Description
Job Summary
The Police Chief is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the Annapolis Police Department. This position involves developing and implementing policing strategies, fostering community relations, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws. The Police Chief will lead a team of sworn and civilian personnel, promoting a culture of professionalism, accountability, diversity, community engagement and service excellence to enhance public safety and community trust. This is an essential position.
Essential Job Functions
Leadership & Management
Direct and supervise all departmental operations, ensuring efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community.
Recruit, train, and evaluate staff, fostering a culture of professionalism, ethical conduct, accountability and continuous improvement.
Develop departmental policies and procedures in alignment with community needs, policy standards and legal standards.
Regularly inform and advise the Mayor, City Manager and City Council on public safety matters, departmental performance, programs and initiatives designed to protect the city and strengthen community relationships.
Manage departmental labor relations, fostering a professional and collaborative working relationship with collective bargaining units and employee associations.
Promote organizational integrity, policy compliance and readiness for critical incidents.
Community Engagement and Media Relations
Devise and implement strong community policing strategies to engage, support and foster a productive, trusting and transparent department/community relationship.
Establish and maintain positive relationships with community members, local organizations, business leaders, and government agencies.
Engage in community outreach initiatives and programming to promote public safety education and crime prevention.
Serve as the principal spokesperson for the department, managing media relations and delivering transparent, timely communication to the public during critical incidents, emergencies, and matters of public concern.
Strategic Planning and Technology
Develop and implement strategic plans for crime reduction, community policing, and emergency response.
Analyze crime trends and departmental performance metrics, adjusting strategies as necessary and consistently report findings to the Mayor, City Manager, and City Council.
Oversee the implementation, procurement, and management of modern police technologies, including body-worn cameras, data analytics tools, and digital evidence platforms.
Ensure that department technologies are supported by sound policy, training, auditing, privacy protections, records retention practices, public disclosure processes, and evidence-handling protocols.
Budget Management
Prepare and administer the departmental budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance with city, state and federal regulations.
Seek and manage grant funding to support departmental initiatives.
Policy Compliance and Internal Affairs
Ensure that all operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and accreditation standards.
Oversee internal investigations and handle disciplinary matters with transparency and in accordance with the Maryland Police Accountability laws.
Ensure disciplinary processes protect employee due process rights, provide appropriate communication to complainants, and support transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Requirements
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge: Proven track record of an in-depth understanding and utilization of law enforcement principles, practices, and legal standards; familiarity with community policing paradigms; awareness of current trends in public safety, constitutional policing, and crime prevention.
Skills: Strong leadership, interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills; effective conflict resolution, crisis management, and problem-solving abilities; proficiency in data analysis and strategic planning.
Abilities: Ability to leverage effective relationship building strategies to build, maintain and sustain trust with diverse communities, within the department and the government; capacity to lead and motivate a diverse team; adept at managing change and fostering innovation.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in law enforcement or public safety administration.
Twelve years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including at least two years in an executive or supervisory capacity.
Experience in community policing, crime analysis, and strategic planning.
Special Qualifications
Must possess or be able to obtain a valid Maryland driver’s license.
Completion of advanced law enforcement leadership training (e.g., FBI National Academy, PERF's Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), FBI National Executive Institute, Command College) is highly desirable.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field.
Valid Maryland police officer certification or the ability to obtain Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) certification via reciprocity within 6 months of hire.
Bilingual proficiency.
Employment Conditions
Physical demands include the ability to respond quickly to emergencies and perform law enforcement duties, which may involve physical exertion.
Mental demands involve the ability to make quick, sound decisions under pressure, manage stress, maintain emotional stability in challenging situations, and provide thoughtful leadership to the community and department during times of emergencies and crisis situations.
Work Environment
The work environment is primarily office-based, with fieldwork required for community engagement, disaster management, and emergency response.
Exposure to potentially hazardous situations may occur, requiring adherence to safety protocols.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The City of Annapolis Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment against any person seeking employment or employed in the civil service because of any consideration of political or religious affiliation or belief, race, color, sex, age, family status, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
