Chief of Police

The Position:

The City of Medford, Massachusetts, is seeking a highly qualified, experienced, and forward-thinking law enforcement executive to serve as its next Chief of Police. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a metro Boston police department as it continues its positive momentum to deliver exceptional police services. Medford is a diverse, historic, and thriving community of just under 60,000 residents, with vibrant business districts, community organizations, and more than 300 acres of open space. The next Chief will lead a full-service municipal police department serving residents, businesses, visitors, and regional partners in one of Greater Boston’s dynamic urban communities.

The Chief of Police is the senior executive of the Police Department and is responsible for overall administration, strategic direction, operational performance, professional standards, and community trust. The successful candidate will bring broad command-level experience, strong professional judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to ethical policing, organizational integrity, and service-centered leadership.

The City seeks a Chief who combines operational credibility with executive-level management skills, understands the evolving demands of modern policing, and can build confidence inside the department and across the community through accountability and communication.

Key Attributes Sought

The City is seeking candidates who demonstrate:

• Extensive command-level law enforcement experience in a municipal or similarly complex policing environment.
• Sound judgment and calm decision-making in high-risk, high-visibility situations.
• A reputation for integrity, fairness, ethical conduct, and accountability.
• Strong administrative, organizational, labor relations, and fiscal management capabilities.
• Commitment to community policing, procedural justice, problem solving, and partnerships.
• Ability to support personnel development, succession planning, training, and long-term organizational capacity.
• Professional credibility with sworn and civilian personnel, municipal leadership, unions, community members, and regional partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Department Administration and Operations:

• Provide executive oversight for all Police Department operations, including patrol, investigations, records, specialized services, traffic enforcement, public information, professional standards, family services, and support functions.
• Ensure effective deployment of personnel, equipment, technology, and resources to meet community needs and public safety priorities.
• Direct the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, procedures, operational standards, training practices, and performance expectations.
• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local laws; Massachusetts POST requirements; accreditation or professional standards; labor agreements; and recognized best practices.
• Manage departmental operations within a civil service environment, including hiring, promotion, classification, discipline, personnel administration, and related regulatory requirements.

Professional Standards and Accountability:

• Maintain high standards of conduct, accountability, service, and performance throughout the department.
• Ensure fair, consistent, and transparent complaint review and discipline processes in accordance with law, labor agreements, and City policy.
• Promote a department culture that values professionalism, procedural justice, ethical decision-making, respect, compassion, and public confidence.

Executive and Intergovernmental Relations:

• Serve as the principal public safety advisor to the Mayor and City leadership on crime trends, staffing, risk, emergency response, policy, and departmental operations.
• Represent the Police Department before the City Council, municipal departments, community organizations, regional partners, agencies, and the media.
• Communicate clearly and credibly with the public regarding critical incidents, community concerns, initiatives, and priorities.

Personnel Development and Organizational Capacity:

While operational and administrative excellence are central to the role, the Chief is also expected to ensure the department maintains the leadership capacity needed for long-term effectiveness:

• Oversee selection, evaluation, mentoring, and professional development of command, supervisory, sworn, and civilian staff.
• Promote fair and merit-based advancement, training, and specialized assignment opportunities.
• Support ongoing in-service training, leadership development, compliance-based education, and readiness for emerging public safety challenges.
• Ensure continuity of operations through thoughtful planning for retirements, promotions, staffing transitions, and future leadership needs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, municipal police administration, emergency management, community policing, and professional standards.
• Experience managing complex operations, personnel matters, labor relations, budgets, sensitive incidents, and organizational change.
• Ability to analyze data, assess risk, set priorities, and adjust policy or operations as conditions evolve.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills suitable for executive reports, public presentations, media briefings, and intergovernmental coordination.
• Financial acumen sufficient to manage budgets, procurements, grants, staffing plans, technology investments, and long-term resource needs.

Required and Preferred Qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years, or equivalent experience, in municipal, state, federal, campus, transit, or military policing, including at 5 years in a progressively responsible law enforcement management role.
• Experience leading a full-service police department or major operational division is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required; master’s degree or equivalent executive-level education is preferred.
• Graduation from a nationally recognized senior-level law enforcement command or executive training program, such as the FBI National Academy, PERF Senior Management Institute for Police, Southern Police Institute, or equivalent, is preferred.
• Certification or eligibility for certification as a police officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or ability to obtain certification within the City’s timeframe, is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Massachusetts driver’s license and Massachusetts License to Carry upon employment is required.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary range: The salary range is $245,000 to 265,000 dependent on experience and qualifications.
• Benefits: Comprehensive municipal executive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement, paid leave, and benefits consistent with City policy.