Chief of Police

Henry County Schools; McDonough (GA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry County Schools in McDonough, GA, seeks a Chief of Police to lead the district Police Department, ensure student and staff safety, and uphold professional standards. Responsibilities include directing patrols, investigations, threat assessment, emergency management, and liaison with law enforcement.

The role oversees budgets and training; on-call 24/7. Requirements include POST certification, a law enforcement degree or equivalent, and 10 years in the field with 3 in management; experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• POST Certified Peace Officer mandatory.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience, including 3 years in management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the district police department and operations.
• Direct patrols, investigations, threat assessment, emergency management, and crime prevention.
• Hire, supervise, train, and evaluate police and security personnel.
• Coordinate emergency response plans and collaborate with safety teams.
• Advise the Superintendent on school safety and crisis management.
• Oversee budgets, resources, and procurement.
• Maintain community relations and represent the district with agencies.

Skills

Leadership

Crisis management

Communication

Judgment

Integrity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement Administration, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or related field

Job description

Chief of Police

Division: Staff and Operational Effectiveness

Reports To: Deputy Superintendent of Staff & Operational Effectiveness

Evaluation Tool: HCSAPE

Salary Schedule: Chief of Police

Revision Dates: 7/2026

FLSA Status: Exempt

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and implement a comprehensive program to ensure the security and safety of students, staff, and visitors to all district campuses and facilities.
• Plan, organize, and direct all operations of the district’s Police Department, including patrol activities, investigations, threat assessment, emergency management and response, and crime prevention.
• Hire, supervise, train, and evaluate district police officers and security personnel; ensure adherence to professional standards and ethics.
• Coordinate emergency preparedness and response plans, including lockdowns, evacuations, reunification procedures, weather-related issues, and community health matters in collaboration with district and school safety.
• Serve as the district’s primary liaison with local, state, and federal law enforcement and emergency management agencies.
• Oversee investigations of criminal activity, threats, or incidents occurring on district property or involving district students/staff.
• Advise the Superintendent and Cabinet on school safety, crisis management, and law enforcement issues.
• Manage departmental budgets, resources, and equipment procurement, while providing recommendations to support operational effectiveness and strategic priorities.
• Promote positive community relations by engaging with parents, students, and staff to build trust and transparency.
• Serve as representation for the school district, Superintendent or designee when presenting information and promoting goodwill to both internal and stakeholders.
• Oversee the development and delivery of staff and student safety training programs (e.g., active shooter, de-escalation, threat assessment).
• Remain available on-call 24 hours a day for emergency response.
• Provides early warning for adverse school conditions in relation to weather, emergency response, etc. in collaboration with district and school safety.
• Monitor compliance with current state legislation and communicate applicable requirements to district personnel to ensure effective implementation and adherence across all schools.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Essential Duties

• Bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement Administration, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, or related field, or any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.
• Certification/license required: POST Certified Peace Officer.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience to include three (3) years of management/supervisory experience in law enforcement.
• Experience in a school district and/or juvenile justice system preferred.
• Experience working with youth preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and methods.
• Strong understanding of school safety, juvenile law, and educational environments.
• Ability to plan, direct, and supervise law enforcement operations effectively.
• Excellent judgment, leadership, communication, and crisis management skills.
• Ability to analyze complex situations, make sound decisions, and act with integrity under pressure.
• Ability to work well with staff and the public; ability to effectively respond to inquiries or complaints from staff members, agencies, or members of the community.
• Exceptional integrity, commitment to confidentiality, excellent character, and strong professional reputation.
• Ability to abide by the Georgia Professional Standards Code of Ethics for Educators.
• Must be regularly, predictably, and reliably at work. Must be able to be present at the physical worksite.
• Ability to perform tasks involving prolonged periods of standing, walking, and sitting.
• Ability to perform routine physical activities such as bending, lifting, and pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds.
• Vision, hearing, written, and verbal communication skills are essential factors in performing essential tasks.