Chief Detective Jobs in California

A Chief Detective, also known as a Detective Superintendent, plays a pivotal role in the law enforcement industry, overseeing the operations and activities of a team of detectives. Their responsibilities typically involve strategizing and implementing various investigative procedures, ensuring the accuracy of the investigation process, managing the collection and preservation of evidence, and coordinating with other law enforcement agencies. They also participate in high profile or complex investigations and supervise the preparation of case reports.

To be an effective Chief Detective, one should possess strong leadership and decision-making skills, excellent communication skills, keen attention to detail, and the ability to work under high-pressure situations. They should also be well-versed in criminal investigation processes, law enforcement protocols, and crime scene management. Certification as a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is often required, along with a substantial number of years in law enforcement. Prior to becoming a Chief Detective, one may serve in roles such as a Police Officer, Detective, or Sergeant, gaining critical experience in law enforcement operations and criminal investigations.

1-15 of 66 Jobs

Ballistic Missile Defense Commander

  • San Diego, CA
  • 21 days ago
  • San Diego, CA
  • 21 days ago

Type of Requisition: Pipeline Clearance Level Must Currently Possess: Top Secret/SCI Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: Top Secret/SCI Public Trust/Other Required: None Job Family: Business...

Promoting public safety with improved fire protection and law enforcement coverage. Addressing the homelessness and housing affordability crisis. Improving mental health response....

Deputy Chief of Schools (MAN-417)

  • Sacramento, CA
  • 1 day ago
  • Sacramento, CA
  • 1 day ago

Thank you for your interest in the Sacramento City Unified School District! For more than 160 years, SCUSD has served Sacramento families with quality public schools that prepare students for...

Union Assistant Chief Engineer

  • Sunnyvale, CA
  • 2 days ago
  • Sunnyvale, CA
  • 2 days ago

Union Assistant Chief Engineer Job ID 227591 Posted 02-Jul-2025 Service line GWS Segment Role type Full-time Areas of Interest Engineering/Maintenance Location(s) Sunnyvale - California - United...

Assistant Chief

  • Fresno, CA
  • 2 days ago
  • Fresno, CA
  • 2 days ago

Job Description and Duties Please see the attached duty statement for details on this position. Contact Staff Chief Jeremy Mitchell at ... or by email at ... for questions related to the duties of...

Assistant Chief Inspector

  • Thermal, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Thermal, CA
  • 3 days ago

Assistant Chief Inspector Job Description The primary responsibility of the Assistant Chief Inspector is to coordinate, accomplish, and execute all inspection and quality functions both on and off...

Senior Superintendent

  • Corona, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Corona, CA
  • 3 days ago

Job Title: Senior Superintendent – Multifamily Construction Location: LA/OC Industry: Construction – Multifamily Residential Employment Type: Full-Time About the Company: We are...

Senior Superintendent

  • Costa Mesa, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Costa Mesa, CA
  • 3 days ago

Job Title: Senior Superintendent – Multifamily Construction Location: LA/OC Industry: Construction – Multifamily Residential Employment Type: Full-Time About the Company: We are...

Senior Superintendent

  • Westwood, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Westwood, CA
  • 3 days ago

Job Title: Senior Superintendent – Multifamily Construction Location: LA/OC Industry: Construction – Multifamily Residential Employment Type: Full-Time About the Company: We are...

Deputy Chief, Operations

  • Riverside, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Riverside, CA
  • 3 days ago

and Duties Please see the attached duty statement for details on this position. Contact Staff Chief Jeremy Mitchell at ... or by email at ... for questions related to the duties of the position....

Chief Deputy District Attorney

  • Santa Maria, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Santa Maria, CA
  • 3 days ago

Acts as a resource and internal consultant to staff, other County departments and local law enforcement agencies, prepares correspondence and reports....

Assistant Chief Engineer, USC Hotel University of Southern California (USC)

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 3 days ago
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 3 days ago

Maintains knowledge of university's crime prevention and suppression programs and services. Ensures dissemination of security related information to staff....

Attorney, Assistant Chief Counsel

  • San Francisco, CA
  • 4 days ago
  • San Francisco, CA
  • 4 days ago

Job Description and Duties Individuals interested in applying for this vacancy must have eligibility. If you are new to state service or need to gain eligibility to this classification, please...

SPO Senior Superintendent - Drywall

  • Anaheim, CA
  • 4 days ago
  • Anaheim, CA
  • 4 days ago

Division: San Diego Project Location(s): San Diego, CA 92104 USA Minimum Years Experience: Travel Involved: Job Type: RegularJob Classification: ExperiencedEducation:Job...

SPO Senior Superintendent - Concrete

  • San Diego, CA
  • 4 days ago
  • San Diego, CA
  • 4 days ago

Division: San Diego Project Location(s): San Diego, CA 92103 USA Minimum Years Experience: Travel Involved: Job Type: RegularJob Classification: ExperiencedEducation:Job...

Demographic Data for California

Moving to California? Find some basic demographic data about California below.


Local
National
39,536,271
996,598

Chief Detective Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireLawEnforcement curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Bestsellers: Detective Fiction
This course focuses on works that caught the popular imagination in the past or present. It emphasizes texts that are related by genre, theme or style. The books studied in this course vary from...
The FGM Detectives
The horrific crime of female genital mutilation is banned in the UK, but it is estimated that nearly 20,000 women a year are still at risk of the procedure. And despite being banned more than 30...
Shoreline Detectives
Every day, on a sandy beach or a rocky foreshore, fascinating evidence of British history appears and disappears as the tide rolls in and rolls out again. Dr. Tori Herridge and her crack team of...

Title Synonyms

Users interested in this job title also searched for the following job titles


Salary for Chief Detective Jobs in California

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireLawEnforcement research efforts.

Highest Education Level

Chief Detectives in California offer the following education background
Bachelor's Degree
34.0%
Master's Degree
21.9%
High School or GED
15.1%
Associate's Degree
14.1%
Vocational Degree or Certification
6.5%
Doctorate Degree
4.9%
Some College
2.8%
Some High School
0.8%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Chief Detectives in California
None
36.7%
4-6 years
12.9%
2-4 years
11.1%
10+ years
9.7%
8-10 years
9.0%
1-2 years
8.8%
6-8 years
6.9%
Less than 1 year
4.9%


Other Career Titles

Here are some other career titles that require similar skills



Chief Detective Related Career Advice Articles

Police officer and law enforcement colleague reviewing files
3 Police Officer Resume Problems and How to Solve Them

Short-term assignments, large amounts of specialized training, and lengthy lists of affiliations and community involvement can cause problems when writing a law enforcement resume. Here's how to solve those resume "crimes."

Read article »