Police Chief

City of Bentonville • Bentonville, AR

22h • Onsite

About The Position

Plans, organizes, and directs the efficient operation of the Police Department through supervision and direction of subordinate officers, who maintain law and order, prevent crime, protect life and property, and assure all police services are delivered in a safe, timely, and efficient manner. This role involves consulting with the Mayor to develop, implement, and oversee police department operations, providing executive leadership and direction for all police department operations and personnel. The Police Chief develops, implements, and enforces comprehensive policies, directives, procedures, and operational methods. They are responsible for selecting, making hiring recommendations, scheduling, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating a staff of 149+ law enforcement officers, telecommunicators, and clerical support staff. The position requires advising and assisting police officers in non-routine investigations and addressing other police-related issues, and may personally participate in solving difficult problems. The Chief attends City Council meetings and public forums to explain police department activities, establishes and maintains favorable public relations, and coordinates with other department heads and the Staff Attorney. They serve on various boards and commissions regarding public safety, assist other law enforcement authorities, and direct the proper use, accountability, and maintenance of department vehicles and equipment. The role involves coordinating daily police activities, internal investigations, and administering disciplinary actions. The Police Chief directs staff in preparing budget proposals, maintaining records, and recruiting, approves the police budget, negotiates for funds, and commands operations during emergencies. They prepare requests for government funds, manage the annual operating budget, and develop strategic plans for the department's future growth. Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as accreditation standards like CALEA, is crucial. The position requires maintaining knowledge of modern police administration, standards for measuring police service quality, and efficient organization, management, and supervision methods. The ability to plan, organize, and direct law enforcement personnel, and to direct emergency operations using the Incident Command System (ICS) with clear communication, efficient resource management, and effective multi-agency coordination is essential. The role also requires the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, and perform other duties as prescribed by the Mayor, City Council, and citizens.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year College or University and fifteen (15) years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Sworn Police Officer in the State of Arkansas
• Senior Law Enforcement Certification, State of Arkansas
• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of all law enforcement personnel.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to direct emergency operations using the Incident Command System (ICS), ensuring clear communication, efficient resource management, and effective multi-agency coordination.

Nice To Haves

• Attendance at work and the ability to get along with the public, supervisors, and co-workers are essential elements of this position.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and directs the efficient operation of the Police Department.
• Maintains law and order, prevents crime, protects life and property.
• Assures all police services are delivered in a safe, timely, and efficient manner.
• Consults with the Mayor to develop, implement, and oversee police department operations.
• Provides executive leadership and direction for all police department operations and personnel.
• Develops, implements, and enforces comprehensive policies, directives, procedures, and operational methods.
• Selects, makes hiring recommendations, schedules, assigns, reviews, and evaluates a staff of 149+ law enforcement officers, telecommunicators, and clerical support staff.
• Advises and assists police officers in non-routine investigations and addressing other police-related issues.
• Participates in solving difficult problems faced by police officers.
• Attends City Council meetings, service and civic club meetings, and other public forums to explain activities and functions of the police department.
• Establishes and maintains favorable public relations involving the police department.
• Coordinates police department activities with other department heads and the Staff Attorney.
• Serves on various boards and commissions regarding public safety.
• Assists other law enforcement authorities in the search and apprehension of wanted persons.
• Directs the proper use, accountability, and maintenance of all department vehicles and equipment.
• Coordinates and administers daily police activities.
• Coordinates internal investigation of members of department for alleged wrong doing.
• Administers disciplinary actions, including suspension or demotion, for violations of departmental rules or demonstrated inefficiency.
• Directs activities of personnel engaged in preparing budget proposals, maintaining police records, and recruiting staff.
• Approves police budget and negotiates with municipal officials for appropriation of funds.
• Commands overall operations during emergencies such as fires and riots.
• Prepares requests for government agencies to obtain funds for special operations or for purchasing equipment for department.
• Prepares and manages the police department annual operating budget.
• Develops and implements strategic plans for the future growth of the police department.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as accreditation standards such as CALEA.
• Maintains and manages all documentation required for CALEA accreditation.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of the principals and practices of a modern police administration.
• Develops and maintains knowledge of standards by which the quality of police services is measured.
• Develops and maintains the principals and methods of efficient organization, management, and supervision of department programs, policies, and personnel.
• Demonstrates the ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of all law enforcement personnel.
• Directs emergency operations using the Incident Command System (ICS), ensuring clear communication, efficient resource management, and effective multi-agency coordination.
• Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Performs other duties as prescribed by the Mayor, City Council, and the citizens.
• Manages four Police Captains who supervise a total of 100+ employees in the Patrol, Criminal Investigation, Operations, and Administrative divisions.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Conducts interviewing, hiring, and training of employees.
• Plans, assigns, and directs work.
• Appraises performance.
• Rewards and disciplines employees.
• Addresses complaints and resolves problems.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive