Police Chief

General Purpose:

Under administrative direction, the Police Chief plans, directs, and coordinates all activities of the Police Department. This role implements policies and establishes procedures related to crime prevention, law enforcement, and community policing services. The Police Chief develops and administers the department budget and serves as a member of the City’s executive management team, reporting directly to the City Manager. The Police Chief position is either filled, vacant, or with an Interim Police Chief temporarily assigned to ensure continuity of leadership and operations.

City Organization:

Incorporated in 1907, the City of Sierra Madre is a General Law City operating under the Council-Manager form of government. Legislative authority is vested in a five-member City Council elected at large for four-year terms.

Sierra Madre is one of the oldest and smallest cities in Los Angeles County. Despite its size, the city provides comprehensive public safety services through its Police and Fire Departments, along with essential municipal utilities and community programs. The community enjoys a high quality of life with median income, educational attainment, and property values exceeding peer cities in Los Angeles County. Sierra Madre is consistently recognized as one of California’s safest cities and maintains a fiscally stable government with strong pension funding.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities The following duties represent the principal functions of the position and are not all-inclusive:

• Plan, direct, and coordinate programs and operations to maintain law and order, protect life and property, control traffic, prevent crime, and enforce laws and ordinances.

• Analyze operational and community service demands and develop comprehensive strategies to meet departmental and public safety while maintaining the highest quality of life for residents.

• Develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and professional standards consistent with applicable laws, constitutional policing principles, and best practices.

• Lead data-driven policing initiatives and incorporate technology and modern management practices to enhance operational efficiency, transparency and public safety services.

• Direct the preparation and administration of the Police Department budget; oversee staffing, resource allocation, and operational planning to meet service expectations and organizational goals.

• Advise and assist the City Manager and City Council in the development of policies and programs related to public safety, crime prevention, emergency preparedness, and community policing.

• Foster collaborative partnerships with community organizations, schools, businesses, and public agencies to advance community-oriented policing and cooperative public safety initiatives.

• Coordinate law enforcement and emergency response activities with local, state, and federal agencies; establish and maintain productive relationships with residents, community groups, and criminal justice partners.

• Select, supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate department personnel ; promote accountability, professionalism, employee development, and organizational morale.

• Maintain high visibility and accessibility within the community to encourage positive engagement, transparency and public trust.

• Serve as a spokesperson and representative for the Police Department in community advisory, professional, and intergovernmental settings.

• Demonstrate respect for the community’s unique heritage and values while promoting equitable policing, inclusion, and collaborative community partnerships.

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Delegate authority appropriately while monitoring organizational performance, accountability, and service delivery.

• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and unbiased policing practices throughout the organization and community engagement efforts.

• Work collaboratively with the City’s executive management team, employee groups, and labor organizations to support organizational and effective public service delivery.

• Provide strategic leadership and organizational direction to ensure the department remains responsive to evolving public safety challenges, community expectations, and professional standards.

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Community-oriented policing, constitutional policing, procedural justice, and contemporary public safety strategies. 

• labor relations, risk management, and applicable federal, state, and local laws affecting law enforcement operations and personnel management. 

• Supervisory, executive leadership, public relations, media relations, and interagency communication techniques.

• Municipal organization, administration, strategic planning, organizational development, and budget preparation and practices .

• Patrol methods, criminal investigation techniques, emergency management operations, and law enforcement command procedures.

• Physical layout, demographic composition, and community characteristics of the City, including unique law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management challenges.

• Administrative procedures, personnel management, succession planning, employee development, and organizational accountability strategies.

• Vehicle Code, Penal Code, and other applicable laws and regulations relevant to police operations and public safety administration.

• Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), mutual aid coordination, disaster preparedness, and continuity of operations planning.

• Emerging fields such as public safety leadership and criminal justice technology reflecting modern law enforcement trends.

Ability to:

• Plan, direct, manage and coordinate comprehensive Police Department services to include programs, personnel and operations effectively.

• Analyze complex organizational, operational, legal, political, and community issues and apply City policies, sound judgment, and law enforcement expertise to develop effective solutions.

• Maintain composure, provide leadership, and make decisive decisions during emergencies, disasters, critical incidents, and high-liability situations.

• Ensure the proper maintenance, accountability, and operational readiness of Department equipment, firearms, technology systems, and related public safety resources.

• Prepare, analyze, and present clear, accurate, and comprehensive administrative, operational, statistical, and management reports.

• Provide effective liaison services and maintain collaborative working relationships with residents, community groups, businesses, elected officials, governmental agencies, and allied law enforcement organizations.

• Communicate effectively and professionally both orally and in writing, including public presentations, media interactions, and executive-level communications.

• Establish and maintain cooperative and productive relationships with employees, labor representatives, community members, governmental agencies, and professional organizations.

• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate assigned staff, including oversight of employee training, discipline, performance evaluation, succession planning, and organizational development initiatives.

• Promote accountability, ethical leadership, employee wellness, professional standards, transparency, and public trust throughout the organization.

• Demonstrate success with community policing innovations, data-driven policing strategies, organizational leadership, and progressive management practices.

Education, Training, and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for satisfactory performance.

The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Police Science, Administration of Justice, Public Administration, Public Safety Leadership, Business Administration, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree in a related discipline is highly desirable.

Additionally, candidates must possess a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory and management experience within a municipal law enforcement agency, including significant experience in organizational leadership, budget administration, strategic planning, emergency management, crime prevention program development, and community policing initiatives addressing community concerns and public safety priorities.

Advanced executive leadership training, including POST Command College, POST Executive Development Course, Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, FBI National Academy, Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), or equivalent executive leadership programs, is highly desirable.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

• Possession of a POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Management Certificate.

• Possession of a POST Executive Certificate is highly desirable or must be obtained within an established timeframe following appointment.

• Possession of a current American Red Cross certificate in First Aid/CPR/AED for Schools and the Community, or the ability to obtain certification within three months of employment.

• A valid Class C California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City’s Vehicle Usage Policy.

• Must meet all applicable California POST and Government Code requirements for peace officer employment.

Physical and Mental Demands

The employee may be required to inspect field operations, respond to emergency incidents, attend community events, and perform duties in a variety of environmental conditions.

Additional responsibilities include maintaining emotional resilience, sound judgment, and leadership effectiveness during emergencies, critical incidents, organizational challenges, and complex crisis situations.

Work Environment: 

Use of Department-authorized vehicles, communication systems, computers, and specialized public safety equipment is required. 

Disaster Service Worker Designation:

Employees are required to complete assigned Disaster Service Worker training and report for duty during emergencies as directed.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs without regard to legally protected characteristics. 

Reasonable Accommodations

The City is committed to ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and equal opportunity throughout the employment process and during the performance of essential job functions.