Description

POLICE CHIEF 

 Our Police Chief works as part of a dynamic and ambitious team of law enforcement employees to protect life and property in the Town and to maintain the quality of life in Boiling Springs.  

GENERAL DEFINITION AND CONDITIONS OF WORK

An employee in this class performs complex administrative, managerial, and specialized law enforcement work in planning, organizing, and directing the law enforcement program of the Town.  The employee is responsible for the protection of life and property through a varied program of enforcement, detection, investigation and prevention of crime and accidents.  Work involves a full managerial and supervisory role including the establishment of operations and policy; creating and articulating a community policing philosophy; establishing trust and credibility with the community; evaluation and adherence to prescribed standards; and planning for and implementing special law enforcement activities.  Work also includes overseeing the preparation of special State, Federal, and local reports; cooperating with other law enforcement agencies; preparing the Department’s budget request; overseeing the application of technology within the department; and supervising all department personnel.  Work is performed in accordance with departmental policy and State and Federal statutes. The employee is subject to hazards associated with law enforcement which include working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as noise, proximity to moving mechanical parts, and electrical current. Work is performed under the direct supervision of the Town Manager and evaluated through periodic conferences, observation of results achieved; review of records, reports, and files; and acceptance of the community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/TYPICAL TASKS

• Oversees and manages the Police Department and law enforcement services in the Town; meets with supervisory staff on a regular basis to clarify mission and objectives, builds a sense of comradery within the Department, ensures that all Department members are informed, and obtains input on decisions and issues
• Oversees recruitment, selection, career development, and training of personnel for the department; advises, directs, and consults with subordinate officers on matters of training, work assignments, scheduling, and discipline; develops teamwork and staff leadership skills.
• Establishes and communicates standards of performance and a philosophy of law enforcement for the department; creates a high-performance work team; provides leadership, motivation, conflict resolution, performance coaching, and evaluation programs for staff; establishes policies and procedures for the Department; sets priorities and objectives for the Department.
• Performs all administrative functions to include strategic planning, establishing departmental goals and objectives for both the long and short term, administering the budget, purchasing, and supervising the care of vehicles, technology, and equipment.
• Prepares and presents written reports and documents to staff, Town management and elected officials; supervises the preparation of periodic reports of crime and accident activity, and police department activities; analyzes data for trends.
• Prepares the Department’s annual budget requests and, consultation with the Town Manager, provides evidence to support the request; supervises and participates in the application for grants.
• Establishes credibility and trust with the community through various community education and outreach programs; investigates inquiries or complaints concerning police activities and services.
• Supervises and participates in the functions of the department including patrol, investigations, records, School Resources program, community-oriented policing, and related activities; supervises internal personnel investigations.
• Works with the public and staff on difficult or unusual crime situations; cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in crime prevention, detection, and investigative activities.
• Represents the Police Department and the Town in presentations to civic and volunteer organizations.
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge of law enforcement principles, practices, methods, and equipment.
• Thorough knowledge of state and federal laws, local ordinances, and policies of the Police Department.
• Thorough knowledge of the physical, economic, and social characteristics of the Town.
• Considerable knowledge of the Town’s personnel, purchasing and budgeting policies and procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of the application of information technology to Police work.
• Considerable knowledge and skill in team building, counseling, coaching, motivation, communication, and performance evaluation with subordinates.
• Skill in collaborative conflict resolution.
• Skill in the use of firearms and other police equipment, and in self-defense tactics.
• Skill and ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the police operation and to institute improvements, including all administrative and supervisory functions.
• Ability to provide vision and clarify mission and to lead and inspire confidence among subordinate officers to develop a high-performance team.
• Ability to plan and direct special programs and events related to law enforcement.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports and make effective public presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Town officials, elected officials, law enforcement agencies, employees and the general public.
• Ability to act with sound judgment in routine and emergency situations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

•  Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and perform repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform medium work of exerting up to fifty (50) pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to twenty (20) pounds of force frequently, and/or up to ten (10) pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to perform extensive reading, prepare and analyze data, to operate law enforcement vehicles and equipment and distinguish details and differences when observing people, places, or things, prepare and review a variety of records and reports, and to perform computer work.

DESIRABLE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in criminal justice or public administration, supplemented by advanced courses in police administration and extensive supervisory experience of a progressively responsible nature in law enforcement work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license and a Basic Law Enforcement Certificate issued by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Council for certified law enforcement officers.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, Intermediate and Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates issued by the North Carolina Justice Training and Standards Council for certified law enforcement officers.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Position is assigned to Grade 23 in the Town’s position classification system.