Police Chief Jobs

A Police Chief, also known as a Chief of Police, is a vital role in the law enforcement industry. They oversee and manage all operations within a police department. This includes working on budgets, setting department policy, hiring and training officers, and ensuring the department is achieving its goals in public safety. The Police Chief also serves as the primary liaison between the police department and other city departments, as well as the community, addressing their concerns and providing updates on relevant matters. They must demonstrate strong leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Before becoming a Police Chief, a person may serve in roles such as a Patrol Officer, Detective, or Sergeant. These roles allow them to gain invaluable experience in the field and understand the inner workings of a police department. The path to becoming a Police Chief typically requires a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field. However, certain jurisdictions may require advanced degrees or additional certifications. It is also imperative for Police Chiefs to have a certification in Law Enforcement Executive Development (LEEDS) or have undergone the FBI National Academy program. The Police Chief should also possess a strong understanding of law enforcement principles and practices, public administration, and current social issues affecting law enforcement.

1-15 of 128 Jobs

Police Chief

  • Glade Spring, VA
  • 3 days ago
  • Glade Spring, VA
  • 3 days ago

Applicants must be a certified law enforcement officer and possess prior management experience. Experience in applying, managing, and overseeing grants is a plus....

Chief of Police (Safety and Police) - District (Extended)

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

Serves as the District's community policing advocate and coordinates police activity with other law enforcement agencies; participates on state, regional and local law enforcement committees and panels...

Police Chief

  • Enfield, NC
  • 23 days ago
  • Enfield, NC
  • 23 days ago

POLICE CHIEF – Enfield Population ~2536. Located in Historic Southern Halifax County. The Police Chief will ensure the department is staffed, equipped and trained to prevent and suppress crime....

Chief of Police

  • Chisholm, MN
  • 23 days ago
  • Chisholm, MN
  • 23 days ago

The Chisholm Police Department operates from a new, state-of-the-art law enforcement center and consists of 13 dedicated professionals and a $2,300,000 department budget....

Chief of Police

  • Scotland, SD
  • 29 days ago
  • Scotland, SD
  • 29 days ago

City of Scotland, SD is seeking a knowledgeable & experienced South Dakota certified law enforcement professional to serve as full time Police Officer. SD certified required....

Director for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

  • Indianapolis, IN
  • 4 hours ago
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • 4 hours ago

Who We Are: We are a diverse open-access college that fuels Indianas economy through excellence in teaching and proactive engagement with industry and community partners, embedded in a culture of...

Police Chief

  • Rainsville, AL
  • 7 hours ago
  • Rainsville, AL
  • 7 hours ago

Review a full report of the law enforcement officers credit history provided by the law enforcement officer. Review the law enforcement officers residential address history....

Director Of Police Accountability Unit

  • Boston, MA
  • 7 hours ago
  • Boston, MA
  • 7 hours ago

This innovative Unit is committed to protecting the civil rights of people who interact with local police departments and other law enforcement agencies and supporting law enforcement agencies’ efforts...

Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police

  • Palmer, AK
  • 7 hours ago
  • Palmer, AK
  • 7 hours ago

Performs a high level of confidential administrative support to the Chief of Police and is responsible for professional, comprehensive, organizational, administrative, and technical support for...

Chief of Police

  • Blacksburg, VA
  • 7 hours ago
  • Blacksburg, VA
  • 7 hours ago

budgeted expenses; reviews and approves budget requests Attends meetings and serves on committees, boards, and agencies related to promoting crime prevention and improving law enforcement; evaluates...

Chief of Police - Town of Morrisville, NC

  • Morrisville, NC
  • 7 hours ago
  • Morrisville, NC
  • 7 hours ago

In-state candidates with less than a three-year break in NC service may receive partial credit toward basic law enforcement training....

Chief of Police

  • Olympia, WA
  • 12 hours ago
  • Olympia, WA
  • 12 hours ago

policing philosophy; college facilities and assets are safeguarded; and the department is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures....

Associate Director - Public Safety (00106)

  • Richmond, VA
  • 17 hours ago
  • Richmond, VA
  • 17 hours ago

Title: Associate Director - Public Safety (00106) State Role Title: Policy Planning Manager III Hiring Range: $150,000 - $170,000 Pay Band: 7 Agency: Dept of Planning and Budget Location: Dept of...

Chief of Police

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 23 hours ago
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 23 hours ago

(Required) Must be a sworn peace officer either with California POST certifications (management and advanced) or with equivalent certifications and the ability to obtain California POST certifications...

Chief of Police

  • Austin, TX
  • 1 day ago
  • Austin, TX
  • 1 day ago

enforcement experience in supervisory or command capacity Prior service as a police chief strongly preferred Demonstrated community activities preferred Past officer trainer experience preferred Major...

Police Chief 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.
How to Become a Police Officer in England and Wales
Currently, policing is unrepresentative of the society it represents. To correct that, its vital that underrepresented and disadvantaged groups can learn about policing and consider their options...
Police Exam
In the United States, there is no one standardized police test - several different types are used by police departments nationwide. These different police officer exams usually have some...
Introduction to Policing
Introduction to Policing online course with Griffith University, through Open Universities Australia. Study Legal, Justice and Security online.

Title Synonyms

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


Salary for Police Chief Jobs Nationwide

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

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Police Chief positions.



Highest Education Level

Police Chiefs offer the following education background
Master's Degree
33.6%
Bachelor's Degree
33.1%
Associate's Degree
9.7%
Vocational Degree or Certification
7.4%
High School or GED
7.2%
Doctorate Degree
6.7%
Some College
2.1%
Some High School
0.3%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Police Chiefs
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



Police Chief 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 »