Police Chief

City of Cathedral City•Cathedral City, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Located in the Coachella Valley between the cities of Palm Springs to the west and Rancho Mirage to the east, the City of Cathedral City is a vibrant, diverse community of over 55,000 residents. It is the third largest city of the nine cities in the Coachella Valley and is a majority Hispanic/Latino community. Cathedral City is a welcoming and vibrant home for the LGBTQ+ community with estimates that nearly 30% of Cathedral City residents identify themselves as being part of the LGBTQ+ community. The City has continued to receive a perfect Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, reflecting the City’s policies and practices including having both a police department liaison as well as a city executive officer liaison for the LGBTQ+ community. The City's leadership takes great pride in an organization where employees feel empowered, supported, and genuinely excited to come to work. Cathedral City's workforce reflects its community — diverse, hardworking, and deeply connected to the place they serve. The City is committed to ensuring that it is accessible to all residents, including the City's large and vibrant Spanish-speaking population. Cathedral City is a full-service charter city operating under the Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of five members elected by district, including a Mayor selected by the Council. The Police Chief reports directly to the City Manager. The Police Chief manages 82.5 sworn and non-sworn personnel with a budget of over $21M (FY 26/27) across the administration, operations, and investigations divisions and the emergency communications center. The Cathedral City Police Department also manages the City’s contract with Riverside County for animal control services. The Cathedral City Police Department has successfully recruited multiple positions and currently has limited vacancies. The department is respected within the community and has successfully established partnerships with other law enforcement agencies throughout the region. Cathedral City has maintained one of the lowest crime rates in the Coachella Valley and has launched multiple programs and initiatives to address issues and to promote public safety within the community. These progressive initiatives demonstrate the City’s commitment to solving problems and addressing public safety while maintaining the core values of professionalism, integrity, and community partnership. Cathedral City is seeking an exceptional Police Chief who personifies integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, ethical decision making and fairness to lead the Cathedral City Police Department into the future. Cathedral City seeks a Police Chief who can meet the needs and expectations of its diverse population together with those of the sworn and non-sworn personnel of the Cathedral City Police Department and the Cathedral City Council. In preparation for this recruitment, the City surveyed residents, Cathedral City Police Department staff, and the City Council on the characteristics or qualities they thought are important to have in the next Police Chief. There is a strong desire across the groups for a Police Chief who promotes community engagement, is proactive, can lead within a diverse community, and has excellent communication skills. The next Police Chief will step into an active and forward-moving department. Key priorities include: Community Oriented Policing - Evaluating policies that serve to increase visibility and community engagement while building trust between the Cathedral City Police Department and the community. Recruitment & Retention - Developing recruitment and retention strategies to continue to attract and retain qualified and capable staff who reflect the values of the department and the community, including those related to workplace culture, professional development, recognition, and wellness. Technology & Innovation - Advancing technology initiatives and modern law enforcement tools and technologies to promote community and officer safety, including continued support for the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program and the City’s involvement with the Coachella Valley Real Time Intelligence Center. Cathedral City is seeking more than a skilled administrator — the city is looking for a leader who connects deeply with community, communicates with authenticity, and leads by example. The ideal Chief will bring executive-level law enforcement experience paired with a genuine passion for the people they serve.

Requirements

Exceptional Police Chief who personifies integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, ethical decision making and fairness.
Ability to meet the needs and expectations of its diverse population together with those of the sworn and non-sworn personnel of the Cathedral City Police Department and the Cathedral City Council.
Promotes community engagement.
Is proactive.
Can lead within a diverse community.
Has excellent communication skills.
Executive-level law enforcement experience.
Genuine passion for the people they serve.

Responsibilities

Manage 82.5 sworn and non-sworn personnel with a budget of over $21M (FY 26/27) across the administration, operations, and investigations divisions and the emergency communications center.
Manage the City’s contract with Riverside County for animal control services.
Promote community engagement.
Be proactive.
Lead within a diverse community.
Communicate effectively.
Evaluate policies that serve to increase visibility and community engagement while building trust between the Cathedral City Police Department and the community.
Develop recruitment and retention strategies to continue to attract and retain qualified and capable staff who reflect the values of the department and the community, including those related to workplace culture, professional development, recognition, and wellness.
Advance technology initiatives and modern law enforcement tools and technologies to promote community and officer safety, including continued support for the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program and the City’s involvement with the Coachella Valley Real Time Intelligence Center.
Connect deeply with community.
Communicate with authenticity.
Lead by example.