Chief of Police at City of Palmer – Palmer, Alaska

The Chief of Police is responsible for strategic planning, directing, coordinating, controlling, and staffing all police and dispatch activities of the department. The Chief is responsible for its continued and efficient operation, for the enforcement of internal policy and regulations, enforcement of federal, state, and local laws, maintenance of the department budget, for the completion and forwarding of such reports as may be required by proper authority and for the department’s relations with local citizens, local governments and other related agencies. As the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the City, this position is occasionally called for guidance or response at irregular hours and is required to respond to such requests provided the employee is not on approved leave. This does not imply any restrictions on the employees off duty activities which would not otherwise already exist.

This position requires a complex mixture of police officer, public entity management and leadership skills. The Chief must have a comprehensive knowledge of laws, rules and court decisions relating to the administration of criminal justice and law enforcement, comprehensive knowledge of scientific methods of crime detection, criminal identification and radio communication, comprehensive knowledge of controlling laws and ordinances, through knowledge of the geography of the community, demonstrated ability to motivate, lead and direct the activities of employees; ability to maintain cooperative relationships with City officials and the general public; ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the police operation and to institute improvements; ability to prepare and review reports; budgeting skills for effective and efficient operations; resourcefulness and sound judgement in emergencies; demonstrated integrity; writing skills and tact. The Chief must have the ability to write clearly and accurately to prepare reports and court documents; ability to testify clearly and accurately in court. The Chief must be characterized by personal and professional integrity.

Supervision Received

The Chief of Police reports to the City Manager, however, the nature of the position mandates the ability to operate without supervision and make independent decisions based on knowledge, education, and experience.

Supervision Exercised

The Chief directly supervises the Commander, dispatch supervisor, administrative assistant, and Evidence/Records Clerk.

External Visibility / Contact

Position requires frequent contact with the public, maintaining community relations and daily contact with other criminal justice agencies. The Chief must possess well-developed communication skills to maintain effective relations with the public, departments and city personnel and other organizations.

Working Conditions / Environment

Work is generally performed in an office environment; however, response to police or other emergency calls can and must be expected. All officers are required to perform the following activities: use of firearms, driving emergency vehicles, bicycles, off-highway vehicles, handcuffing prisoners, administering first aid, rescue operations, lifting and carrying 0-70 lbs., directing traffic, physical control of combative criminal suspects or persons with medical needs, be exposed to hazardous conditions including blood-borne pathogens and tear gas environments, pursue suspects, walking-lateral mobility, walking over rough terrain, bending, stooping, crouching ,sitting, standing, standing for long periods, kneeling, twisting body, pushing, pulling, running, sense of touch, reaching gripping with hands and fingers, climbing stairs, ladders, fences and walls, hearing alarms and voice conversations, color identification, close and far vision, side vision-depth perception, night vision, maintaining balance, finger dexterity, speaking clearly without impediment.

Physical, audio/visual requirements include normal color discrimination, normal binocular coordination, normal peripheral vision and corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in at least one eye. Normal color discrimination is defined as having the ability to discern the primary safety colors of red, green, and yellow. General sense of smell to identify, and not limited to, alcohol on suspects, drugs, hazardous environments, etc. Requires normal hearing or having no hearing defect that would adversely affect performance as a Police Officer.

• Formulates recommendations for the adoption of the new city ordinances and amendments
• Ensures the maintenance of police vehicles and any other equipment needed for the operation of the department
• Prepares periodic and special reports and assures that adequate records are maintained of all department activities
• Controls the expenditures of department appropriations and prepares annual budget estimates
• Cooperates with other law enforcement agencies in the apprehension and detention of wanted persons and with other agencies as appropriate
• Receives and investigate complaints; attends civic and school meetings to explain the activities and functions of the police department and establishes favorable public relations
• Formulates policies and regulations governing police department activities
• Ensures compliance with all laws and ordinances that the department or its officers have the authority to enforce
• Organizes, directs, and controls all resources of the department to preserve the peace, protect persons and property and enforce the law
• Ensures the establishment of a routine of daily duties to be performed by officers
• Assigns or transfers any member or employee of the department to or from any assignment whenever necessary for the efficiency discipline or moral of the department
• Ensures that all members have copies of, and are trained on, the department’s policy manual
• Ensures the investigation of all cases of alleged or apparent misconduct by department personnel
• Adopts a policy covering the safekeeping of all evidence and any property recovered, found or confiscated
• Maintains a secure training record system in which shall be kept all pertinent information on all departmental members and employees
• Supervises all police and dispatch personnel and is responsible for high morale and discipline
• Ensures that the police building, policies, practices, and procedures are consistent with the State of Alaska Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) requirements
• Serves as a member of the city incident management team

• Successful completion of the basic police academy
• Successful completion of police command school. Or ability to attend within 6 months and complete within 1 year of hire. Acceptable institutions are the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command or Southern Police Institute Command Officers Development Course
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required (a year of experience can be substituted for a year of education)
• Knowledge of the principals of leadership
• Advanced police certification through the Alaska Police Standards Council
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years law enforcement experience, at least seven (7) of which must be at the supervisor or management level. Supervisory or management experience with the Palmer Police Department is preferred
• Ability to clearly articulate both orally and in writing
• Must maintain required certification and obtain ongoing education as may be required. Examples of, but not limited to: National Incident Command Systems, Field Training Officer Course, Personnel Law and Policies, Civil Liability, Critical Incident Management in Law Enforcement, Criminal Interview & Interrogations skills, Communication and Public Relations

Supervision Received

The Chief of Police reports to the City Manager, however, the nature of the position mandates the ability to operate without supervision and make independent decisions based on knowledge, education, and experience.

Supervision Exercised

The Chief directly supervises the Commander, dispatch supervisor, administrative assistant, and Evidence/Records Clerk.

External Visibility / Contact

Position requires frequent contact with the public, maintaining community relations and daily contact with other criminal justice agencies. The Chief must possess well-developed communication skills to maintain effective relations with the public, departments and city personnel and other organizations.

Working Conditions / Environment

Work is generally performed in an office environment; however, response to police or other emergency calls can and must be expected. All officers are required to perform the following activities: use of firearms, driving emergency vehicles, bicycles, off-highway vehicles, handcuffing prisoners, administering first aid, rescue operations, lifting and carrying 0-70 lbs., directing traffic, physical control of combative criminal suspects or persons with medical needs, be exposed to hazardous conditions including blood-borne pathogens and tear gas environments, pursue suspects, walking-lateral mobility, walking over rough terrain, bending, stooping, crouching ,sitting, standing, standing for long periods, kneeling, twisting body, pushing, pulling, running, sense of touch, reaching gripping with hands and fingers, climbing stairs, ladders, fences and walls, hearing alarms and voice conversations, color identification, close and far vision, side vision-depth perception, night vision, maintaining balance, finger dexterity, speaking clearly without impediment.

Physical, audio/visual requirements include normal color discrimination, normal binocular coordination, normal peripheral vision and corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in at least one eye. Normal color discrimination is defined as having the ability to discern the primary safety colors of red, green, and yellow. General sense of smell to identify, and not limited to, alcohol on suspects, drugs, hazardous environments, etc. Requires normal hearing or having no hearing defect that would adversely affect performance as a Police Officer.

THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY THE PERSON(S) ASSIGNED TO THIS POSITION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL IN THIS POSITION. ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.