Job Summary

Under the direction of the Police Department Chief, the Sergeant is responsible for the supervision of an assigned shift of officers and support personnel. The Sergeant is responsible for a wide variety of related general law enforcement duties involving the prevention of crime, the protection of life and property, maintain human rights, promote individual responsibility and community commitment through a strong police/community partnership, and the enforcement of laws and ordinances and the jurisdiction of the Cal Poly Police Department. Also assists the Chief by supporting the department’s goals and objected and other related work assignments.

Department Summary

The mission of the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Police Department is to promote a safe and secure learning environment by working cooperatively with the campus community to enforce the laws, preserve the peace, maintain order and provide exceptional professional services to our guests and our community. The Cal Poly Police Department is a full-service professional law enforcement agency that provides service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. All officers are vested with full police officer powers and are certified by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST).

Key Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of current law enforcement theory, principles and practices, current criminal codes and laws, and effective investigative techniques and procedures and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Ability to exercise independent discretion and judgment in performing assigned work, implement goals and standards for the work group.
• Ability to assume command in the absence of higher-ranking police personnel and delegate responsibility.

Education and Experience 

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent and graduation from a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) academy and a Basic Course Certificate. Five or more years of active law enforcement experience, including individual patrol experience as a police officer.

Licenses, Certificates, Credentials:

• Must have a valid California driver’s license or the ability to obtain by date of hire.
• P.O.S.T. Supervisor Course completion is desirable upon hire. Must be completed within one year of appointment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical agility examination.

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $117,108 - $137,388 per year

Classification Range: $93,156 - $137,388 per year

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Anticipated Hiring Range referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Classification Range may be broader than what the University anticipates paying for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Please watch the video linked here to learn more about the CSU system. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions. Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.  Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.