Police Watch Commander

The Village of Tinley Park is a vibrant, progressive community located in the fast-growing Interstate 80 corridor in southwest suburban Chicago. As the 14th-largest city in Metropolitan Chicago boasting a residential population o f 56,000 residents and nearly 1,000 businesses, this exceptional community possesses everything from a fun and lively Downtown district to flourishing residential neighborhoods to thriving corporate, commercial and entertainment centers, all tied together under Tinley Parks Life Amplified brand. We are currently seeking qualified applicants to fill three (3) NEW management positions of Police Watch Commander . The Tinley Park Police Department has more than 150 employees, including 99 full-time, sworn positions. The police department also is responsible for Crime Prevention, the Crime Free Rental Housing Program, National Night Out and the Citizens Police Academy. Learn more about the Tinley Park Police Department .

The Police Watch Commander will be assigned under a Division Police Commander in either the Patrol or Investigations Operational Division and will have overall responsibility and accountability for field operations and administrative functions during assigned afternoon and/or overnight shift providing leadership and direction to Sergeants and Patrol Officers to manage service priorities.

The Police Watch Commander will provide overall field supervision for any designated patrol shift or investigation division shift including planning/assigning/reviewing/evaluating work of subordinate supervisors, attending and conducting roll call, conducting training on updates or on new policies/procedures, monitoring demands for service, recommending policy and disciplinary actions, reviewing officer reports identifying trends or cases requiring additional action, supervise investigations about police personnel conduct overseeing internal investigations, and assisting with resolving administrative or operational issues. This position will also instruct subordinate personnel in work assignments and procedures, advise on difficult cases, assign and oversee special projects, analyze training needs, interpret new laws/ordinances/rules and regulations for subordinate supervisors, and develop and implement new methods and procedures.

The Police Watch Commander will also be the designated on-call command staff for response to and supervision of critical incidents including critical incident management response, establishing control, managing and overseeing critical incidents, tactical situations, securing crime scenes, and/or disasters while acting as the field liaison to emergency operation centers and securing appropriate resources. This position will also perform management and administrative functions including, but not limited to overseeing shift briefings, handling on-duty injuries/workers' comp, approving anticipated overtime, and reviewing reports/incidents/arrest records to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and compliance with department rules and procedures.

An associate's degree from an accredited two-year institution in criminal justice, political science, business or public administration, or a related field is required. A bachelor's degree is preferred. Basic certification from the Illinois Local Governmental Police Training Board as "police officer" or equivalency. Must maintain all federal, state, and local requirements to carry a firearm. Must possess a valid drivers license. Internal applicants must have a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a full-time patrol officer with the Tinley Park Police Department, including at least three (3) years of specialized police operations experience and/or two (2) years supervisory experience. External applicants must have a minimum of five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in a law enforcement agency, it is preferred that three (3) years of experience are at the rank of Lieutenant or higher.
Graduation from the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, or Southern Police Institute is preferred within two (2) years of appointment date. **Internal candidates must sign a repayment agreement requiring repayment if employment ends within two (2) years of graduation date. Candidates must possess qualifications to support patrol and investigation division operations and can be reassigned to any watch command at the discretion of the Police Chief. The position of Police Watch Commander will be scheduled to work a designated patrol or investigation division shift and as such will be scheduled to work various days (including weekends) and various shifts (day, afternoon, overnight) to support the 24/7 operations. Flexibility outside typical work schedule is required. This is an EXEMPT level position.

Current Available Patrol Division Shifts (subject to change at discretion of Police Chief):
Must have flexibility outside typical work schedule to meet operational needs (concerts, community events, school seasonal events).
Patrol Watch A Division Shift: 4:00PM to 2:00AM (4 - 10 Hour Days, Typically Sunday - Wednesday)
Patrol Watch B Division Shift: 4:00PM to 2:00AM (4 - 10 Hour Days, Typically Wednesday - Saturday)
Investigations Afternoon Shift*: 2:00PM to 10:00PM (5 - 8 Hour Days, Typically Monday - Friday)
(*Investigations shift has potential to be a 4 -10 Hour Days Shift)

Position Eligible for Non-Union Compensation & Benefits as follows: Hiring Pay Rate: $159,448.46
Compensation Plan: Merit Based Compensation per Ordinance 2026-O-009
401(a) Plan Employer Contribution: Village will make a 4% employer contribution into 401(a) plan. Compensatory Time: Eligible for up to a maximum of 80 hours of Compensatory Time (earn 1 hour for each hour worked). Vacation: Twenty (20) Vacation Days per Ordinance 2022-O-100 Personal Days: Two (2) Paid Personal Days per Fiscal Year per E mployee Personnel Manual, Section 6.8 Personal Days Paid Holidays: Eleven (11) Paid Holidays per Employee Personnel Manual, Section 6.9 Holidays Administrative Days: Eligible to earn up to two (2) days per Employee Personnel Manual, Section 9.4 Admin Day Sick Time (Hired After 1/1/2020): Ten (10) Sick Days per year per Ordinance 2020-O-001 Benefits Program: Non-Union Employee Benefits Package Other Pay & Benefits (APPLIES ONLY TO INTERNAL CANDIDATES):
Hiring Pay Rate: $159,448.46 Disability Leave (Hired Before 1/1/2020): Ordinance 1970-O-002 Disability Leave, Resolution 2023-R-066 Disability Application Process Longevity: Longevity Schedule in Section 13.3 of MAP CBA Vacation: Ordinance 2022-O-100 with Recognition of Full-Time Hire Date Retirement Benefits: MAP Subsidy $60 per month towards the retiree's cost of health insurance per Section 8.3 Retiree Health Insurance