Police Chief- Sycuan Tribal Police Department

Sycuan•El Cajon, CA

About The Position

The Sycuan Tribal Police Department seeks an experienced, visionary, and community-focused Tribal Police Chief to serve as its senior law enforcement executive. The Chief provides strategic vision, executive leadership, and expert counsel to the Tribal Council on public safety, law enforcement operations, emergency preparedness and response, community engagement, intergovernmental relations, regulatory compliance, and protection of Tribal sovereignty. The role fosters partnerships with Tribal, federal, state, and local agencies to advance public safety, strengthen community trust, and support the safety, security, and well-being of the Tribal community. The Chief oversees all police department operations, including patrol, investigations, special units, support services, personnel development, policy and regulatory compliance, budgeting, resource allocation, and emergency response. The position promotes service-oriented, community-focused policing and represents the department and Sycuan in relationships with Tribal leadership, public safety agencies, community stakeholders, regulators, prosecutors, and media.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
10 years of experience with a California law enforcement agency, or 10 years of experience with the Sycuan Tribal Police Department, with progressive leadership responsibility.
Graduate of a California POST-certified academy, or a certified academy of another state or the federal government with a California POST waiver.
Strong knowledge of law enforcement principles, best practices, and community policing philosophies.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive community relationships.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Proficiency in budget management and resource allocation.
Familiarity with data analysis and technology applications in law enforcement.
Ability to adapt to changing situations, make informed decisions under pressure, and demonstrate ethical and moral leadership.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with a federally recognized Tribal Police Department.
Knowledge of Tribal sovereignty, Tribal governance, federal Indian law, Public Law 280, and jurisdictional considerations affecting Tribal law enforcement.
Knowledge of SLEC requirements, BIA law enforcement policies, and intergovernmental law enforcement agreements.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with Tribal leadership, Tribal members, community stakeholders, and external law enforcement agencies.
Strong understanding of regulatory compliance, organizational accountability, and risk management practices applicable to Tribal public safety organizations.
Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Responsibilities

Maintain effective working relationships with Tribal officials, Tribal members, employees, the public, and external agencies; act as a liaison, resolve conflicts, and communicate issues requiring Tribal Council attention.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with federal, state, local, and Tribal public safety agencies, including the BIA, U.S. Attorney's Office, San Diego County District Attorney's Office, San Diego County Sheriff's Office, neighboring law enforcement agencies, and police associations.
Keep the department informed about law enforcement trends, legislative changes, and best practices affecting Tribal policing, public safety, and community engagement.
Promote service-oriented policing that emphasizes trust, transparency, accountability, cultural awareness, and collaborative problem-solving.
Build relationships with Tribal and community leaders, organizations, and residents, and maintain a visible, approachable presence in the community.
Develop initiatives and implement community-oriented policing practices that strengthen community relationships and public confidence.
Collaborate with internal departments and community partners on educational, outreach, and engagement events, and provide a police presence at major public events.
Monitor and direct department activities, manage expenses, and assume command of major or sensitive incidents.
Oversee patrol, investigations, special units, and support services; ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, standards, and reporting requirements.
Oversee compliance with SLEC and BIA requirements, memoranda of understanding, mutual aid agreements, and other law enforcement authorities and partnerships.
Establish systems for accountability, risk management, operational review, and continuous improvement; develop and enforce departmental policies, procedures, and standards.
Allocate departmental resources efficiently.
Recruit and select qualified employees; direct command staff; evaluate performance; initiate corrective action; oversee performance reviews; and approve subordinate supervisors' salary or disciplinary decisions.
Develop strategies to support talent attraction, employer branding, and workforce development; foster continuous learning, professional development, and accountability; mentor command staff and officers.
Coordinate emergency, disaster, and critical-incident responses with other agencies and departments, and develop emergency preparedness plans and protocols consistent with Tribal Council directives.
Represent Sycuan through engagement with the Tribal Emergency Response Commission on emergency preparedness, response planning, and public safety initiatives.
Develop and manage the department budget and pursue grant funding and other resources for operations, training, recruitment, equipment, and special initiatives.
Use data and analytics to assess crime trends, allocate resources, develop crime-reduction strategies, and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Represent the department in interactions with Tribal leadership, governmental agencies, community organizations, and media representatives.
Serve as primary liaison to external regulatory, prosecutorial, and public safety organizations, including the BIA, FBI, DOJ, U.S. Attorney's Office, and local District Attorney's Offices.
Participate in regional law enforcement associations, public safety committees, chiefs' associations, and interagency task forces.
Act as an official department spokesperson, communicating professionally, transparently, and promptly during routine operations, community events, and critical incidents.
Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships, grants, and external resources supporting departmental training, recruitment, equipment, and operations.