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JOB SUMMARY
This position is responsible for planning, directing, managing, and evaluating all operations, personnel, programs, services, and resources of the Police Department. The position provides executive leadership for law enforcement services, criminal investigations, community policing initiatives, crime prevention programs, emergency preparedness activities, departmental administration, and Municipal Court support functions. The Chief of Police serves as the City's chief law enforcement officer and works collaboratively with the City Manager, Mayor and City Council, community stakeholders, regional partners, and public safety agencies to promote public safety, organizational effectiveness, legal compliance, and community trust.
MAJOR DUTIES
- Directs, plans, coordinates, and evaluates all Police Department operations, programs, services, personnel, and resources.
- Provides executive leadership, supervision, mentoring, and performance management for sworn and civilian personnel and oversees the administration of Municipal Court support functions.
- Prepares, reviews, and approves reports, correspondence, policies, agreements, presentations, public communications, and other official documents.
- Represents the Department before City Council, community groups, professional organizations, media representatives, governmental agencies, and the public.
- Reviews open records requests and responses.
- Ensures departmental compliance with federal, state, and local laws, accreditation standards, court rulings, professional practices, and City policies and procedures.
- Conducts inspections, audits, and reviews of departmental operations, personnel activities, records, equipment, and procedures to ensure accountability and compliance.
- Directs departmental training, professional development, leadership development, certification compliance, and succession planning initiatives.
- Develops, reviews, updates, and implements departmental policies, procedures, rules, and operational directives consistent with current law enforcement best practices.
- Reviews criminal history information for background checks concerning alcohol permit approval or denial.
- Establishes strategic goals, operational objectives, performance measures, and long-range plans for the Department.
- Directs the preparation, administration, and monitoring of the Department's operating and capital budgets and approves expenditures, purchases, contracts, and related financial transactions.
- Administers personnel actions including hiring, promotions, discipline, performance evaluations, corrective action, and termination recommendations in accordance with City policies and applicable employment laws.
- Investigates or oversees internal investigations, employee complaints, disciplinary matters, grievances, commendations, and recognition programs.
- Provides command-level oversight of major criminal investigations, critical incidents, officer-involved events, and other sensitive or high-profile matters; may respond to and participate in field operations as necessary.
- Promotes community-oriented policing strategies, public education efforts, crime prevention programs, and partnerships that strengthen community engagement and public confidence.
- Identifies grant opportunities, oversees grant-funded programs, and ensures responsible stewardship of Department resources, equipment, vehicles, technology, and facilities.
- Coordinates and collaborates with local, regional, state, and federal public safety agencies, elected officials, prosecutors, courts, schools, businesses, and community organizations.
- Serves as a member of the City's executive leadership team and provides recommendations regarding public safety, risk management, emergency operations, organizational planning, and policy development.
- Directs emergency response, disaster preparedness, continuity of operations, and incident command activities during emergencies and critical incidents.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
- Knowledge of modern law enforcement administration, leadership principles, and organizational management practices.
- Knowledge of state and city laws and ordinances.
- Knowledge of federal constitutional law, criminal law, civil liability, employment law, public records requirements, and risk management principles.
- Knowledge of GCIC, NCIC, records management systems, law enforcement technology, and public safety information systems.
- Knowledge of governmental budgeting, purchasing, procurement, grant administration, and financial management practices.
- Skill in firearms.
- Skill in investigative procedures.
- Skill in management and supervision.
- Skill in oral and written communications.
- Skill in interpersonal communications.
- Skill in general law enforcement practices.
- Skill in strategic planning, organizational leadership, decision-making, problem solving, conflict resolution, and project management.
- Ability to develop effective working relationships with elected officials, employees, community leaders, partner agencies, and the public.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The City Manager assigns work in terms of City goals, public safety priorities, organizational objectives, and community expectations. The employee exercises considerable independent judgment and discretion in directing departmental operations and resources. Work is reviewed through conferences, reports, operational outcomes, budget performance, community feedback, and achievement of established goals.
GUIDELINES
Guidelines include federal and state laws, City ordinances, departmental policies and procedures, GCIC and NCIC requirements, Georgia POST standards, employment regulations, court decisions, risk management practices, emergency management standards, and professional law enforcement best practices. These guidelines require extensive interpretation, judgment, and application. The employee is responsible for developing, implementing, and revising departmental policies and operational procedures.
COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK
- The work consists of highly complex executive-level law enforcement, administrative, personnel, financial, legal, operational, and community relations responsibilities. Managing public safety operations, regulatory requirements, liability exposure, emergency situations, and community expectations contributes significantly to the complexity of the position.
- The purpose of the position is to provide executive leadership and strategic direction for all Police Department functions and services. Successful performance helps ensure public safety, organizational accountability, legal compliance, efficient operations, employee development, and positive community relationships.
CONTACTS
- Contacts are typically with co-workers, courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, child advocates, advocates of the aging or infirm, Georgia Chief’s Association, sheriff’s office, local business owners, public safety directors, local fire and EMS, media outlets, elected officials, and the general public.
- Contacts may also include federal, state, regional, and local law enforcement agencies, judges, school officials, community leaders, consultants, vendors, emergency management personnel, and regulatory agencies.
- Contacts are typically to exchange information, coordinate operations, resolve problems, negotiate solutions, represent the Department, provide leadership, and support public safety objectives.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in an office environment but also requires attendance at meetings, crime scenes, emergency incidents, training events, court proceedings, and community functions. The employee frequently sits, stands, walks, bends, reaches, and operates computers, vehicles, communications equipment, and standard office equipment. Work may require responding to emergencies, critical incidents, and field operations at any hour. The employee may occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Work may involve exposure to adverse weather conditions, hazardous situations, infectious materials, noise, and stressful or emotionally charged circumstances. The employee may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as necessary.
SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY
This position exercises executive management responsibility for all sworn and civilian personnel assigned to the Police Department and Municipal Court support functions. Direct supervisory assignments may vary based on the Department's organizational structure.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Business Administration, Police Science, or a related field.
- Seven (7) to nine (9) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including at least five (5) years of command-level supervisory or management experience.
- An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience related to the position may be considered.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Ability to meet current requirements set forth by the Police Standards and Training Council for the State of Georgia.
- Possession of or ability to readily obtain GCIC/NCIC certification.
- Possession of Georgia POST certification.
- Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Chief Executive Training, Command College, FBI National Academy, Southern Police Institute, or similar advanced law enforcement leadership training preferred.
- Possession of, or ability to readily obtain, a valid Georgia driver’s license appropriate for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
PAY GRADE
- Grade: 308
- Minimum Salary: $121,337.91
