Chief of Police

Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Police Department

Salary: $130,187.72 – $233,143.04 Annually.

Closing Date: 8/1/2024.

Position Summary:

As the chief executive officer of the Police Department, the Chief of Police is responsible for the administration and coordination of all police department functions, plus authority and responsibility for the fiscal management of the agency. The Chief of Police, with the approval of the City Manager, appoints all other Police Department employees. The Chief of Police executes all directives of the City Manager’s Office and issues such orders to the Department for proper enforcement. The Chief of Police organizes, directs, and controls all resources of the Department to preserve the peace; protect persons and property; and observe and enforce all ordinances of Alexandria City, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the laws of the United States.

Essential Functions:

  • Community Engagement: Building strong relationships with the community to foster trust and cooperation with residents and businesses. Developing interactive police initiatives to encourage officers to connect with citizens and address their concerns.
  • Accountability and Transparency: Establishing accountability in police operations and transparent communication to meet the high expectations of the Alexandria Police Department. Understand the importance and value of civilian oversight and work together to solve problems.
  • Collaborative Partnerships: Working with other law enforcement agencies, social service organizations, community groups, and non-traditional partners to address the root causes of crime and solve quality of life issues. Utilizing these partnerships and leveraging their resources throughout the community.
  • Diversity and Inclusion: Promoting diversity within the police department to help officers understand various cultures and better serve the community. Expand the atmosphere of trust, reduce bias, and ensure the workforce reflects the diversity of the community it serves.
  • Strategic Planning: Developing a strategic and mission-driven vision based on the acute needs of the department, the community, and national leading practices. Effectively articulating the plan and establishing the metrics for how it is to be accomplished.
  • Training and Education: Enhancing the training and professional development of officers to develop leadership within the department. Generating ongoing opportunities aimed at empowering officers to handle complex situations with skills and sensitivity.
  • Safety and Wellness: Commitment to maintaining a culture of open communication to enhance officer and staff health, morale, well-being, and safety. Reinforce initiatives geared towards improving the capacity to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to the stress and adversity of the job.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or related field OR completion of two years of post-graduate work from an accredited college or university on Public Administration, Police Administration, or related field plus five years as a captain or above.
  • Seven to nine years of leadership experience in similar sized law enforcement agency, with at least two years as a Deputy Chief of Police or equivalent experience.
  • Track record of working effectively in a culturally and ethnically diverse community.
  • Strong administrative, managerial, leadership, and communication skills.
  • Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
  • Maintain, or be able to obtain, certification as a Law Enforcement officer by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.
  • Possession of a valid driver’s license.
  • Certification in firearms proficiency.

Preferred Requirements:

  • Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Demonstration of ongoing professional development, such as graduation from a nationally recognized police management or leadership program.
  • Advanced training such as the FBI National Executive Institute, FBI National Academy, or the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police.
  • Advanced training in relationship-based and/or community-based policing.
  • Broad police command experience with significant experience working with other government departments and other public safety entities.
  • The ability to speak another language, particularly Spanish, Amharic, or Arabic.