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HomeMy WebLinkAboutChief of Police City of Port Townsend Job Description Chief of Police Classification title: Chief of Police Working title: Chief of Police Department: Police Union: No FLSA status: Exempt Wage Classification: 631 Hours: Full time Effective date: Rev. Sept. 2003; Jan. & May 2019; Sept. 2020; May 2026 Reports to: City Manager Civil Service: No JOB SUMMARY Under general direction of the City Manager, provides steady leadership to navigate the unprecedented societal changes transforming law enforcement and will facilitate social justice, equity and inclusion efforts. Performs a variety of technical, administrative and supervisory work in planning, organizing, directing and implementing the functions of the Police Department to protect life and property through law enforcement and crime prevention work. Provides leadership and team planning to develop and maintain the highest quality police services to the city. Demonstrates and encourages high standards of behavior; empowers, motivates, and guides employees. Analyzes and evaluates trends and operations for efficiency and adequacy of service. Employs evidence-based and data-driven methods of continuous process and program improvement. Provides professional management of available resources. Manages department to achieve highest efficiency and highest quality group performance; encourages shared vision of the organization and promotes long-term organizational development. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ADMINISTRATIVE • Plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate police department operations. • Develop policies and procedures for the department to implement directives from the City Council or City Manager and to ensure internal compliance with Federal, State, and Local laws. • Ensure that laws and ordinances are enforced, and public peace and safety is maintained. Plan and implement a law enforcement program for the City to better carry out the policies and goals of the City; review department performance and effectiveness; formulate programs or policies to ensure quality services. • Establish overall department effectiveness to ensure highest quality services and maximize management resources. • Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, the community, and residents through positive outreach efforts including committees and programs involving coordinated community response meetings, resident academies, volunteer programs, school board meetings, meetings with community organizations, social welfare and behavioral health organizations. • Evaluate evidence, witnesses, and suspects in criminal cases to correlate all aspects and to assess for trends, similarities, or for associations with other cases. • Supervise and coordinate the preparation and presentation of an annual budget request for the department; directs the implementation of the department's budget. • Direct the development and maintenance of systems, records and legal documents that provide for the proper evaluation, control and documentation of police department operations. Police Chief • Create a positive work environment emphasizing teamwork, training, and collaboration. Direct and supervise functions of assigned staff. Supervise, select for hiring, train, and conduct performance assessments for department staff. Ensure staff compliance with City policies and procedures. Responsible for and/or oversee and provide guidance to staff responsible for various committees and advisory board and reports to City Council. • Provide leadership to develop and retain highly competent staff and create a service and results- oriented work environment. Directly supervise assigned staff. Monitor and evaluate performance, provide coaching and take disciplinary action to address performance deficiencies in accordance with collective bargaining agreements and the City’s personnel policies and rules. Handle grievances and maintain departmental discipline and the conduct and general behavior of assigned personnel. • Ensure staff development, including adequacy of professional and department in-service training within available resources. • Prepare and submit periodic reports to the City Manager and City Council regarding the Department's activities and prepare a variety of other reports as appropriate. • Meet with elected or appointed officials, other law enforcement officials, community and business representatives, and the public on all aspects of the Department's activities. • Attend conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the field, represent the Port Townsend Police Department in a variety of local, county, state and other meetings. • Cooperate with county, state and federal law enforcement officers as appropriate to leverage collaboration, partnerships and efficient use of resources. Recommend improvements to equipment and facilities, as needed. • Develop and implement data-collection plans to support efforts to meet Departmental and City goals and validate results. LAW ENFORCEMENT • Oversees the Investigations Division through Sergeants; monitors criminal investigations; directs criminal investigations as needed. • Oversees through Sergeants the Department’s traffic safety program and may enforce traffic regulations. • Oversees the maintenance of records through Sergeants regarding arrests, investigations, and other police matters. • Oversees the operations of the Patrol Division through Sergeants who ensure that patrol duties are carried out within the City limits and that calls for service and assistance are handled. • Oversees t the Department’s Community Services Division to include Special Events, Parking Management & Enforcement, and the Navigator (Social Worker/Mental Health Worker) program. • Makes arrests for various crimes, as needed. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT • Performs the duties of command personnel as needed; responds to and directs activities at the scene of major emergencies, as required. • Maintains certification in all relevant emergency management training curricula in Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES • Ability to confidently navigate the current national conversation about law enforcement with diplomacy and tact in a manner that promotes unity. • Thorough knowledge of 21st century policing and law enforcement principles, procedures, Police Chief techniques, and equipment, including community-oriented policing, best practices and emerging trends. • Considerable knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations, including law enforcement-related legislation and labor relations laws and practices. • Strong analytical and conceptual thinker skilled in prioritizing the deployment of scarce resources in support of the Department’s operations. • Communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact with diverse groups of people. • Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances, such as shifting priorities, unexpected challenges, or variations in the workload, while maintaining composure and effectiveness. • Ability to maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with co-workers, peers, elected officials, community groups, other agencies, volunteers, customers, and the general public. • Ability to effectively and efficiently communicate with team members, the general public, and other departments, both verbally and in writing, using tact, patience and courtesy to convey instructions, provide feedback, receive feedback, and resolve issues. • Ability to identify key issues in complex situations, evaluate options and initiate strategies for solutions. • Ability to prepare and implement law enforcement programs and departmental budget. • Ability to train and supervise subordinate personnel. • Ability to maintain physical fitness as required to perform essential duties. • Ability to demonstrate good listening skills and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to a wide variety of audiences. • Ability to collaborate with others, establish trust and to maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, residents, subordinates, peers and supervisors. • Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions. • Highest level of professional ethics, integrity and accountability. QUALIFICATIONS Required • Current active, sworn Police Officer or has been an active, sworn Police Officer within the last 24 months. Candidates who have been separated from commissioned law enforcement activities for two years or longer will not be considered for this position. • Must meet eligibility requirements mandated by State law to hold the position of Police Chief (RCW 35.21.333). • Completion of the equivalency academy within the parameters of Washington state law. • Minimum ten years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience. • Minimum three years supervisory/managerial experience, including leading uniformed and reserve officers. • Required to obtain Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission Middle Manager level certification within an agreed upon period of time in compliance with State law. • Possess a Washington Driver’s License and maintain a driving record acceptable to the City’s insurance carrier. • Successful completion of comprehensive background screening including a polygraph, medical and psychological examination. Preferred • B.A./B.S. in related field from an accredited college or university. • Experience as a Police Chief, Assistant/Deputy Police Chief or Commander in a similar-sized community. • Completion of advanced relevant police management training such as the FBI National Academy, Police Chief the Senior Management Institute for Policing (SMIP) or the Northwest School of Police and Command. • Demonstrated grant writing experience. • Knowledge of the principles of motivational coaching and continuous improvement. WORKING CONDITIONS While performing the administrative/office duties of this job: The employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to manipulate, handle or operate objects, controls, or tools; reach with hands and arms; stoop, taste and smell. Specific vision requirements required include daily reading and ability to focus on a computer screen. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Occasionally required to attend evening/weekend meetings or activities. Ability to interact with distraught or difficult individuals. While performing the administrative/office duties of this job, the employee is subject to the occasional command of police law enforcement and emergency management actions in the field where physical requirements and hazards encountered are the same as those for the Police Officers and Sergeants. While performing the law enforcement and emergency management duties of this job: The employee may occasionally work in a 24-hour environment with varied shifts including weekends and holidays; stand for 30 minutes at a time; sit in a police vehicle for prolonged periods; require precise control of fingers and hand movements. Specific vision requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Requires the ability to interact with distraught or difficult individuals; wear protective gear or clothing; work outdoors in inclement weather and in traffic work zones; operate a motor vehicle on public roads, lift, move or carry objects between 20 and 100 pounds; run, jump, crouch, crawl, bend, kneel, climb or balance; handle hazardous chemicals or materials; exposure to equipment with cutting or crushing potential; exposure to disease, injury and high noise levels. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job- related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job related duties requested by their supervisors. All employees must comply with all City policies and procedures relevant to their position as a condition of City employment. Police Chief This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.