Come help lead the Derby Police Department into the future! The City of Derby has over 500 businesses and nearly 26,000 people. It is a growing and vibrant community with a well-respected Police Department. We are looking for a collaborative, forward-thinking individual who can continue to build upon work completed under the prior Chief’s leadership. The next Chief of Police must work hard to develop trusting relationships in the community and Department and will be a strong leader who takes a data-driven approach to crime and develops strategies and solutions supported by 21st-century policing principles and practices. 

Derby PD is CALEA accredited and has a $6.2 million budget along with 67 employees, including 52 accredited officers broken into a Patrol Division, Investigations Division, Community Education Division and Police Support Specialist Division. The mission of the Department is to protect life and property, respect human rights, enhance quality of life and maintain a safe and secure community. We will blend both traditional and community policing approaches as we provide ethical and professional public safety services to the citizens we serve.

Preference given to applications received by March 31, 2023. EOE.

The City of Derby strives to be an employer of choice and our desire is to attract and retain honest, hard working and motivated employees who are committed to providing the highest quality of service to the citizens of Derby.  We offer competitive wages, awesome benefits, including affordable health insurance with no deductible and no coinsurance and retirement benefits.  We also offer Alternative Work Schedules to help employees achieve work-life balance. Range for this position: $102,876-$154,325 annually, anticipated hiring range: $102,876-$128,600, annually, depending on qualifications. Details related to the position description are below:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

60% Administration and Strategic Direction

• Develop a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan that includes participation from employees and citizens. Develop and monitor long- and short-range goals, objectives, and action plans.
• Maintain national CALEA accreditation.
• Initiate Professional Standards investigations into allegations of misconduct and make appropriate disciplinary recommendations to the City Manager on sustained major disciplinary action. Make or recommend employment-related decisions involving hiring, discipline, and all other status changes; develop performance expectations and evaluate employee performance.
• Research and implement the means to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of police service.
• Monitor local and national trends and practices in law enforcement.
• Active involvement in recruitment and retention planning.
• Provide professional recommendations regarding law enforcement and community policing to city staff, City Council, and other boards.
• Review city procedures, department policies, laws, and ordinances and recommend or implement revisions to ensure safety, efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance.
• Develop and recommend department budget and authorize purchases and requests for bids and proposals.
• Prepare and review written reports with accuracy and timeliness and maintain department records.
• Develop staff reports and make presentations to the City Council and other boards, interact one-on-one with residents, participate as a member of the city’s management team, and relay information to the news media when appropriate.
• Provide leadership and supervision to staff and delegate projects and tasks.
• Provide training and professional development opportunities to staff to ensure they keep up on developments in their fields.
• Respond to department and City emergencies.

30% Operation

• Oversee municipal police functions, including performance standards, professional standards, and quality control.
• Enforce state laws and City ordinances.
• Ensure personnel meet or exceed annual training requirements.
• Ensure training regarding ethics, use of force, customer service and legal updates is presented at least every two years to all officers and provide other training as needed.
• Provide credible courtroom testimony when necessary.
• Lead organizational functions and ensure department-wide communications.
• Maintain qualification for authorized firearms and other weapons pursuant to department standard operating procedures.

10% Public Awareness and Public Relations

• Participate in professional and public speaking engagements.
• Administer a citizen survey to evaluate perceptions and effectiveness of service delivery.
• Represent the City and actively participate in regional and national law enforcement organizations.
• Coordinate with legislative liaison on legislative issues at the state and federal levels.

Continually looks for new and improved ways of completing the above functions.  Other tasks as assigned will be performed to address business needs.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Latitude:  Most duties are self-determined with substantial flexibility in scheduling and accomplishing tasks.  Problem solving requires advanced technical knowledge.  Decisions are frequently made independently based on city policy and consultation with appropriate stakeholders.   Makes purchasing decisions within budgetary limitations and purchasing policies.  Involves appropriate city staff when making employment-related decisions and recommendations.  Makes recommendations to the City Manager for contractual commitments.  Regular and reliable attendance at work is required.

Interaction:  Daily interaction with employees and the general public.  Frequent interaction with city boards, vendors, city council, and outside agencies including municipal, county, state, and federal agencies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or related field, required.
• Master degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or related field, preferred.
• Must satisfy all state requirements as set forth in K.S.A. 74-5605 “Qualifications of Applicant (Police Officer) for Training Course Requirements” or certification by reciprocity.
• Complete 40 hours of continuing education annually, required.
• FBI National Academy, Southern Police Institute, Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police certification, or similar certification, preferred.
• Ten years of law enforcement experience, required.
• Seven years progressively responsible supervisory experience, obtaining at least the rank of Captain or higher, required.
• Valid Kansas driver’s license, and driving record must meet commercial liability insurance requirements.
• Must reside within a 30-minute lawful drive time of city limits.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of law enforcement techniques and procedures and all federal, state, and local ordinances governing police activities.
• Skill in solving problems and making decisions independently and in a team environment.

• Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Excellent communication skills sufficient to express ideas and agreements concisely and persuasively, both orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences.

• Negotiation, persuasion, tact, and diplomacy are essential for effectively performing tasks.
• Ability to manage within the budget process, monitor expenditures, and stay within budget.
• Ability to operate office-related equipment, including ability to access and retrieve information from various computer software programs.

• Ability to effectively plan, assign, and delegate the work of others.
• Ability to make difficult decisions in a timely manner.

• Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with all levels of staff, vendors, and the public.
• Ability to operate firearms, patrol vehicles, mobile/portable/base radios, and crime scene processing equipment.
• Ability to evaluate written and oral reports and make recommendations for improved police services.
• Must be able to provide reliable courtroom testimony. Criminal convictions for acts of dishonesty, or sustained disciplinary findings of misconduct related to truthfulness, racial bias, or other acts that would lead to potential impeachment of courtroom testimony as detailed in Brady v. Maryland or Giglio v. U.S. will be cause for disqualification for applicants and termination for employees.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions:  Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting, and lifting of 30 pounds required.  Must maintain ability to apprehend and take persons into custody.  Occasional exposure to adverse weather conditions, dangerous, and hazardous situations.  Occasional evening and weekend meetings.