Job Purpose

Under limited supervision, the Chief of Police is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the effective planning, organization, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting for all aspects of the police department. The position is responsible for training personnel, public information services, and emergency planning. The chief must maintain compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and coordinate with other law enforcement departments regarding matters of public safety. This position must determine efficient and innovative strategies to maintain and balance services within a given budget; this position is responsible for splitting time between administrative and field service, including conducting arrests, preparing court cases, testifying in court proceedings, and representing the department in civil proceedings. 

Tasks

• Leads the department in fulfilling its mission and vision in addition to department logistics for delivering police services.
• Supervises department employees:
  • Reviews police employee timesheets
  • Provides annual performance evaluations of all police personnel
  • Assigns daily, weekly, or monthly patrol and police service assignments as directed by complaints or commmunity needs observations.
  • Administers minor disciplinary actions and communicates with the Mayor and Police Commision as needed.
  • Makes recommendations regarding hiring open positions.
  • Ensures proper logging, control, possession, and supervision of all evidence collected and secured for criminal investigations.
•  Performs strategic planning  and goal setting for the department, including long-term, intermediate, and short-term goals; event planning; and crisis management.
• Coordinates with external agencies and cross-trains employees.
• Prepares the department’s budget, including allocation of resources, inventory control, preparation of RFP’s, reviewing and researching products, setting a plan of spending, and conducting cost benefit analyses.
• Coordinates with other administrative officer, departments, inter-agency efforts, civic organizations, business leaders, and concerned citizens to identify and solve community problems.
• Ensures employees are in compliance with accreditation, such as NCIC, state certifications, personnel certifications, etc.
• Performs police functions such as: arresting suspects, preparing reports, testifying in court, preparing cases, conducting police activities, and training for police certifications.
• Leads the day-to-day operations of the police department, to include preparing administrative reports, conducting internal investigations, investigating complaints, and assigning special patrols and investigations.
• Refers to state and federal law, department and City policies, City statutes, and leadership materials  in daily operations and duties. Assists uniform and non-uniform personnel in interpreting and enforcing laws and ordinances enforced by the Department, refers investigations to other appropriate agencies as warranted.
• Operates a variety of machinery and/or equipment such as police vehicles, computers, radios, survellience systems, firearms, and other safety equipment.
• Attends all meetings of the City of Elkins Common Council or designates an officer to do so in his/her absence.
•  Establishes and maintains a healthy working environment for all personnel and interacts with all shift personnel.
• Assesses and monitors department workload, identifies opportunities for improvement and implements change as necessary.
• Serves as the department liaison with the community.
• Responds to after-hours emergencies when requested.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum of eight years combined operational and administrative experience in a related position.
• Must be a certified West Virginia Law Enforcement Officer. Must have a valid state driver’s license.

Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong community outreach skills (i.e., business owners, residents, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, etc.).
•  Ability to develop and implement a budget and operate a police department within established budgetary constraints.
• Ability to monitor, order, and adjust department inventory and supplies.
• Have a full understanding of duties and responsibilities of a patrol officer and an understanding of what a patrol officer experiences on a day-to-day basis by remaining current with trends in policing that occur locally, in the State, and nationally.
• Ability to conduct training for police officers.
• Computer skills based on departmental functions (Example – Microsoft applications, NCIC, and similar applications).
• High level of critical and analytical thinking skills.
• Knowledge and expert level of skill in using firearms and other essential equipment.
• Detailed knowledge of the municipal boundary of City of Elkins and familiarity with surrounding municipalities.
• Detailed knowledge of laws and regulations governing police conduct and procedures.

Knowledge

• Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.