Chief of Police

Police Chief Position

Police Chief Position Purpose: To provide leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight for the school district's police department. The Chief ensures a safe, secure, and supportive learning and working environment for all students, staff, and visitors within the school district while fostering positive, community-oriented relationships.

Essential Job Functions:

• Departmental Leadership & Administration
• Strategic Planning: Direct the development, implementation, and evaluation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, and procedures in alignment with the district's strategic mission.
• Personnel Management: Oversee the recruitment, training, assignment, supervision, and evaluation of all sworn police officers, security personnel, and contractors.
• Budget Oversight: Formulate and manage the annual departmental budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources, equipment procurement, and fiscal accountability.
• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as district policies and mandatory reporting guidelines.
• School Safety & Emergency Management
• Emergency Response Planning: Update and maintain the comprehensive District Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and coordinate district-wide crisis response, emergency drills, and threat assessments.
• Physical Security: Oversee the coordination of physical security infrastructure to include collaborating with departments who are responsible for access control, surveillance systems, and visitor management solutions.
• Investigation Management: Supervise the investigation of criminal activity, district policy violations, and safety hazards occurring on district property or at school-sponsored events.

Community-Oriented Policing & Engagement

• Student-Centric Approach: Champion a school-policing model that balances security with empathy, focusing on de-escalation, restorative practices, and supporting the social-emotional well-being of students.
• Inter-Agency Collaboration: Serve as the primary liaison to local, state, and federal law enforcement, emergency management agencies, and judicial authorities.
• Stakeholder Communication: Cultivate proactive, transparent relationships with school principals, staff, parents, community advocates, and student groups to build trust and address localized safety concerns.

Equipment: Must be proficient in the use of all police issued equipment. Will also use standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copier and fax machines, calculator, and telephone.

Travel Requirements: Travel to school district buildings and professional meetings as required. The Chief will wear a school approved police uniform and drive a fully equipped patrol vehicle provided by the district.

Pay Rate: Operations Director Administrator Salary Schedule

Work Schedule: 8 hours per day with ability to work additional hours and flexible schedule to meet the district's needs. 260 days per year

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Understanding of the unique safety, social, and cultural dynamics within a K-12 public school system. Knowledge of police procedures consistent with state law and school policy. Expert knowledge of modern police administration, constitutional law, juvenile justice procedures, and school safety best practices. Exceptional communication and public relations skills, with the ability to navigate sensitive crises and speak effectively with diverse groups. Subject to 24/7 on-call availability to respond to district emergencies, critical incidents, and evening/weekend school events.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards:

• Physical Requirement Percentage of Time
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time. Very Frequent
• Ability to lift 25 pounds. Very Frequent
• Ability to carry 25 pounds. Very Frequent
• Ability to bend and reach overhead in all directions Often
• Ability to operate all police issued equipment Very Often
• Ability to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations. Often
• Ability to see for the purpose of reading laws and codes, rules and policies and other printed matter. Very Frequent
• Ability to communicate so others will be able to clearly understand a normal conversation. Very Frequent

License/ Registration/ Certification:

• Certified by the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board as a Tier 1 Law Enforcement Officer.
• Certified as a School Resource Officer
• Must possess a valid Indiana driver's license

Education: Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Public Administration, or a closely related field preferred.

Experience: Experience within an educational or urban law enforcement environment is preferred. Minimum of 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience, including at least 5 years in a command or supervisory capacity.