Responsibilities of the Position
Reporting to the associate vice president and superintendent for public safety (AVP), the deputy superintendent and chief campus law enforcement officer (DS/CLEO) is the administrative head of the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) on the Bloomington campus and supervisor for the divisional chiefs of police in the IUPD system throughout the state. This position oversees administrative and management functions within the department, including, but not limited to, policy, planning, personnel, operations, investigations, administrative processes, and budget management activities. The deputy superintendent assists all IUPD divisions within the police department to establish and maintain an atmosphere in which people can go safely about their varied activities in furtherance of the university’s higher objective and promotes a climate that encourages freedom of expression and social experimentation. The deputy superintendent contributes expertise on senior leadership teams to formulate strategic planning and operational objectives for system law enforcement and public safety programs; establishes long-term divisional plans and strategic goals; and cultivates positive community relations, including liaising with local municipal agencies. The deputy superintendent supervises five direct reports and approximately 160 sworn and 40 non-sworn personnel.
Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate
A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of ten years of law enforcement experience are required. A master’s degree and experience in a higher education setting are preferred. Indiana Law Enforcement Academy certification or the ability to achieve certification is also required. The ideal candidate will possess broad experience across multiple police functions, including patrol, crime prevention, criminal investigation, and administration; demonstrated ability to provide positive and motivational leadership to police department personnel; and demonstrated awareness of/sensitivity to cultural issues and an ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse constituency.
In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:
- Possess a strong vision for leading a police department and security services toward its common mission in the service and protection of its community.
- Demonstrate the ability to formulate a plan for unifying and leading police and security staff who will encounter a broad spectrum of issues that may be directly or indirectly related to the divisions.
- Strong leadership abilities that inspire staff and promote unity and teamwork, as well as human relations skills to deal effectively with personnel issues when necessary.
- An excellent and transparent communicator who can reach all levels of the department and the university, including effectively speaking to the press, parents, and the campus community.
- Able to listen carefully, ask knowledgeable questions, learn the department and its intricacies, accept input from staff, and then make and communicate well-informed decisions.
- Possess strategic vision and the ability to motivate all levels of staff to support that vision.
- A student-centered philosophy in which the welfare of students and improvement of the student experience is of the highest priority.
- Strong assessment skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions, set expectations across the department, devise and implement a plan, analyze the results, and propose changes and updates based on these outcomes.
- An innovator with a futuristic orientation and willingness to try new opportunities, remain informed on new trends and best practices, and lead significant change processes.
- An ardent delegator who can balance knowing when to participate actively and when tasks can be delegated to others who are appropriately empowered.
- Willingness to be visible on campus, to participate in the life of the campus, and to work with the administration to provide information and news to the campus community in a timely and appropriate fashion.
- Politically savvy and tactful, with the ability to advocate for the needs of the staff and the departments.
- Possess an understanding of mental health issues and the value of having officers trained as mental health officers and being front-line contacts in this area.
- Possess deep knowledge of First Amendment and free-speech issues as they relate to a public university setting.
Learn more
History of the Position
The deputy superintendent and chief law enforcement officer is a new position that was formerly the division chief of police for Bloomington. The deputy superintendent’s responsibilities will include supervision of the division chiefs of police at IU system campuses across the state. Margo Bennett is currently serving as the interim division chief for Bloomington.
Opportunities and Challenges of the Role
The new deputy superintendent and chief law enforcement officer must possess a broad and deep understanding of national best practices concerning community policing, large campus culture, modern technology, and staff development. The DS/CLEO should be an experienced leader capable of managing crises and complex situations and equipped to contribute at both a strategic and tactical level to a vibrant, dynamic, and large higher education environment with locations across the state.
To ensure maximum effectiveness, the deputy superintendent must commit to a comprehensive culture of collaboration and partnership within the organization and across all campus communities. Indiana University (IU) is committed to building relationships as a foundation of the campus culture, and strong collaboration is an absolute necessity in all endeavors to ensure success. As the IUPD interacts with a vast number of individuals, departments, and organizations, it will be critical for the new DS/CLEO to quickly reach out across the system to build strong partnerships that foster ongoing positive relationships. These connections are essential to assessing real needs, designing student-centered programs, and always providing high-end customer service. Additionally, the IUPD works closely with state and local law enforcement across Indiana, so the new deputy superintendent should be prepared to continue to foster strong collaborative relationships with these partners.
The current year is likely to be very active on university campuses and safety practices will be in the spotlight. Working hand-in-hand with the vice provost for student life office is essential to promoting restorative justice and the educational mission of the university. The new DS/CLEO should be prepared to work with the students to provide safe and secure environments in which to voice their views. The student body is empowered, activated on social issues, and vocal and will conduct demonstrations around these issues. The deputy superintendent should understand how student protests can be safely and positively supported by campus law enforcement. Working hand-in-hand with the office of the dean of students is essential to promote restorative justice and the educational mission of the university.
It will be critical for the new DS/CLEO to fully commit to transparency and open communication with the community.Officers should be visible, accessible, and engaged with the student body, consistently networking with the faculty and administration, interactively involving the campus in safety and security endeavors, and generally providing a positive representation of the department as an active member of the IU community.
Indiana University is deeply committed to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and community and human relations. The new DS/C LEO will need to keep these concepts as a top priority at all times. The deputy superintendent must ensure the inclusion of education and training around diversity, equity, bias, discrimination, and inclusivity in all areas of the divisions.
Measures of Success
The items listed below will define the new deputy superintendent’s success throughout the first year of employment:
- Campus assessment programs show that student perceptions of the IUPD and the services provided are positive and rising.
- In consultation with the AVP, a strategic plan that is consistent with the divisional mission and goals has been established, and the objectives in that plan are being met by the designated timeline.
- In consultation with the AVP, staffing levels are at or near allocated levels, and employee climate surveys within the department show strong satisfaction and retention levels.
- The deputy superintendent has established solid relationships with individuals and departments across the university and the larger community.
- The deputy superintendent is viewed as a strong campus leader, is considered the campus expert on law enforcement and the “face” of the IUPD, and based on best practices across the country, the department is employing the latest and most effective campus law enforcement and community policing practices.
Learn more
Overview of the Indiana University Police Department
The IUPD is a vital part of the community of every Indiana University campus. The department has a division chief for each of its four divisions—Bloomington, Central, North, and South—and more than 200 full-time and part-time uniformed officers throughout the state. They have primary jurisdiction on any university-owned property, as well as streets that pass through or around the campuses.
Indiana law gives accredited universities such as IU the authority to appoint police officers (IC 21-39-4). IUPD officers are fully certified and meet the same standards as all other law enforcement officers in the state of Indiana. Student cadets also assist with public safety.
The department works closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and has direct access to national and state law enforcement computer networks such as the National Crime Information Center and the Indiana Data and Communications System.
The safety of people in the university community is the primary goal of the department, whether managing a crisis, looking for ways to reduce crime, or directing traffic at an athletic event. IUPD is dedicated to working with students, faculty, staff, and visitors to provide a safe and welcoming campus. IUPD also offers the following community safety programs:
- Community Engagement Programs
- Safety Training
- Parking and Vehicle Safety
Public safety is part of the finance and administration division which helps to develop and deliver financial expertise campus-wide, using best business practices, strong governance, timeliness, and accuracy.
Benjamin D. Hunter
GET TO KNOW
Divisional Leadership
Benjamin Hunter is the associate vice president for Indiana University Public Safety. He has a deep interest in community policing, something he developed while working as a community liaison for three different deputy police chiefs at what is now the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
As a member of the senior staff in the IU Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, Hunter oversees and advises university leadership on strategy, policy and execution for a variety of areas designed to maintain an appropriate level of assurance in university operations and activities: emergency preparedness and response, administrative and academic continuity, policing and community safety, homeland security, emergency communications, university event management, and environmental health and safety. As superintendent, he is responsible for comprehensive strategy, policy and practices for public safety across IU, including the IUPD, and the IU Police Academy.
Before returning to IU in 2017, he was executive director of public safety, community relations, and government affairs at Butler University, where he also served for a period as chief of staff to Butler University President James M. Danko. His law enforcement career started with the IU Police Department; he then spent ten years with the Indianapolis Police Department before his transition back to higher education law enforcement at Butler.
LEARN MORE
Institutional Overview
In 1820, Indiana University became one of the first public universities west of the Allegheny Mountains and is now the flagship campus of IU’s seven campuses and two regional centers statewide. With an enrollment of over 45,000 students, it is one of the top public research universities in the world. Indiana University’s mission is to provide broad access to undergraduate and graduate education for students throughout Indiana, the United States, and the world, as well as outstanding academic and cultural programs and student services. The university seeks to create dynamic partnerships with its communities in economic, social, and cultural development to contribute to economic prosperity in Indiana and beyond. offer leadership in creative solutions for 21st-century problems, and strives to achieve full diversity and maintain friendly, collegial, and humane environments, with a strong commitment to academic freedom.
The Student Body
Total Enrollment: 47,527
Undergraduate: 36,833
Graduate: 10,694
Men: 50%
Women: 50%
White: 69%
African American: 4%
Asian: 8%
Hispanic: 8%
Two or More Races: 5%
Pamela Whitten
GET TO KNOW
Institutional Leadership
Pamela Whitten is the 19th president of Indiana University and the first woman to lead IU, a world-class public research university with seven campuses throughout Indiana. Under her leadership, IU has emphasized three central pillars: providing broad access to an education for all students from Indiana and beyond; pursuing world-class research, scholarship and creative activity; and making meaningful contributions to improving Hoosier health and the economic, social, civic and cultural development of the state and the world.
Whitten has placed a strong emphasis on prioritizing students across the state, appointing the university’s first vice president for student success. With support from search committees comprising faculty, staff, and students, Whitten has also assembled a diverse and experienced leadership team that includes eight IU alumni. With this exceptional cabinet in place, IU is positioned for a bright and successful future. In 2022, she announced a bold new vision for the Indianapolis campus that will transform IUPUI into IU Indianapolis by the start of the 2024 academic year.
In the fall of 2023, President Whitten launched IU Innovates, a new university-wide initiative to support and advance entrepreneurship and innovation. The initiative provides an infrastructure to support student and faculty startup ventures while reinforcing the three pillars of the IU 2030 strategic plan.
University Mission
“Bloomington is the flagship residential, doctoral-extensive campus of Indiana University. Its mission is to create, disseminate, preserve, and apply knowledge. It does so through its commitments to cutting-edge research, scholarship, arts, and creative activity; to challenging and inspired undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong education; to culturally diverse and international educational programs and communities; to first-rate library and museum collections; to economic development in the state and region; and to meaningful experiences outside the classroom. The Bloomington campus is committed to full diversity, academic freedom, and meeting the changing educational and research needs of the state, the nation, and the world.”
Diversity Statement
“Indiana University is first and foremost an institution of learning, knowledge, and scholarly engagement. As such, we fully and wholeheartedly embrace diversity. Diversity represents an approach to viewing the world, a commitment to inclusion, and a deep recognition and affirmation of who we all are and where we come from.
- Indiana University frames diversity as an approach to viewing the world through a lens of intellectual versatility allowing truth and knowledge to permeate perception; emerge through exploration and discovery; and sustain critical thinking, learning, and problem solving.
- Indiana University practices diversity as a commitment to inclusion where everyone is welcomed, valued, and provided opportunities to grow so they can do their best work.
- Indiana University expresses diversity as a deep recognition and affirmation of who we all are and where we come from.**
**This includes but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, color, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic class, religion, disability, age, military status, political ideology, visa status, economic status, geographic location, and language/linguistic ability.”
LEARN MORE
Benefits Overview
Application and Nomination
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.
Visit the Indiana University website at www.iu.edu
Indiana University pledges itself to continue its commitment to the achievement of equal opportunity within the University and throughout American society as a whole. In this regard, Indiana University will recruit, hire, promote, educate, and provide services to persons based upon their individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Indiana University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admission. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the Office for Civil Rights or the University Title IX Coordinator.
Indiana University shall take affirmative action, positive and extraordinary, to overcome the discriminatory effects of traditional policies and procedures with regard to the disabled, minorities, women, and veterans.
Related Links
History of IU