Chief of Police

City of Baraboo - Baraboo, WI

Full-time - Executive

Baraboo, WI

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Chief of Police performs responsible administrative and supervisory police work directing all activities and employees of the Baraboo Police Department. The City and the Department expect the Chief to be an effective leader engaged with their employees, able to collaborate with others within and outside of the Department, and able to enthusiastically embrace challenges and opportunities to innovate and improve. The Chief must be a highly skilled developer of talent who uses that talent to ensure the Department moves forward. The Chief must be comfortable making decisions and able to skillfully implement those decisions. The successful candidate must be able to build trust and confidence with all interested segments of the community. The Chief must be able to use their interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships and to use those relationships to create critical communication pathways throughout the Department and the community it serves.

Responsibilities

• Direct all police functions of the City including planning, organizing and controlling patrol, criminal investigations, records, and related services.
• Prepare an annual budget, ensuring proper training and discipline of all department members.
• Promote teamwork, productivity, morale, and punctuality within the department.
• Ensure adherence to a chain of command by all members of the Department.
• Exercise law enforcement powers and responsibilities assigned under Wisconsin Statutes and the Code of Ordinances for the City of Baraboo.
• Set the tone and vision for the Department aligned with community needs.
• Collaborate across agencies to push forward public safety.
• Ensure strategic perspective translates into day-to-day actions.
• Demonstrate leadership behaviors valuing diversity of thought and background.
• Balance the needs of different constituencies within the community.
• Serve as a role model for the Department in community interactions.
• Identify and build a strong leadership team.
• Motivate and interact with officers while respecting the chain of command.
• Evaluate and train the Department for operational readiness.
• Use modern policing methods including crime statistics and community-oriented policing.
• Interact and respond to the community on current issues.
• Build trust and confidence in the Police Department with stakeholders.
• Perform a variety of management capabilities including budget management and HR policies.
• Serve as the primary point of contact with other agencies.
• Identify priorities for budget consideration and oversee resource acquisition.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in police science, criminal justice, public administration, psychology, sociology or other related field required.
• At least ten (10) years of police experience with at least five (5) years in a command level capacity.
• Wisconsin State certification as a Police Officer or ability to obtain certification within one year of employment.
• Valid driver's license at time of application.
• Certification of firearms training and continuous education proficiencies mandated yearly.
• Must not have been convicted of any federal felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence unless granted an absolute and unconditional pardon.
• Must be a United States citizen and of good character.
• Must be free from any physical, emotional or mental condition adversely affecting performance.
• Must maintain primary residency within fifteen miles of the City's jurisdictional limits.
• Completion of advanced police leadership training preferred.
• Must pass a comprehensive law enforcement background investigation and psychological assessment.

Nice-to-haves

• Relevant Master's Degree or higher preferred.
• Leadership experience in HR, legal, performance management, discipline, recruitment, budget, and labor negotiations preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, principles & policies required.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to foster effective and positive working relationships with stakeholders.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.
• Commitment to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or other legally prohibited characteristics.