Police Chief

Sierra Madre Police Department; Sierra Madre (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Sierra Madre Police Department seeks an accomplished leader to serve as Police Chief, directing all department operations and implementing policy to advance public safety, crime prevention, and community policing. You will oversee the budget, strategic planning, and coordination with city executives to ensure service excellence.

Reporting to the City Manager, you will foster collaboration with residents, schools, businesses and agencies, guiding modern policing practices and diversity and

Job description

General Purpose:

Under administrative direction, the Police Chief plans, directs, and coordinates all activities of the Police Department. This role implements policies and establishes procedures related to crime prevention, law enforcement, and community policing services. The Police Chief develops and administers the department budget and serves as a member of the City’s executive management team, reporting directly to the City Manager. The Police Chief position is either filled, vacant, or with an Interim Police Chief temporarily assigned to ensure continuity of leadership and operations.

City Organization:

Incorporated in 1907, the City of Sierra Madre is a General Law City operating under the Council-Manager form of government. Legislative authority is vested in a five-member City Council elected at large for four-year terms.

Sierra Madre is one of the oldest and smallest cities in Los Angeles County. Despite its size, the city provides comprehensive public safety services through its Police and Fire Departments, along with essential municipal utilities and community programs. The community enjoys a high quality of life with median income, educational attainment, and property values exceeding peer cities in Los Angeles County.

Sierra Madre is consistently recognized as one of California’s safest cities and maintains a fiscally stable government with strong pension funding.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties represent the principal functions of the position and are not all-inclusive:

• Plan, direct, and coordinate programs and operations to maintain law and order, protect life and property, control traffic, prevent crime, and enforce laws and ordinances.
• Analyze operational and community service demands and develop comprehensive strategies to meet departmental and public safety while maintaining the highest quality of life for residents.
• Develop, implement, and maintain departmental policies, procedures, and professional standards consistent with applicable laws, constitutional policing principles, and best practices.
• Lead data-driven policing initiatives and incorporate technology and modern management practices to enhance operational efficiency, transparency and public safety services.
• Direct the preparation and administration of the Police Department budget; oversee staffing, resource allocation, and operational planning to meet service expectations and organizational goals.
• Advise and assist the City Manager and City Council in the development of policies and programs related to public safety, crime prevention, emergency preparedness, and community policing.
• Foster collaborative partnerships with community organizations, schools, businesses, and public agencies to advance community-oriented policing and cooperative public safety initiatives.
• Coordinate law enforcement and emergency response activities with local, state, and federal agencies; establish and maintain productive relationships with residents, community groups, and criminal justice partners.
• Select, supervise, mentor, train, and evaluate department personnel ; promote accountability, professionalism, employee development, and organizational morale.
• Maintain high visibility and accessibility within the community to encourage positive engagement, transparency and public trust.
• Serve as a spokesperson and representative for the Police Department in community advisory, professional, and intergovernmental settings.
• Demonstrate respect for the community’s unique heritage and values while promoting equitable policing, inclusion, and collaborative community partnerships.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Delegate authority appropriately while monitoring organizational performance, accountability, and service delivery.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and unbiased policing practices throughout the organization and community engagement efforts.
• Work collaboratively with the City’s executive management team, employee groups, and labor organizations to support organizational and effective public service delivery.
• Provide strategic leadership and organizational direction to ensure the department remains responsive to evolving public safety challenges, community expectations, and professional standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Community-oriented policing, constitutional policing, procedural justice, and contemporary public safety strategies.
• labor relations, risk management, and applicable federal, state, and local laws affecting law enforcement operations and personnel management.
• Supervisory, executive leadership, public relations, media relations, and interagency communication techniques.
• Municipal organization, administration, strategic planning, organizational development, and budget preparation and practices .
• Patrol methods, criminal investigation techniques, emergency management operations, and law enforcement command procedures.
• Physical layout, demographic composition, and community characteristics of the City, including unique law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management challenges.
• Administrative procedures, personnel management, succession planning, employee development, and organizational accountability strategies.
• Vehicle Code, Penal Code, and other applicable laws and regulations relevant to police operations and public safety administration.
• Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), mutual aid coordination, disaster preparedness, and continuity of operations planning.
• Emerging fields such as public safety leadership and criminal justice technology reflecting modern law enforcement trends.

Ability to:

• Plan, direct, manage and coordinate comprehensive Police Department services to include programs, personnel and operations effectively.
• Analyze complex organizational, operational, legal, po