Police Chief

Police Chief

The purpose of this classification is to manage, direct, and coordinate the activities of all police services and departmental operations while exercising responsibility for enforcement of all city, state, and applicable federal laws, statutes, codes, ordinances and regulations relating to public safety and welfare.

The following duties are normal for this classification. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned. Specific duties listed may not be required for all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

Meets with the Mayor monthly along with other key Police administrators to discuss and analyze crime trends and make recommendations to reduce crime.

Enforces all city, state, and applicable federal laws, statutes, codes, ordinances and regulations, both traffic and criminal, in order to protect life and property, to prevent crime, and to promote security.

Supervises, directs and evaluates assigned staff, processes employee concerns and problems, directs work, counsels, disciplines and completes employee performance appraisals.

Plans, organizes, manages, oversees, and directs, either personally or through subordinate supervisors, all departmental functions and support staff activities in order to ensure proper allocation of personnel and resources and the efficiency and effectiveness of the department.

Prepares long-range management and operational plans compiled from statistical data and from studying crime trends, community needs, departmental and city administrative goals and objectives.

Oversees and evaluates police services; determines proficiency level and identifies areas requiring improvement; formulates and executes action plan to correct deficiencies.

Establishes goals and objectives for employees; develops and implements policies, standard operating procedures, and training plan; monitors implementation of departmental rules and regulations; updates departmental guidelines according to federal, state, and/or local legislation.

Interacts with agencies within the county; coordinates mutual police protection plans with surrounding municipalities; reviews and/or coordinates special programs, project development, and special orders and memoranda.

Responds to emergencies; advises and assists subordinate officers in complex criminal or other investigations and enforcement duties; prepares for and attends court.

With permission of the Mayor, meets with legislators and assists with preparation of new legislation on current issues; serves on special panels, boards, and/or committees; prepares presentations for City Council meetings; attends meetings of same.

Establishes and maintains good working relations with the public; meets with the news media, merchants, community/civic organizations, citizens, elected officials, officers, employees, and individuals and responds to questions, complaints, and requests for information; makes presentations and public speeches; serves on and meets with panels, boards, and or committees; represents Mayor at meetings or functions.

Prepares press releases; prepares for and appears on television and radio shows; prepares depositions in lawsuits.

Facilitates departmental goals and objectives, discusses problems or grievances, coordinates and targets efforts toward specific duties during meetings with subordinate supervisors and employees.

Prioritizes anticipated departmental needs for each fiscal year; prepares and submits annual budget information; administers approved budget and monitors operational expenditures for fiscal compliance.

Prepares applications for and seeks government grants to fund manpower and other departmental resources; administers grant funded programs.

Assumes responsibilities outlined in the City's Crisis Action Plan.

Oversees the selection process of administrative personnel and new recruits.

Reviews documents processed by subordinates and reports of physical force and vehicle pursuit events; discusses errors and recommends method for corrective/alternative action; provides technical assistance.

Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws/regulations including current field and code manuals, policy and procedures manuals, employee handbooks, area maps; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations.

Attends and conducts departmental staff meetings; attends workshops and training sessions to remain knowledgeable of department and city operations, to promote improved job performance, and to stay abreast of changing policies, procedures, codes, and laws.

Composes, prepares, reviews, and/or approves forms, logs, requests, records, reports, correspondence, and documents associated with daily responsibilities of this position; prepares and maintains files and administrative records.

Cooperates and serves as liaison with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and its officers or representatives when their activities or investigations are related to on-going investigations within city jurisdiction.

Conducts inspections of departmental vehicles, equipment and buildings; transports law enforcement vehicle for service and/or repairs; maintains weapons and equipment in functional and presentable condition.

Conducts undercover operations, works parades and most sporting events, and conducts dignitary protection.

Answers the telephone; provides information, advice and guidance; takes and delivers messages and/or direct calls to appropriate personnel; returns calls.

Recommends and supports policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of quality services by the Police Department.

Incorporates continuous quality improvement principles in daily activities.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

May be required to be on twenty-four-hour call and/or regularly work on various shifts, weekends, and/or holidays.

Performs administrative tasks as assigned and/or requested by elected officials.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, in a timely manner.

Performs other related duties as required.

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Science, Public and/or Business Administration, or a related field required; five (5) years of management experience in law enforcement, criminal investigation, and/or police administration or a related field. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. Must be at least 21 years of age. Must be able to meet all Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training (A.P.O.S.T.) minimum requirements and be certified as a law enforcement officer. Must be licensed and qualified to operate a firearm. This job classification is considered to be safety-sensitive and is subject to pre-employment and random drug screens.

The following requirements are normal for this classification. Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to operate a variety of automated office equipment including computer, printer, calculator, copy and facsimile machines, telephone, and law enforcement equipment such as handcuffs, flashlight, pepper gas, firearms, baton, cameras, video equipment, recording devices, binoculars, tape measure, hand tools, electronic surveillance equipment, two-way radio, and motor vehicle. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for light work while performing administrative tasks and moderate work while performing field duties.

DATA COMPREHENSION: Requires the ability to compare and or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things which may include maps, various directories and reports, calendar, publications, emergency plans, manuals, and legal code books.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to speak with and/or signal people to convey or exchange legal, law enforcement, radio communication, and court related information, including giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants, managers, or supervisors as well as communicating with various agencies, court personnel, attorneys, elected officials, and the general public.

LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires ability to read a variety of legal, law enforcement, radio communication, informational, and court related documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write job related documentation and reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.

INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to learn and understand complex legal, law enforcement, radio communication, and court related principles and techniques, to understand departmental policies and procedures, to make independent judgments in absence of supervision, and to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation.

VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, such as in a public speaking situation, to explain procedures, and to follow verbal and written instructions.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, calculate decimals and percentages, and interpret statistical data.

FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to visually inspect items for proper length, width, and shape using job related equipment which may include standard measuring and recording devices.

MOTOR COORDINATION: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment, radio communication, video, and law enforcement