Police Chief

OPEN UNTIL FILLED

The Police Chief will be a visionary leader who conveys strong leadership with an effective command presence, as well as outstanding people and management skills. The ideal candidate will be an inspirational leader, excellent public speaker, responsive to the community, and quick to think on their feet in public meetings. The Police Chief will also quickly earn the trust of the community and the respect of both sworn and professional staff.

The ideal candidate will be a compassionate, respectful, honest, and ethical leader who demonstrates the highest levels of integrity and accountability. The Police Chief will value and embrace the rich diversity of Sacramento and its unique neighborhoods, building strong, authentic relationships throughout the community. The successful candidate will also have experience working collaboratively and constructively with an office of accountability and/or independent oversight, demonstrating a commitment to transparency, meaningful engagement, and effective partnerships that strengthen public trust and organizational accountability.

The Police Chief will set clear goals for the department and develop a comprehensive plan that emphasizes trust-building, accountability, and transparency. The ideal candidate will also have a proven track record of implementing accountability and transparency policies. The Police Chief will be forward thinking, focused on modern policing, and driven to implement best policing practices that are appropriate in today’s world.

The Police Chief will address issues related to youth, homelessness, mental health, and underserved segments of the community. A collaborative style and an eagerness to partner with community-based organizations and regional agencies is essential.

Top contenders for this position will be non-political and have the conviction and courage to proactively address challenges and make the tough decisions, while also standing up for what is in the best interest of the City and the community. The selected candidate will be expected to quickly identify, address, and implement changes while working in conjunction with City Leadership, community and regional stakeholders, labor unions, and other employee organizations.

The candidate selected for Police Chief will be a transparent and accessible leader who values open, honest, and timely communication with both internal and external stakeholders. They will model a philosophy of openness and accountability and foster these same expectations throughout the command staff and organization. The successful candidate will cultivate an inclusive organizational culture where diverse perspectives are valued, and equity and inclusion are reflected in leadership, decision-making, employee engagement, and service to the community.

Under the City Manager, the Police Chief serves as the principal administrative officer for the Police Department; plans, directs, reviews, and manages Police Department activities and operations encompassing a wide range of law enforcement-related functions; assures Police Department compliance with and enforcement of applicable federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, and codes; manages and supervises staff; serves as a member of the City’s Executive Team.

This is a single-position executive management classification. The Police Chief’s duties are administrative and managerial in nature, and the incumbent performs work that is very complex, with broad authority for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Police Department as well as responsibility for the Police Department’s strategic planning and goal setting. The incumbent has extensive contact with public officials, federal,…