Chief of Police
GovHR USA is pleased to announce that the City of Middleton Wisconsin, resident population of approximately 21,000, seeks experienced police leaders as applicants to serve as this community’s next Chief of Police.
Middleton is a modern city of about 21,000 residents, located on the western edge of Lake Mendota and adjacent to the capital city of Madison, in Dane County, Wisconsin. Middleton offers some of the top schools in the State of Wisconsin, low taxes, safe streets, efficient local governments, a modern library, attractive parks, conservancies and trails, an educated and increasingly diverse population, a municipal golf course and airport, and many corporate, high-tech, and commercial enterprises.
The Middleton Police Department consists of 53 employees, including 39 sworn positions. The staff includes a Chief of Police, two Captains, eight Sergeants, four Detectives, two School Liaison Officers, a Community Awareness Officer, a K-9 Officer and twenty Patrol Officers. The Department has a modern full-service 911/Communications Center and patrol vehicles outfitted with state-of-the-art information technology. The Department moved into a modern newly constructed police headquarters in 2010. With a budget of over $5.8 million, the Department handles 28,000 calls for service annually. The Department is committed to a neighborhood-based community policing philosophy. We work together to preserve and enhance Middleton’s unique quality of life through active partnerships and problem solving built on mutual trust and respect. The Middleton Police Department is accredited by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG).
Middleton is governed by an elected Mayor and 8 member City Council. The Mayor is the chief executive officer of City government. Day to day City operations and management of resources is delegated to the City Administrator, who serves as the chief administrative officer by Middleton Ordinances. The Chief of Police is appointed by the Middleton Police Commission and reports to the Police Commission, the Mayor at a general policy level and the City Administrator for management matters. The Mayor serves as the presiding officer of the City Council and is a voting member of the Council. The City Council determines the policies that affect the City’s present and future well-being and provides leadership for planning and community development. There are various citizen boards and commissions, including the Police Commission, that help make the City of Middleton a better place to live.
The City of Middleton experiences a very low rate of criminal activity and is an excellent and safe place to live and work. The Department responded to 331 Part 1 Crimes in 2018, the largest number of which, 271, were property crimes.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City is seeking a dynamic and collaborative professional with proven law enforcement leadership and managerial experience and strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
The ideal background and qualifications for the Chief of Police position include:
• Minimum of five years command level law enforcement experience, with at least ten years of law enforcement experience. A demonstrated history of progressively responsible command level experience is preferred.
• Certification by the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board or eligibility for such certification.
• Outgoing, positive and approachable personality to encourage accessibility with residents, business and governmental leaders.
• Open and available to Police Department staff and City employees by using an effective communicating philosophy, seeking input, and being welcoming of, encouraging and engaging of racial, ethnic and gender diversity.
• Commitment to continued training, professional development and community engagement.
• Demonstrated experience building successful partnerships with community stakeholders.
• Proven history of practicing the principles of community policing and building community problem solving partnerships. Demonstrated experience receiving positive outcomes applying problem solving approaches within the community.
• Labor relations experience.
• Knowledge, and experience with media relations, including experience and support of the use of social media as an opportunity to engage Police Department stakeholders and promote the mission and goals of the Department.
• History of intergovernmental cooperation and relationship building.
• Experience interacting and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies and mutual aid groups.
• Knowledge of current best practices and policies in policing.
• Sufficient experience to review organizational structure, staffing, and personnel assignments and make changes when appropriate, to ensure departmental capability to carry out its mission and responsibilities.
• Experience in addressing internal organizational and personnel issues present in most police agencies as well as having demonstrated ability in addressing these problems in a positive, professional, timely and impartial manner.
• Strategic thinker, anticipating issues or trends and must be open to new approaches and technologies while also thinking beyond the walls of the Police Department, understanding the needs of the City as a whole and of the region’s public safety community.
• Excellent financial management skills, knowledge of capital planning and organizational management and a clear understanding of resource and budgetary limitations while avoiding micromanagement.
• Well-developed writing and public speaking skills and the ability to adjust one’s approach based upon the audience.
• Excellent reputation and a high level of honesty and integrity.
Successful candidates will possess a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or related fields. A master’s degree is desirable. Leadership training such as the F.B.I. National Academy, Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, military officer training, or similar programs and at least five years of progressively responsible experience in executive/command level law enforcement (an equivalent combination of experience and on the job training may be substituted to fill some or all education requirements described above). The starting annual salary for this position is not to exceed $135,000 DOQ. The City of Middleton also offers an attractive benefits package.
Interested professionals may submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for 5 professional references by November 15, 2019 to consultants Joe De Lopez and Lee McCann at: www.GovHRjobs.com
Electronic submissions are required. Telephone inquiries: GovHR USA (847) 380-3240
THE CITY OF MIDDLETON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER