Director of Public Safety / Chief of Police
April 2026
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY / CHIEF OF POLICE
JOB FAMILY: Police Uniform Division
EEO CATEGORY: Official/Administrator
FLSA: Exempt
PAY PLAN: Full-Time Pay Plan
UNION STATUS: Unrepresented
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
Under the direction of the City Manager, the Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and manages the operations of the Police Department. Provides law enforcement and the protection of public health and welfare, crime and fire prevention, fire suppression, crime and fire investigations, and other related services concerned with the preservation of life and property in the City. Receives administrative direction from the City Manager and policy direction from the City Council.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND TASKS:
The following list of functions, duties, and tasks is typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform other closely related or department-specific functions, duties, and tasks from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. ● Participates in and manages the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities; recommends service and staffing levels, policies, and procedures. ● Participates in and directs research and compilation of comprehensive reports for the City Manager, District Administrator, City Council, and the public.
● Prepares, implements, and monitors the department budget. ● Plans, directs, supervises, and reviews responses to emergency calls for service; ensures compliance with state and local protocols in crime suppression and prevention. o Plans, directs, supervises, and reviews responses to emergency medical calls for service; ensures compliance with state and local protocols in the treatment of sick and injured persons; administers first aid, CPR, and other emergency medical procedures. ● Plans, directs, supervises, and reviews training programs. ● Supervises and reviews reports of daily activities, reporting major accidents and incidents to superiors. ● Explains, interprets, and enforces policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and programs. ● Plans, directs, supervises, and reviews purchasing activities including the preparation of Requests for Proposals.
● Prepares monthly and annual reports.
● Hires, trains, supervises, evaluates, motivates, and disciplines subordinate personnel. ● Represents the Police Department at community meetings, committees, and advisory boards; prepares and delivers speeches.
● Coordinates activities with public safety agencies including the Police Department, Fire Department, Highway Patrol, County Sheriff, state, and federal emergency management agencies. ● Prepares agendas and agenda reports.
● Recommends modifications to new policies, procedures, and regulations.
Job Classification Description
Equal Employment Opportunity
Director of Public Safety / Chief of Police
April 2026
● Develops and implements short- and long-range planning activities and strategies. ● Serves as the Incident Commander in major emergencies and natural disasters. ● May be required to be present at second-alarm fires.
● Performs other related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
(At time of application)
Knowledge of:
● Federal, state, and local laws and radio communications procedures ● City’s geography, water systems, location of hydrants, and that of the surrounding area ● Public safety agencies as related to emergency services functions, fire, and emergency medical services functions
● Principles and techniques used in apprehending criminals, including lethal and less lethal weapons ● Crime suppression and investigation
● Fire prevention and inspection methods, fire hazards, and educational fire prevention techniques and programs
● Principles of administration and management
● Principles of budget development and monitoring
● Principles of employee hiring, training, supervision, evaluation, motivation, and discipline Skills and Abilities to:
● Read and understand technical material, rules, and regulations related to crime suppression, prevention, and investigation
● Read and understand technical material, rules, and regulations related to firefighting, rescue techniques, and emergency medical incidents
● Analyze emergency situations and address them with an effective course of action ● Prepare and monitor a large and complex budget
● Tactfully interact with members of the public
● Safely operate and use police vehicles and equipment
● Safely operate and use fire vehicles and equipment
● Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing
● Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, elected and appointed officials, and the public
● Operate modern office equipment including a computer and assigned software; ● Operate equipment relevant to work performed
● Understand and respond to requests from the public and staff for assistance both in person and by phone ● Prepare reports, perform mathematical calculations, and sort or file documents ● Relate well, communicate, and work effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders who represent a range of ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds JOB QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:
(At time of application and in addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities listed above.) EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, abilities and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the qualifications would be:
Director of Public Safety / Chief of Police
April 2026
Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, criminal justice, emergency services management, or a related field and ten (10) years of increasingly responsible experience in law enforcement, including five (5) years of management experience.
Completion of FBI Academy and/or Command College is highly desirable. A Master’s degree in business, public administration, or a related field is preferred.
LICENSE(S) REQUIRED:
● Valid state-issued Driver’s License and a good driving record.
CERTIFICATIONS AND TESTING REQUIRED:
● Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Management or Executive certificate WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
(Must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations) ● This position works primarily in an outdoor environment. ● Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions with or without reasonable accommodation. ● Very Heavy Work: exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of workday), and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of workday), and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly (2/3 or more of workday) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Heavy Work.