Chief of Police – Town of Duck
About The Position
The Town of Duck, North Carolina, seeks a strategic, collaborative, and community-focused law enforcement executive to lead its Police Department. The Chief plans, organizes, and directs departmental activities and oversees patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and related law enforcement services. The role reports directly to the Town Manager and directly supervises the Patrol Lieutenant and Administrative Lieutenant, while sharing supervision of an administrative staff member. The Chief sets departmental vision, goals, performance standards, policies, procedures, and operating practices. Responsibilities include developing and managing the department’s $2.8 million FY 2026–27 budget, providing police-related input for the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan, and overseeing personnel and resources. The Chief advises the Town Manager and Town Council on law enforcement matters, collaborates with other agencies on crime prevention and investigations, and helps prepare the Town and department for emergencies, storm mitigation, and recovery. The incoming Chief is expected to build on the department’s established strengths and close-knit culture, support recruitment, retention, training, and employee well-being, and strengthen community-oriented policing. The role also includes working with Town leadership and partners to advance a new public safety facility project. The successful candidate must live within a 45-minute drive of Duck during normal commuting times and conditions; Town residency is not required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a closely related field, supplemented by advanced coursework in police administration.
- Progressively responsible management experience in law enforcement, preferably including three to five years in a command-level position (Captain or above), or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Must be examined and certified by a licensed physician to meet the physical requirements necessary to properly fulfill the role as a sworn law enforcement officer.
- Active Law Enforcement Certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, or the immediate ability to obtain certification via reciprocity.
- Must live within a 45-minute drive during normal commuting times and conditions; Town residency is not required.
Nice To Haves
- Three to five years in a command-level law enforcement position (Captain or above) is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships through active listening, empathy, patience, approachability, and effective interpersonal skills.
- Collaborative leadership that values existing personnel and builds on established departmental strengths.
- Strong judgment, ethical standards, composure, and effective de-escalation skills.
- Experience supporting recruitment, retention, professional development, budgeting, technology, equipment, and capital planning.
- Ability to communicate transparently and build relationships with community stakeholders and neighboring public safety partners.
Responsibilities
- Plan, organize, and direct the activities of the Police Department.
- Oversee patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and related law enforcement activities.
- Establish departmental vision, short- and long-term goals, objectives, performance standards, policies, procedures, and standards of performance.
- Develop and manage the department’s operating and capital budgets, including the FY 2026–27 budget of $2.8 million, and provide police-related input for the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan.
- Oversee departmental personnel and resources and directly supervise the Patrol Lieutenant and Administrative Lieutenant; share supervision of an administrative staff member.
- Advise the Town Manager and Town Council on law enforcement issues.
- Work with other law enforcement agencies on crime prevention and investigative activities.
- Collaborate in preparing the Town and department for emergency conditions, storm mitigation, and recovery.
- Support recruitment, retention, competitive compensation and benefits, career development, and training opportunities for officers.
- Advance the public safety facility project with Town leadership and other partners.
- Strengthen community-oriented policing and relationships with residents, visitors, renters, and seasonal residents.
- Maintain a positive departmental culture, supporting teamwork, employee well-being, work-life balance, and professional development.
- Attend Town events, remain engaged with officers and the community, and work alongside staff when needed.
- Communicate transparently with Town leadership, Town Council, and community stakeholders.
- Build partnerships with neighboring law enforcement and public safety agencies and manage resources strategically.
Benefits
- Comprehensive employee benefits package for full-time employees and public safety personnel.
- Full health coverage for employees.
- Dental coverage for employees.
- Vision coverage for employees.
- Paid vacation leave.
- 401(k) contributions.
- Participation in the Local Government Employees’ Retirement System.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
