Deputy Police Chief

City of Ypsilanti; Ypsilanti (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Ypsilanti is seeking a Deputy Police Chief to assist the Police Chief in planning, directing, and administering all operations of the Ypsilanti Police Department. This executive role provides leadership, oversees divisions, and serves as the Chief's designee in their absence.

The position emphasizes professional policing, community trust, and equitable, constitutional law enforcement services, with opportunities to lead in policy development and budget oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in criminal justice, public administration or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including 4 years in command or senior supervisory role.
• MCOLES certification or ability to obtain certification within a specified timeframe.
• Valid Michigan driver's license.
• Ability to pass all required background investigations, medical, psychological, and drug screening requirements.
• Staff in Command Leadership Training Course preferred

Responsibilities

• Assists the Police Chief in overall management, strategic planning, and administration of the Police Department.
• Oversees daily operations of assigned divisions, units, and specialized functions.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates departmental policies, procedures, goals, and performance metrics.
• Provides leadership in community‑oriented policing, problem‑solving initiatives, and partnerships with residents, businesses, and organizations.
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates command staff; promotes development and succession planning.
• Assists in budget development, fiscal oversight, grant administration, and resource allocation.
• Reviews internal affairs matters, critical incidents, and use‑of‑force reviews per policy and law.
• Ensures compliance with laws, accreditation standards, and best practices.
• Represents the Department at public meetings, commissions, and community events.
• Participates in labor relations, contract administration, and disciplinary processes.
• Acts as Incident Commander or command‑level support during major incidents and emergencies.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Public administration

Policy development

Budgeting

Community engagement

Communication

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice/public administration or related field

Job description

Position Summary

The Deputy Police Chief assists the Police Chief in planning, directing, and administering all operations of the Ypsilanti Police Department. This position provides executive-level leadership, oversees departmental divisions as assigned, and serves as the Chief's designee in their absence. The Deputy Police Chief plays a critical role in advancing professional policing practices, strengthening community trust, and ensuring efficient, constitutional, and equitable law enforcement services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are representative and not exhaustive:

• Assists the Police Chief in the overall management, strategic planning, and administration of the Police Department.
• Oversees daily operations of assigned divisions, units, and specialized functions.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates departmental policies, procedures, goals, and performance metrics.
• Provides leadership in community-oriented policing, problem-solving initiatives, and collaborative partnerships with residents, businesses, and community organizations.
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates command and supervisory staff; promotes professional development and succession planning.
• Assists in budget development, fiscal oversight, grant administration, and resource allocation.
• Reviews and addresses internal affairs matters, critical incidents, and use-of-force reviews in accordance with policy and law.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, accreditation standards, consent decrees (if applicable), and best practices.
• Represents the Police Department at public meetings, City commissions, intergovernmental committees, and community events.
• Participates in labor relations activities, including contract administration and discipline consistent with collective bargaining agreements.
• Acts as Incident Commander or command-level support during major incidents and emergencies.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and administration.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and organizational management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and work effectively with diverse communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze complex issues, manage change, and implement innovative solutions.
• Knowledge of personnel management, budgeting, and municipal governance.
• Proficiency in policy development, risk management, and critical incident response.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including 4 years in a command or senior supervisory role (Lieutenant or above).
• Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification, or ability to obtain certification within a specified timeframe.
• Valid Michigan driver's license.
• Ability to pass all required background investigations, medical, psychological, and drug screening requirements.
• Staff in Command Leadership Training Course preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a municipal police department serving a diverse or university-adjacent community.
• Experience with community-based policing models, reform initiatives, or accreditation processes.
• Training or experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and mental health response partnerships.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, transparency, and accountability in policing.

Working Conditions

• Primarily administrative with frequent field exposure.
• May be required to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and respond to emergencies.
• Subject to on-call status and emergency response requirements.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary and benefits are commensurate with qualifications and experience and are established in accordance with City policy