Director Of Public Safety - Chief of Police

Kansas State University has partnered with Summit Search Solutions to find our next Director of Public Safety - Chief of Police. For the full profile or to apply, please visit this link. The mission of the Kansas State University Police Department is to preserve a safe campus environment where diverse social, cultural, and academic values are allowed to develop and prosper. Reporting to the Chief Risk and Safety Officer, the Chief of Police is responsible for providing strategic oversight of all campus police services to ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. All officers are commissioned and state-certified by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Commission, possess full powers of arrest, and continuously receive training after certification to increase their expertise and professionalism. The Police Chief will promote and support the Department's commitment to the philosophy and practice of community policing and strive to maintain positive campus partnerships to enhance the experience of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Through oversight of a team of 35 officers and staff roles, the Chief is responsible for ensuring that police operations, investigations, emergency and critical incident response, crime prevention, and community-oriented policing are successfully managed and maintained across the university ecosystem. The Chief promotes a safe and secure educational and work environment for the campus community, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and enforcement of university policies and local, state, and federal laws. The Chief also collaborates closely with university leadership and internal and external public-safety partners to reduce risk, enhance preparedness, support the university's mission, and maintain public trust through ethical, transparent, and accountable policing.

Duties

CORE COMMAND & OPERATIONS:

• Provides executive leadership and oversight of all sworn and civilian police operations, ensuring effective patrol deployment, visibility, and rapid response to incidents affecting campus safety.
• Exercises command authority during major incidents, critical events, and emergencies, including coordination with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and executive leadership.
• Directs criminal investigations, ensuring professional standards for evidence handling, case management, victim services, and coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Provides strategic leadership during investigations of major crimes, serious accidents, and critical incidents, ensuring thorough analysis, accountability, and resolution.

CAMPUS SAFETY & RISK REDUCTION:

• Designs, implements, and evaluates crime-prevention, threat-mitigation, and violence-prevention initiatives aligned with higher-education best practices.
• Promotes and sustains community-oriented and problem-oriented policing strategies that strengthen trust with students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

STRATEGIC & MULTI-CAMPUS OPERATIONS:

• Provides police services and operational oversight for K-State Salina and consults on security-related matters with K-State Olathe, ensuring consistency in standards, policies, and response capability.
• Oversees public safety planning and operational support for major events, dignitary visits, demonstrations, and K-State Athletics events, balancing safety, civil liberties, and institutional mission.

LEADERSHIP, RESOURCES & ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Develops and manages the department's strategic plan, aligning policing priorities with university goals, risk posture, and community expectations.
• Leads strategic budget planning, fiscal oversight, staffing models, and resource allocation to ensure operational sustainability and effectiveness.
• Establishes performance metrics and uses data-driven policing practices to evaluate outcomes, staffing efficiency, and service delivery.
• Oversees records management, reporting, and confidentiality in compliance with applicable laws and university policies.
• Ensures departmental compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, accreditation standards, and professional policing best practices.
• Oversees property, evidence, and fleet management functions to ensure accountability, integrity, and operational readiness.
• Establishes and enforces department policies, procedures, and internal controls consistent with contemporary law-enforcement standards.
• Oversees technology and systems supporting policing operations in collaboration with university partners.
• Serves on university administrative committees and advisory groups related to safety, risk management, emergency preparedness, and compliance.
• Represents the university in state, local, regional, and national law-enforcement associations, task forces, and interagency working groups.
• Maintains effective working relationships with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) University Police Departments on system-wide safety and policing issues.
• Collaborates with local, state, and federal law-enforcement agencies, fire services, emergency management, and environmental health & safety partners to enhance coordinated response and preparedness.

This position is On-site. This position is on-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Seven years of relevant experience in law enforcement operations, criminal justice administration, or public safety leadership.
• Education beyond the minimum degree requirement may count toward required experience if deemed relevant by the hiring authority.
• Demonstrated experience supervising individuals, processes, and budgets.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced education, to include a master's degree in criminal justice, public administration, leadership, or related fields.
  Specialized certifications or licensure, industry-specific expertise, etc.
• Experience in campus law enforcement or in a complex public-sector environment.
• A record of progressively responsible, full-time sworn law-enforcement experience.
• Experience in a supervisory or command-level role (e.g., Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Deputy Chief, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience overseeing patrol operations, investigations, personnel management, budgeting, and policy development.

Additional Role Information:

• The successful candidate must fulfill statutory and licensing requirements to serve as a law-enforcement officer in the State of Kansas and as needed, obtain reciprocal certifications as required by the KSU Police Department, within six months of employment.
• Valid Kansas driver's license (or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe).

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

Kansas State University is partnering with Summit Search Solutionsto conduct a nationwide search for this position. A confidential review of applications will begin immediately. Applications received by June 5th will be given priority consideration. Please apply at this link by submitting the following:

1) Cover letter that addresses your reasons for interest and related qualifications and experience
2) PDF version of your resume

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:

Beth Baldino
828-216-6606
bbaldino@summitsearchsolutions.com

Caitlin Hummel
585-880-7550
chummel@summitsearchsolutions.com

Applications close on: June 5, 2026

135,542 - $160,000