Department of Police and Public Safety
Chief of Police and Public Safety (CoPPS)
The CoPPS serves as the senior law enforcement official responsible for the protection, safety, and security of persons, property, equipment and facilities in and around NIU-controlled properties, and is responsible for supervisory oversight of the DPPS. The CoPPS is responsible for maintaining the public peace and order, and enforces all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, and university policies.
The CoPPS is also the principle administrator for planning, directing and managing the comprehensive law enforcement, public safety and security, and emergency preparedness services for all components of NIU. The CoPPS serves as the ambassador for all safety- and security-related services, and works closely with key university, local, state and federal partners.
Reporting to the chief strategy officer, the CoPPS works collaboratively with the president, executive vice president/provost, vice presidents, deans, senior directors, faculty, staff and students on public safety, emergency preparedness and security technology enhancements with the goal of leading a best-in-class university police and public safety organization. The CoPPS is also expected to work in collaboration with other critical campus internal and external partners including the city of DeKalb and DeKalb County. Additional responsibilities can be found in the CoPPS position description.
About the Department
The NIU DPPS, comprised of over 40 sworn officers and 13 support staff, is a professional organization existing to protect and serve the NIU campus community. The department also offers safety resources to students, faculty, staff and community members.
The DPPS serves NIU’s main campus in DeKalb and other off-campus NIU properties, and collaborates with the DeKalb Police Department to cover certain off-campus areas including the Annie Glidden North area and downtown DeKalb.
Learn more about the CoPPS position
About NIU
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. The Wall Street Journal and CollegeNET recognize NIU as a leading institution for social mobility, or helping its students climb the socioeconomic ladder. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
Human Resource Services
