Police Chief

$100,000 - $175,000 yearly
  • Strategic Government Resources
  • Topeka, KS, USA
  • Sep 11, 2024
Full time Police/Sheriff

Job Description

The City of Topeka is seeking a dedicated and visionary Police Chief to lead its police department into a future marked by innovation, community engagement, and unwavering integrity.

Ideally situated along the Kansas River, Topeka is the capital of Kansas, covering 61.45 square miles, and is located along I-70, approximately 60 miles from Kansas City. The City is home to nearly 125,500 residents and is part of a metro area comprising the counties of Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson, Wabaunsee, and Osage. Topeka is the fifth largest city in Kansas, behind Wichita, Overland Park, Olathe, and Kansas City, and is the seat of Shawnee County. Residents of Topeka enjoy a high quality of life, exceptional services and amenities. 

The City operates under a council-manager form of government and is governed by a mayor — elected at large — and nine council members elected from districts, each serving four-year terms with no term limits.

With a team of 373 public servants and an annual budget of nearly $50.4 million, the Police Department maintains safety and prevents criminal activity throughout the City of Topeka. In addition to the department’s Executive Bureau maintaining TPD’s overall integrity and security, major divisions include Criminal Investigation, Field Operations, and Community Outreach.

Working under the supervision of the Deputy City Manager, the Chief of Police is ultimately responsible for every facet of the operation of the Topeka Police Department.

Topeka’s new Chief of Police must first focus on building trust and relationships internally and externally as they get to know the community and settle in. Then, they should be ready to get to work assessing the department’s policies, programs, staffing, training, and more.

This critical role demands a seasoned leader with a servant-leadership style, extensive experience across various facets of law enforcement, including patrol, investigations, administration, training, and community engagement, and a strong commitment to transparent and effective communication.

This role requires graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public or business administration, political science, or a related field with advanced courses in police administration and/or a master’s degree preferred.

Candidates should also have at least 15 years of law enforcement experience, including 5 at the rank of captain or higher in a similar-sized or larger agency. The selected candidate must be certified as a State of Kansas Police Officer or be able to obtain the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training within six months and continue to meet all training standards throughout their tenure. A valid Kansas driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within 6 months is also required, and the new chief must meet the City’s insurability standards.

Please note that the selected candidate must establish residency within Shawnee County within 1 year of their hire date.

The City of Topeka is offering a competitive salary for this position, up to $175,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

 

Please apply online

 

First review of applications: October 10, 2024

For more information on this position, contact:

Troy Riggs, Senior Vice President

TroyRiggs@governmentresource.com

361-445-9496