Police Captain Patrol Division - WashU PD at Washington University in St Louis in Washington, DC

Job description

Location SAINT LOUIS, MO 63105

 Scheduled Hours 37.5 Position Summary The Police Captain is the senior commander of the Patrol Division and is responsible for all patrol functions of the Washington University Police Department. Reporting directly to the Chief of Police, the Captain leads the department's uniformed patrol platoons, Special Events operations, and the Comfort Dog Program, ensuring 24/7 police coverage that is professional, community-oriented, and responsive to the needs of the Washington University community. The Captain directs the work of four Police Lieutenants, sets operational priorities for the division, establishes clear patrol expectations for officers and supervisors, manages patrol staffing, scheduling, and overtime, and holds command accountability for division performance, personnel conduct, and compliance with department policy and CALEA accreditation standards. As a member of the WASHU PD leadership team, the Captain works alongside the Assistant Director of Patrol Operations and the Director of Administration to deliver coordinated public safety services across the university. Job Description Primary Duties & Responsibilities: Patrol Operations Comman d Directs all patrol functions of WASHU PD, ensuring continuous, effective police coverage of university campuses and properties across all shifts. Establishes division goals, deployment strategies, and operational priorities in alignment with the Chief's direction and department strategic plan. Sets and communicates daily patrol expectations for each platoon, including proactive and visible patrol of campus areas, building and property checks, community contacts, and response standards, and ensures Lieutenants and Sergeants hold officers accountable to them. Reviews daily activity, incident reports, and crime data (in partnership with the Crime/Data Analyst) to identify trends and adjust patrol deployment. Ensures patrol response, calls for service, and use-of-force practices meet department policy, legal requirements, and best practices in campus policing. Serves as incident commander or command-level resource for critical incidents, major emergencies, and significant events; participates in the command on-call rotation. Personnel Leadership and Supervi sion Supervises, mentors, and evaluates the four Police Lieutenants; holds them accountable for the performance and conduct of their platoons and assignments. Oversees performance management across the division, including evaluations, coaching, corrective action, and recognition. Reviews and investigates or assigns complaints and internal inquiries involving patrol personnel; recommends discipline to the Chief of Police. Participates in recruitment, interviewing, selection, promotion, and Field Training Officer program oversight for patrol personnel. Identifies training needs and coordinates with the Training Sergeant to ensure patrol personnel maintain required certifications and skills. Builds leadership bench strength through succession planning and professional development of Lieutenants a nd Sergeants. Special Events and Community Programs Oversees Special Events operations, including security planning, staffing, and after-action review for commencement, athletics, concerts, visiting dignitaries, and other university events. Directs threat and risk assessments for special events, evaluating event size, location, attendees, intelligence information, and known risks to determine staffing levels, security measures, and contingency plans, in coordination with Emergency Management, Event Services, and outside agencies as needed. Oversees the Comfort Dog Program and its role in community engagement, wellness outreach, and post-incident support. Serves as the WASHU PD representative to the university CARE Team, attending the weekly Monday meeting and keeping the team informed on student-involved mental health and wellness cases handled by patrol. Promotes community-oriented policing, relations