime mapping, statistical reporting, and intelligence-sharing efforts between AUPD and external law enforcement agencies. Implements and manages advanced investigative technologies, such as AI-driven crime pattern recognition and digital forensic tools. Provides data-driven recommendations to senior leadership, ensuring a proactive approach to campus security.
• 5.) Investigative Liaison & External Partnerships: Represents AUPD in high-level interagency investigations and joint task forces with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Coordinates intelligence-sharing and investigative collaborations related to terrorism, cyber threats, human trafficking, and organized crime. Serves as the primary liaison for law enforcement briefings, interdepartmental intelligence meetings, and external audits of investigative operations.
• 6.) Senior-Level Reporting & Policy Development: Develops and enforces university-wide investigative policies and best practices, ensuring alignment with national law enforcement standards. Prepares and delivers detailed investigative briefings for university leadership, legal counsel, and oversight committees. Advises on policy improvements related to investigative protocols, compliance, and security enhancements.
• 7.) Training & Professional Development: Develops and leads training programs for AUPD officers and campus security authorities on investigative techniques, threat assessments, and compliance requirements. Mentors junior investigators, fostering a culture of continuous professional development and leadership. Identifies and implements cutting-edge investigative methodologies, ensuring AUPD remains at the forefront of campus law enforcement.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Provides senior-level guidance and mentoring to junior investigators and police personnel.
• Leads investigative teams and oversees critical incident response protocols.

Competencies:

• Advanced Investigative Techniques.
• Threat Analysis & Behavioral Risk Assessment.
• Crime Analysis & Intelligence-Led Policing.
• Strategic Decision-Making & Policy Development.
• Interagency Coordination & Multi-Jurisdictional Collaboration.
• Training & Leadership Development.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• Full-time.
• 40 hours per week, with a possibility for overtime.
• This position is considered essential and must be able to work various hours, including nights and weekends, and to respond to incidents on-call.
• The Investigator will be placed on an on-call rotation, subject to on-scene response for certain incidents and emergency situations.

Salary Range:

• $42.83 - $44.00 per hour.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• At least 5 years of progressive law enforcement investigative experience, with expertise in interviewing, surveillance, forensic evidence handling, and case management.
• Extensive experience in multi-agency investigations, Clery Act compliance, and strategic threat mitigation.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Intelligence Studies, or related field preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

• Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain a University Special Police Commission in the District of Columbia.
• Must possess and maintain a current driver’s license.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the University’s approval to drive University vehicles.
• Must pass required drug-testing and random drug testing.
• Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain issued weapons certifications, CPR and AED certifications, and other training as directed.

Other Duties:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.
• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.
• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail].

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.