DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE, BUPD University Police

Job Description:

Deputy Chief of Police

Boston University (BU) invites applications for the position of Deputy Chief of Police. Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston, including the Charles River Campus, Fenway Campus, and the Medical Campus. The University also has numerous programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University today enrolls more than 33,000 students, including 14,150 graduate and professional students, and employs nearly 10,000 faculty and staff across 17 schools and colleges. The University comprises 133 acres with 322 buildings, 544 classrooms, and 2,326 laboratories and houses more than 11,000 undergraduate students on the Charles River Campus. BU is the fourth-largest private university in the United States and one of the Boston area’s largest employers, representing a complex public safety environment that requires strong collaboration, intentional stakeholder engagement, and an adaptive leadership style.

Reporting to the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief of Police is a key leadership position in the Department of Safety, Security, and Preparedness, working in close partnership with the Director of Emergency Management, and the Department of Public Safety leadership team to advance the University’s integrated safety strategy. The Deputy Chief will serve as a strategic partner to the Chief of Police, providing leadership in daily operations while supporting long-term vision and innovation. This role offers the chance to make a lasting impact by advancing the principles of 21st Century Policing, strengthening community trust, and fostering a culture of respect and accountability. This role provides leadership oversight for a department budgeted for over 50 sworn officers and professional staff, with dispatch services supporting continuous campus operations and responses across a full range of critical incidents.

Boston University Police Department

The Boston University Police Department (BUPD) embraces a community policing organizational philosophy. The mission at BUPD is to protect all members of the BU community through intentional engagement, inclusive support and comprehensive preparedness – promoting a safe, resilient and thriving environment for all. The BUPD is a full-time professional law enforcement agency that provides a wide variety of safety and support services to the BU community at the Charles River, Fenway, and Medical Campuses. BUPD employs more than 50 state-certified police officers and is certified by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).

Roles and Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief of Police is a senior executive leader responsible for supporting the Chief of Police in all aspects of department operations. This role provides strategic oversight of BUPD and assumes full command in the Police Chief’s absence.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a proven law enforcement leader with operational expertise, strategic vision, and a record of fostering community partnerships. The Deputy Chief of Police is responsible for fiscal management, policy development, operational leadership and organizational accountability and must demonstrate the following qualifications and competencies:

• Commitment to community policing and progressive policing strategies.
• Experience in managing personnel matters and professional standards.
• Experience in financial and project management.
• Experience with accreditation processes, technology, and modern policing practices.
• Integrity, resilience, adaptability, and a collaborative leadership style.
• A demonstrated record of leading community engagement initiatives.
• Experience in command level leadership roles in an urban environment.
• A demonstrated record of managing large scale critical incidents. (e.g., protests and demonstrations)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build effective working relationships with police and public safety organizations within and outside the University community.
• A commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Proven ability in the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies that have improved public safety.
• Experience in and a passion for fostering and expanding critical interdepartmental relationships.
• Demonstrated commitment to officer safety and well-being.
• A collaborative leadership style rooted in fairness and respect.
• A service-oriented approach to the safety of the community.
• A track record of strategically managing complex operations.
• Extensive urban policing experience and demonstrated competencies in best practices, effective leadership, transparency, and accountability.
• A demonstrated capacity to serve as the public “face” of the department on campus and in the larger community, and to engage effectively with the community as well as with members of the department.
• Extensive experience in labor relations.
• A proven commitment to staff, professional development and department-wide training.

Required Skills

Required Skills:

Qualifications

• This position requires a four-year college degree and progressively responsible, command-level experience in policing.
• 5-8 years of experience.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license (or ability to obtain prior to hire).
• A graduate-level degree would be an asset.
• Successful completion of a specialized leadership program, such as the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), the FBI National Academy, or the Southern Police Institute.
• Ability to obtain and maintain POST certification in Massachusetts.

Boston University offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus an excellent benefits package, including life and health insurance, retirement, and tuition benefits.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply by February 12, 2026, by submitting a cover letter, resume, and five professional references through Boston University’s online application system.

Boston University is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.