Police Commander

National Police; Lake Forest Park (WA); On-site; USD 117,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Lake Forest Park Police Department is seeking a Commander to partner with the Chief of Police and shape the department’s future. You will build trust with City leadership, elected officials, and neighborhood groups while leading division programs and growth.

This role requires autonomous leadership and strong organizational skills to drive departmental success. You will manage programs, develop policies, monitor trends, and maintain public relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or related field and at least six years’ full-time experience as a Police Officer with a minimum of three years as a Sergeant or equivalent.
• CJTC Certification as any general or limited commissioned officer.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License and the ability to maintain insurability with the City.
• CPR, First Aid & AED certification within six months of hire.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background investigation, psychological evaluation, medical exam and drug screening.

Responsibilities

• Implements and monitors Division programs, staffing, training, policies, procedures, and practices to enforce laws and ordinances.
• Oversees facilities and equipment programs; tracks inventory, orders equipment, and may serve as quartermaster.
• Develops, revises and evaluates policies and procedures; performs audits and inspections as required.
• Monitors law enforcement trends and recommends operational improvements; communicates changes via policy updates and trainings.
• Maintains relations with the public, City officials, staff, and other agencies.
• Assists with budget preparation and program development; analyzes statistics for community policing.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or related field

Job description

Salary: $117,231.24 – $167,724.84 Annually

Position Summary:

As Commander, you will partner directly with the Chief of Police to shape and sustain the future success of the Lake Forest Park Police Department. This vital role requires a dynamic communicator who can build deep organizational trust and forge strong, collaborative relationships with City leadership, elected officials, and neighborhood community groups. If you are a highly autonomous, organized leader with a proven ability to manage division programs and drive continuous departmental growth, we invite you to apply.

Essential Functions:

• Implements and monitors Division programs, staffing, training, policies, procedures, and practices used to enforce the laws and ordinances of the City and State.
• Oversees the Police Department’s facilities and equipment programs. Includes tracking inventory, ordering and managing new equipment, replacement of budgeted equipment, implementation of new equipment and/or programs to meet future needs; Conducts inspections of Police Department facilities and takes appropriate measures to rectify any problems noted. May serve as quartermaster for the Department.
• Implements, interprets and applies policies, procedures, and plans; Assists with the development, revision, and evaluation of existing and new policies/procedures for the department; Performs audits and inspections of Department activities as required by policy.
• Monitors trends in law enforcement practices and recommends operational and policy improvements; evaluates programs, services, and activities to ensure they are meeting community policing needs; Keeps abreast of modern law enforcement methods, technologies, techniques and best practices; communicate changes to appropriate personnel through policy updates, bulletins, briefings and in-service training.
• Communicates and maintains good relations with the general public, City officials, staff, and other law enforcement agencies.
• Reviews public complaints and recommends to the Police Chief a best course of action; ensures the Police Chief is aware of complaints and keeps the Police Chief apprised of the progress or status of internal matters and issues of public concern;
• Provides community education and solutions to community policing issues; Educates the public, City Council, and staff through trainings and public briefings.
• Assists the Police Chief in the preparation and submittal of periodic reports to the Mayor, City Council, and City Administrator regarding the department’s activities.
• Assists the Police Chief with the preparation, presentation, and administration of the annual budget for the department; assists with analyzing statistics and the preparation of programs to deal with problems identified in the community policing process.
• Assists administration and supervisory staff on social media dissemination; Interface with the media when needed or required to push out messages to the community; Regularly update the City’s Police webpage, when needed.

Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or related field AND at least six-years’ full-time experience as a Police Officer with a minimum of three years’ full-time experience as a Sergeant or equivalent position OR equivalent education/experience.
• CJTC Certification as any general or limited commissioned officer. Decertified officers are not eligible.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License and the ability to maintain insurability with the City.
• CPR, First Aid & AED certification within six months of hire.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive criminal background investigation, psychological evaluation, pre-employment medical examination and drug screening.

Preferred Requirements:

• Five years full-time experience as a Sergeant or equivalent position.
• Public speaking experience in front of small and large audiences.
• Small to mid-sized project or program development and implementation experience.