Description
City of Riverdale Chief of Police
If you are a law enforcement executive who:
- Is passionate about the importance of community policing;
- Can be a unifying presence, modeling integrity and professionalism;
- Models integrity and professionalism;
- Desires to be a visible presence in the community; and
- Is well-versed in the methods of managing a 21st-century police department…
…then becoming the City of Riverdale’s next Chief of Police may be the career move for you.
The City of Riverdale, GA, is seeking a community-focused, collaborative Chief of Police to direct the operations of the Police Department. The successful candidate will be energetic, approachable, and focused on engaging staff, residents, and mutual aid organizations to safeguard the safety of all who live in Riverdale. The next Chief will ensure that Departmental policies and procedures are up to date to most effectively serve this diverse and dynamic suburban community.
About the Community: Located approximately 5 miles south of the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Riverdale is the second largest city in Clayton County, with a population of 15,129. Its proximity to the airport, as well as Interstates 85, 75, and 285, connect this “gateway city,” to vital regional industrial and population centers. Nearly 700 businesses, most of which are in the healthcare industry, support Riverdale’s economy and provide almost 5,500 jobs.
The City’s Town Center is its cultural hub, consisting of City Hall and the Riverdale Center. The Riverdale Center includes an amphitheater, open playing fields, and a two-story parking garage. Riverdale Park is another key attraction, featuring a skate park, a playground, soccer fields, a baseball field, and passive green space.
The City of Riverdale has been a popular location for the film industry. Clayton County International Park was a filming location for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” as well as Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys.” Additionally, several episodes of the Walking Dead series were filmed in the city. Town Center recently served as a setting for a General Insurance commercial featuring Shaquille O’Neal.
Riverdale is also home to the Riverdale Spartans, a semi-pro football team. The City of Riverdale's rich history as a railroad town is reflected in its older buildings throughout the city, which are being renovated and preserved. The city intends to preserve the historic train department building for community use.
About the Organization: As outlined in the current budget, Riverdale’s core priorities for the current year are:
- Engagement with the community/transparency,
- Fiscal stability,
- Succession planning, and
- Safeguarding public safety.
The city operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with the City Council consisting of the mayor, as well as four council members elected by wards. The City of Riverdale employs 113 full-time employees across 11 departments, with a FY 2026 budget of $18.5 million.
About the Department and Position: The Riverdale Police Department strives to embrace a balanced and comprehensive approach to public safety, making citizens and officers safer as they prioritize community policing and use innovative tactics and technology. Riverdale Police is a value-driven department, dedicated to the protection of all who live in and visit the city through strategic partnerships with the community. The Chief of Police will oversee a department composed of 54 full-time employees and a budget of approximately $4.5 million. The Police Chief will have three direct reports, including the Administrative Assistant, the Administrative Services Division Captain, and the Assistant Chief of Police. The remaining Division Captains of Field Operations and Support Services report directly to the Assistant Chief.
Reporting to the City Manager, the Chief of Police is responsible for planning and directing the operations of the Police Department, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, crime prevention, disaster responses, community support services, and related support services, and coordinating activities with other Departments and outside agencies.
Key priorities of the next Chief include:
Enhancing and formalizing community policing strategies and programming to increase positive citizen interactions with the police and build effective, mutually beneficial community partnerships.
Updating the Departmental policy manual and ensuring consistency across the department in policy adherence, as well as equipment allocations and training opportunities offered.
Pursuing and achieving state and national accreditation.
Developing positive, constructive relationships and trust with all levels and generations of officers to maintain a unified departmental culture.
Increase collaboration with other City departments, service-providing institutions, regional law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to develop mutual aid relationships and holistically address the community’s diverse public safety issues.
Developing a plan for recruitment and retention.
Minimum Training and Experience:
- A bachelor’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, political science, public administration, or a related field.
- Twelve years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including six years in a senior management capacity
- Possession of a valid State of Georgia driver’s license (Class C), and a satisfactory Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)
- Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Preferred Qualifications:
A master’s degree in public administration
Completion of Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and FBI National Academy
For those without GA certification: The Equivalency of Training (EOT) process may allow an officer who does not possess a GA POST basic law enforcement certification to be exempt from having to complete the entire basic law enforcement training course. Please refer to the GA POST website https://gapost.org/certification-requirements/basic-certifications/ for more information. Types of officers who may be eligible for the EOT process:
Out-of-State Police Officers who have graduated from their states Uniform Police Academy and their certification is valid and in good standing;
Federal Peace Officers who have graduated from the FLETC Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP), Mixed Basic Police Training Program (MBPTP), or the equivalency of training.
United States Military Police Officers (Army, Air Force, and Marines) who have graduated from their branches Basic Military Police Course and possess a minimum of a general discharge under honorable conditions;
Graduates of the Department of Defense (DOD) Uniformed Police Training Program.
The successful candidate will have thorough knowledge of:
- Federal, state, and local laws and legal procedures;
- Departmental rules and regulations;
- Law enforcement methods, procedures, and techniques, and the ability to apply such knowledge to specific situations;
- The methods and practices of the administration and management of a modern police department;
- The geography of the city and the location of important buildings and areas;
- The conduct of criminal investigations, including special equipment, application of equipment, specialized techniques, and other specific data;
- The methods and techniques of obtaining and preserving evidence and procedures of proper investigative processes;
- The procedures used in emergency communications and governmental rules and regulations, which apply to the communication function;
And the ability to:
- Plan, direct, and coordinate the work of subordinate employees;
- Deal courteously and fairly with the public;
- Analyze situations and take quick, effective, and reasonable courses of action, giving due regard to the surrounding hazards and circumstances of each situation;
- Write clear and comprehensive reports;
- Make effective oral presentations;
- Obtain information through interviews, interrogations, and observation;
- React quickly and calmly under emergency conditions;
- Understand, analyze, and interpret a wide variety of complex written information;
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees, City officials, other agencies, and the public;
- Drive and operate the department's assigned vehicles and equipment safely and efficiently;
- Qualify annually with firearms;
- Work routinely under highly stressful conditions, including life-threatening situations.
Salary and Benefits: The hiring range is $98,584 to $147,878. Base salary and compensation are negotiable within the range based on experience and qualifications. The City provides excellent benefits. To visit the benefits page, go to https://www.riverdalega.gov/95/Benefits.
To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Chief of Police – City of Riverdale, GA title.
All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the city’s employment application portal or any other external website.
Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
Applicants should apply by September 29, 2025, to be considered during the first round of reviews.
The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluations on October 28-29, 2025, Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
Direct all inquiries to [email protected].
The City of Riverdale, GA, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC, manages the recruitment and selection process for this position. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/ and scroll down to “Important Information for Applicants.”
