Police Chief - City of Bessemer

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

05/02/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 36

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

The City of Bessemer is seeking a highly qualified Police Chief to lead and manage the police department. This key leadership position involves planning, organizing, and directing the operations of the department to ensure the delivery of efficient and effective police services. The Police Chief will supervise all department employees, including sworn officers and civilian staff, while maintaining high standards of performance and accountability. Regular oversight is provided by the Mayor through meetings, reports, and annual performance reviews. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, management, and communication skills to effectively guide the department and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The City of Bessemer provides competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more. The pay range for this job is listed below:

Bessemer: $99,278 - $154,024

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

Option A:

• Current Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification.

• Associate’s degree (or higher) in business or police administration, criminal justice, law enforcement, public administration or a closely related field.

• At least 3 years of experience in a supervisory capacity in law enforcement at the level of Police/Sheriff's Lieutenant (or equivalent) or higher rank.

Option B:

• Current Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification.

• Fifteen (15) years of law enforcement experience.

• At least 4 years of experience in a supervisory capacity in law enforcement at the level of Police/Sheriff's Lieutenant (or equivalent) or higher rank.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by Merit System agencies. These qualifications may be considered by a hiring agency when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Completion of professional law enforcement certification and/or training.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in business or police administration, criminal justice, law enforcement, public administration or a closely related field.

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Prepares, monitors, and administers departmental or organizational budget by reviewing spending trends, expenditure reports, analyzing financial data and ensuring expenditures are within annual budgetary limits.

• Represents the police department by meeting with citizen groups and businesses, collaborating with other law enforcement agencies, keeping the mayor, city manager, and/or city council updated on department activities, and communicating with the media.

• Oversees the training of law enforcement personnel within the department by approving training, ensuring personnel are receiving required training, and teaching training courses.

• Prepares and presents reporting documents regarding department activity to relevant parties (e.g., citizens, businesses, mayor, city, manager, city council, state, federal) by reviewing police reports, compiling and analyzing statistics, and preparing reports.

• Participates in law enforcement activities by taking command or assisting the scene commander by overseeing incidents, coordinating resources, talking to the media, and assisting with investigations.

• Develops and oversees department activities by developing new policies and procedures to maintain compliance with local, state, and/or federal laws and guidelines, improving existing policies and procedures, and responding to citizen complaints regarding department personnel.

• Plans, organizes, and directs department resources by obtaining required equipment and supplies, obtaining and monitoring grants, and determining personnel requirements.

• Engages in activities designed to ensure professional development, awareness of developments in the field, and knowledge of relevant practices, rules, laws, policies, and/or guidelines.

• Supervises staff by assigning and distributing work, directing staff in their job duties, monitoring progress of work, providing feedback and/or training.

PHYSICAL D