Careers with the UC Davis Police Department

Work for an innovative, service-oriented law enforcement agency that serves a dynamic university campus and medical center

What We Do

The UC Davis Police Department is a diverse, professional law enforcement agency that serves both the Davis campus and the Sacramento campus. We take a multi-tiered approach to public safety, with a department-wide team of sworn officers, security personnel and administrative staff. 

From Person to Person, Not Call to Call

We pride ourselves on effective communication and, more importantly, listening to our diverse community of students, patients, staff, faculty and others who call UC Davis home. Our team takes the necessary time to engage everyone we encounter, to truly make a difference. 

Duties at the UC Davis Police Department can include:

Our Value to the University 

The UC Davis Police Department seeks to be transformative in campus policing and public safety. We work to be leaders in community engagement through our commitment to service. Our bold and innovative approach to earning the trust of the UC Davis community has made our department a model agency.

We seek to:

• Take community-oriented policing to the next level.
• Impact tomorrow’s leaders today by enhancing public trust.
• Safeguard our community to fulfill the university's research, education and service missions.

Ways We Strive for Innovation

The UC Davis Police Department strives for continuous improvement in everything we do, with a focus on innovation, policies and leadership. Click to open the dropdown items below to explore more details behind our department's vision and values:

• Read about what makes police work at UC Davis different
• Read our UC Davis Difference webpage to find out highlights from our history and the UC Davis Police Department's approaches to safety, justice, service and diversity.
   
• Hear from Chief Farrow on modern policing at UC Davis
• Take a few minutes to read our police chief's interview in UC Davis Magazine, on our team's approach to modern policing.

Our Team Culture

We’re a diverse, talented team who work collaboratively to reimagine what service-oriented policing is all about. Valuing our differences and acknowledging our unique backgrounds brings strength to our organization. By joining the UC Davis Police Department, you will be joining a top-tier academic institution focused on teaching, research and medical care. Moreover, UC Davis is one of the largest employers in the Sacramento region, with a population of more than 70,000 students and employees at our two campuses. Working at UC Davis offers a day as diverse as the people you’ll serve.

Our Staff Have a Heart for Service

We strive to exceed the expectations of the individuals we serve, while reflecting the culture of the university and respecting the experiences, knowledge, and abilities of one another. Because of our team culture on campus, many alumni choose to start their professional careers with us. Other employees join us in the middle of their law enforcement careers – or even as a second career, as UC Davis offers retirement benefits outside of CalPERS.

What We're Looking For

The UC Davis Police Department is committed to building a team of service-driven professionals dedicated to fostering safety, trust, and inclusivity within our diverse community.  We’re looking for team members who:

• Communicate effectively with diverse visitors to campus
• Our team must communicate effectively with students, patients, staff, faculty and community members who come to UC Davis from varied backgrounds.
• Focus on trust and collaboration
• Our team strives to foster trust, credibility and collaboration with the campus community.
• Demonstrate teamwork and comradery
• By actively demonstrating teamwork and comradery, we can best advance safety and security for the entire UC Davis community.
• Embody traits of an ideal team member

• We seek candidates who can demonstrate that they are also: 

  • Accountable

  • Approachable

  • Committed to the dignity of others

  • Compassionate

  • Composed

  • Community focused

  • Discrete

  • Effective communicators 

  • In service to the community

  • Skilled at interpersonal interactions

  • Respectful of diversity

  • Self-motivated

  • Unbiased

  • Willing to embrace change

Employment Interest Form

Even when there are no job openings, the UC Davis Police Department accepts employment interest forms for future positions. Complete the Job Interest Form if you seek a career with us, and we will notify you when recruitments open for your desired role(s).