Police Captain Patrol Division

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

Patrol Operations Command

• 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 Supervision

• 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 and 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, relationship-building, and visible engagement with students, faculty, staff, and neighbors.

• Represents WASHU PD at university committees, community meetings, and campus events as assigned.

Administration, Budget, and Accreditation

• Manages patrol staffing levels, shift schedules, minimum staffing, leave, and overtime to control costs while maintaining service levels.

• Develops and monitors the Patrol Division's portion of the department budget; makes recommendations on staffing, equipment, and vehicle needs.

• Develops, reviews, and recommends updates to patrol policies, general orders, and standard operating procedures.

• Ensures the Patrol Division meets CALEA accreditation standards and supports the department's CALEA Manager with proofs of compliance, audits, and assessments.

• Prepares division reports, statistics, and briefings for the Chief of Police and university leadership.

Interdepartmental, University Partners, and External Agency Coordination 

• Coordinates with Dispatch, the Detective Bureau, Training, and Executive Protection to ensure seamless operations across WASHU PD.

• Maintains working relationships and mutual-aid coordination with neighboring law enforcement and emergency response agencies.

• Participates in university emergency management planning, exercises, and response.

• Coordinates and supports training for university partners on safety topics such as active threat response, in partnership with the Training Sergeant and Emergency Management.

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Chief of Police, including acting in the Chief's absence when designated.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions
Job Location/Working Conditions

• This is an exempt position. Work schedules vary and may include nights, weekends, and holidays; the Captain participates in a command on-call rotation and responds to critical incidents as needed.
• Must meet department physical, firearms, and use-of-force qualification standards.

• Work is performed in office, vehicle, and outdoor settings, with possible exposure to hazardous conditions, inclement weather, and physically demanding situations.

• Must successfully complete a comprehensive background investigation, psychological evaluation, and medical examination.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

The list below may include all acceptable certifications, professional licenses and issuers. More than one credential, certification or professional license may be required depending on the role.Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) - State of Missouri

Work Experience:

Sworn Law Enforcement (10 Years)

Skills:

Not Applicable

Driver's License:

A driver's license and good driving record are required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible law enforcement experience.
• Ten years of sworn law enforcement experience, including 2 years of supervisory experience at the rank of Lieutenant or higher.
• Demonstrated experience directing patrol operations, managing schedules and overtime, and supervising supervisors.
• Current Missouri POST Class A Peace Officer License, or the ability to obtain it within the timeframe required by the department.
• Completion of NIMS/ICS courses IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800, or completion within six months of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in criminal justice, public administration, leadership, or a related field.
• Graduate of a recognized command-level leadership program, such as the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, or FBI-LEEDA.

• Experience in campus or university policing.

• Experience with CALEA or IACLEA accreditation.

• Completion of ICS-300 and ICS-400.

• Experience planning and commanding large-scale special events.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Master's degree

Certifications/Professional Licenses:

No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:

No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Skills:

Clery Act Compliance, Community Policing, Critical Incident Management, Decision Making, Procedural Compliance, Resource Management, Sound Judgment, Title IX, Verbal Communications, Written Communication

Grade

G15

Salary Range

$84,200.00 - $148,500.00 / AnnuallyThe salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email[email protected]or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.

• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.

• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.

• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity or shared ancestry, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. As a federal contractor, the university maintains affirmative action programs to implement its equal employment opportunity policy for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, in accordance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended.