Police Chief (E5)

City of Annapolis•Annapolis, MD

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Police Chief is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the Annapolis Police Department. This position involves developing and implementing policing strategies, fostering community relations, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws. The Police Chief will lead a team of sworn and civilian personnel, promoting a culture of professionalism, accountability, diversity, community engagement and service excellence to enhance public safety and community trust. This is an essential position.

Requirements

Proven track record of an in-depth understanding and utilization of law enforcement principles, practices, and legal standards
Familiarity with community policing paradigms
Awareness of current trends in public safety, constitutional policing, and crime prevention.
Strong leadership, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
Effective conflict resolution, crisis management, and problem-solving abilities
Proficiency in data analysis and strategic planning.
Ability to leverage effective relationship building strategies to build, maintain and sustain trust with diverse communities, within the department and the government
Capacity to lead and motivate a diverse team
Adept at managing change and fostering innovation.
Bachelor’s degree in law enforcement or public safety administration.
Twelve years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including at least two years in an executive or supervisory capacity.
Experience in community policing, crime analysis, and strategic planning.
Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Maryland driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

Completion of advanced law enforcement leadership training (e.g., FBI National Academy, PERF's Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), FBI National Executive Institute, Command College) is highly desirable.
Master’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field.
Valid Maryland police officer certification or the ability to obtain Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) certification via reciprocity within 6 months of hire.
Bilingual proficiency.

Responsibilities

Direct and supervise all departmental operations, ensuring efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community.
Recruit, train, and evaluate staff, fostering a culture of professionalism, ethical conduct, accountability and continuous improvement.
Develop departmental policies and procedures in alignment with community needs, policy standards and legal standards.
Regularly inform and advise the Mayor, City Manager and City Council on public safety matters, departmental performance, programs and initiatives designed to protect the city and strengthen community relationships.
Manage departmental labor relations, fostering a professional and collaborative working relationship with collective bargaining units and employee associations.
Promote organizational integrity, policy compliance and readiness for critical incidents.
Devise and implement strong community policing strategies to engage, support and foster a productive, trusting and transparent department/community relationship.
Establish and maintain positive relationships with community members, local organizations, business leaders, and government agencies.
Engage in community outreach initiatives and programming to promote public safety education and crime prevention.
Serve as the principal spokesperson for the department, managing media relations and delivering transparent, timely communication to the public during critical incidents, emergencies, and matters of public concern.
Develop and implement strategic plans for crime reduction, community policing, and emergency response.
Analyze crime trends and departmental performance metrics, adjusting strategies as necessary and consistently report findings to the Mayor, City Manager, and City Council.
Oversee the implementation, procurement, and management of modern police technologies, including body-worn cameras, data analytics tools, and digital evidence platforms.
Ensure that department technologies are supported by sound policy, training, auditing, privacy protections, records retention practices, public disclosure processes, and evidence-handling protocols.
Prepare and administer the departmental budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with city, state and federal regulations.
Seek and manage grant funding to support departmental initiatives.
Ensure that all operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
Oversee internal investigations and handle disciplinary matters with transparency and in accordance with the Maryland Police Accountability laws.
Ensure disciplinary processes protect employee due process rights, provide appropriate communication to complainants, and support transparency, accountability, and public trust.