Patrol Lieutenant

Skagit County; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Skagit County is seeking a Patrol Lieutenant to lead an assigned Sheriff’s Office area, directing operations, staff, and contractors while ensuring compliance with policies and budgets.

The role includes strategic planning, interdepartmental coordination, contract oversight, and participation in incident command during major events. Candidates should have a high school diploma or GED and Sheriff’s Sergeant experience, with college coursework in related fields preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED AND 2 years of experience as a Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant.
• College level coursework in law enforcement, law and justice, social science, or management is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates, and supervises all operations within assigned areas of the Sheriff’s Office.
• Develops short- and long-range plans, programs, goals, and objectives for assigned areas.
• Reviews decisions, works on budget compliance, and ensures policy adherence.
• Assists in budget preparation, monitors expenditures, and manages contracts for outside services.
• Interprets collective bargaining agreements and participates in labor negotiations and disciplinary actions.
• Assumes command at incident scenes as needed and represents the County publicly when required.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

College coursework in law enforcement/management

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Databases

Job description

The Patrol Lieutenant serves as the commander of an assigned area within the Sheriff’s Office, providing leadership and direction for all assigned operations. He/she supervises and directs all staff in assigned areas, including Sergeants, Deputies, support personnel, and contractors. The Lieutenant assists the Chief Deputy in planning, coordinating, directing, and controlling activities, and operations of a Division within the Sheriff’s Office. He/she represents Skagit County by maintaining a professional approach and demeanor in all activities. He/she ensures compliance with Sheriff’s Office and County policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, case law, contracts, and other legal requirements. He/she manages programs and staff in a manner that ensures that expenditures remain within the approved budget. He/she develops relationships with staff, other departments, and individuals outside county government that encourages participation, teamwork, effective relationships, and use of resources. The Lieutenant exercises independent judgment and discretion. He/she assesses and responds appropriately to emergency situations. The Lieutenant participates as a member of a team in the incident command structure.

Essential Job Duties:

Plans, coordinates, and supervises all operations within assigned areas of the Sheriff’s Office. Directs activities within approved budget and available personnel and in compliance with guidelines, policies, procedures, and regulations. Develops recommendations and implements strategic short- and long-range plans, programs, goals, and objectives for assigned areas. Facilitates and coordinates cooperative planning and provision of services in conjunction with other divisions, departments, contractors, and entities. Reviews and updates planning recommendations. Establishes effective communication and promotes teamwork within assigned areas, Sheriff’s Office, other Skagit County Departments, and the community at large. Identifies trends and problems hindering progress and implements recommendations for problem resolution with staff and higher-level management.

Assists in the preparation and justification of the budget for an assigned area. Monitors and maintains expenditures within an approved budget. Recommends and implements cost-effective measures to increase efficiency and effectiveness and uses resources and technology effectively to increase productivity. Assists in the development of Requests for Proposals, Requests for Qualifications, and contracts for outside services. Negotiates contracts for services between the Sheriff’s Office and outside entities or consultants as assigned. Secures, monitors, and assures compliance with grants, contracts, and other funding sources.

Participates in the selection process for new employees, specialty assignments, and subordinate promotions. Determines needs for employee training to meet changing system, legal, or program demands. Assigns, supervises, and evaluates work consistent with assigned job descriptions. Conducts and/or reviews performance evaluations to guide the development of employees and provides a record of performance, ensures consistent evaluations and regular feedback throughout assigned areas. Facilitates the continued professional development of all staff and incorporates sound managerial practices when directly or indirectly supervising staff. Reviews decisions, work products, and timesheet records as needed to ensure accuracy and compliance with applicable laws, contracts, regulations, and policies.

Interprets and applies collective bargaining agreements, Civil Service rules, policies, and applicable rules and regulations. Makes recommendations regarding employment actions. Initiates, documents, and implements disciplinary actions as assigned. Responds to or provides input on disciplinary actions and grievances as assigned. Conducts use of force reviews for all incidents for policy compliance and compliance with Federal, State, and local laws. Manages the Sheriff’s Office accreditation process as assigned. Participates in labor negotiation preparations.

Assists in reviewing, interpreting, and preparing data to analyze and make recommendations about which programs and/or major project proposals should be initiated, modified, or removed. Assists updating or drafting policies, procedures, and tasks. Reviews decisions made by subordinates to ensure legal requirements are met.

Responds to or supervises the resolution of sensitive and complex inquiries, complaints, emergencies, or major incidents with an assigned area and requests for information from the public and other departments, providing information in a courteous manner while maintaining appropriate levels of confidentiality. Formulates recommendations, anticipating possible ramifications, and communicates through the appropriate chain of command.

Assumes command of an incident scene as necessary for effective command control in furtherance of Sheriff’s Office public safety mission as assigned. Assesses and responds appropriately to emergency situations. Participates as a member of a team in any incident command structure.

Exemplifies public accountability and a positive public service approach with assigned staff. Represents Skagit County as a spokesperson at public meetings, seminars, conferences, and training sessions as assigned. Testifies in court.

Additional Job Duties:

The Lieutenant may work on special projects that may be outside of the normal area of assignment and he/she backs up other Sheriff’s Office managerial staff as directed.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• The Lieutenant position requires a high school diploma or GED AND2 years of experience as a Skagit County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant.
• College level coursework in law enforcement, law and justice, social science, or management is highly desired.

Requires Knowledge of:

• Modern law enforcement principals, methods, techniques, and legal terminology: federal, state, and local laws; court decisions governing the operation of a law enforcement organization; rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and special orders as they pertain to operations; local court operations and rules; community and state human resource services and techniques to effectively access those services.
• Organizational dynamics and principles and practices of management and supervision, including planning, staffing, selection, training, coaching, directing, coordinating, and evaluating. Principles and techniques to effectively gain consensus of diverse groups and agencies within assigned areas.
• Safety and security hazards, precautions, standards, policies, and procedures pertinent to the area of assignment, including the handling of hazardous and dangerous materials, firearms, ammunition, or other less lethal management tools unique to law enforcement. First aid principles and skills and their application as well as basic indicators of mental health and chemical dependency issues.
• Fiscal management including budget preparation, grant administration, service and intergovernmental contract negotiation and administration, expenditure control and record keeping.
• Computer operation and a variety of software including word processing, spreadsheets, database, and other applications specific to the area of assignment.

Requires the Ability to:

• Plan, prioritize, coordinate, organize, and evaluate staffing and services. Train, direct and coach staff. Administer and change plans, policies, and work programs. Read, understand, interpret, analyze, and provide direction to ensure appropriate application of policies, procedures, legal requirements, regulations, contracts, and court documents.

• Analyze situations quickly and objectively. Calmly determine the appropriate course of action to be taken in urgent and emergency situations. Apply sound judgment and problem-solving techniques to make reasoned, timely, and consistent decisions and to facilitate the effective resolution of problems, grievances, and complaints.
• Use tact, discretion, respect, persuasion, diplomacy, and courtesy to gain the cooperation of others and to establish and maintain effective teams and working relationships and rapport with public officials, representatives of other entities, department heads, co-workers, employees, and diverse members of the public.
• Listen attentively and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals and groups in clear, concise language appropriate for the purpose and parties addressed, including preparing and making public presentations which can be understood by non-technical listeners and preparing and/or directing preparation of comprehensive written reports, materials, and correspondence.
• Provide leadership and maintain a high level of personal and professional integrity and honesty. Promote the commitment of the County to provide outstanding public, intra-and inter-departmental customer service.
• Promote staff and team development and high performance by assuring regular, effective, and consistent feedback and evaluation.
• Assure that absolute confidentiality is maintained as required and sensitive information is handled appropriately.
• Work effectively in a distracting multi-task environment; take appropriate initiative and effectively delegate responsibility and authority. Work independently and cooperatively as a member of a team.
• Estimate and analyze cost and effectiveness of programs. Compile, monitor and interpret fiscal and statistical information.
• Develop ways to identify, improve and promote efficient systems and processes.
• Maintain current knowledge for assigned areas and adapt to new technologies, keeping personal and team technical skills up-to-date and using technology to increase productivity. Maintain all issued equipment in proper working order.

LICENSES and/or CERTIFICATIONS:

Background check must meet County criteria for law enforcement employees.

Have successfully completed the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) Peace Officer Academy and First-Line Supervisor Academy, or similar training in another state and accepted by the WSCJTC as meeting this requirement.

Within one year of appointment, obtain WSCJTC Middle Management Certification as specified in WAC 139-25-110, and maintain throughout employment.

Maintain throughout employment required qualifications or certifications, such as First Aid, CPR, Defensive Tactics, Firearm, electronic control devices and bloodborne/airborne pathogens.

Have a driving record that meets County and Sheriff’s Office standards and possess a valid Washington State driver’s license at time of hire and through employment.

Pass civil service job related examinations and requirements.

Be a legal resident of the United States

Working Conditions/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Environment:

Standard office setting with occasional field work. Work environment is both formal and informal, team oriented, having variable tasks, pace, and pressure. Work is usually performed indoors in office and in meeting rooms; occasionally work outdoors in all weather conditions when required to respond to in-progress calls and major incidents.

Physical:

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment; ability to respond to calls for service and to take police action when necessary. Willingness and ability to work various shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and to respond to calls after hours.

Vision:

See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

Hearing:

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Skagit County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

It is the policy of Skagit County to follow all federal and state laws to ensure non-discrimination with regard to race, color religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status and/or physical or mental disability in its employment practices.

American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice: Individuals, who need an ADA accommodation to complete the application, test or interview process, please call: [phone].