Career

SENECA POLICE DEPARTMENT


JOB DESCRIPTION – POLICE CHIEF

GENERAL PURPOSE

Manages the operations of the Police Department. Reports to the City Administrator. Supervises all Police Department staff directly or through subordinate supervisors.


ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promulgates rules and regulations for department as delegated by municipal code.
• Coordinates and administers daily police activities through subordinates.
• Takes action to discourage and prevent crime and to protect life and property. Researches, plans, and implements programs to reduce incidence of crime in the City.
• Develops and coordinates mutual aid agreements with other law enforcement agencies.
• Meets with elected or appointed officials, other law enforcement officials, community and business representatives and the public on all aspects of the department's activities.
• Investigates all complaints against department personnel. Suspends, demotes, or terminates employees for infractions of rules or inefficiency.
• Prepares annual budget estimates and submits fiscal requirement to the Mayor and City Council. Directs and supervises expenditures of annual appropriations. Directs the auditing of accounts and the managing of state and federal grants. Plans for and reviews specifications for new or replaced equipment; negotiates with municipal officials for appropriation of funds.
• Establishes and maintains the flow of information between the Police Department, Mayor and City Council, City Administrator, and Police Committee.
• Prepares and presents future needs/priorities of the department.
• Assists subordinates in investigation or apprehension of offenders.
• Develops and maintains contacts within the community to create lines of communication to identify and correct any problems which may arise and to aid in the continuation of successful programs. May address various groups to inform public of goals and operations of department.
• Plans and implements a law enforcement program for the City in order to better carry out the policies and goals of City Management and Council; reviews Department performance and effectiveness, formulates programs or policies to alleviate deficiencies.
• Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates police department operations.
• Develops policies and procedures to implement management directives.
• Assures that personnel are assigned to shifts or working units that provide optimum effectiveness in terms of current situations and circumstances governing deployment.
• Handles grievances, maintains departmental discipline and the conduct and behavior of personnel.
• Prepares and submits periodic reports to the City Administrator regarding the Department's activities and prepares a variety of other reports as appropriate.
• Attends conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the field; represents the City Police Department in a variety of local, county, state and other meetings.
• Selects training for all personnel so that each employee receives at least 48 hours annual training.
• Cooperates with County, State, and Federal law enforcement officers as appropriate where activities of the police department are involved.
• Ensures that laws and ordinances are enforced and that the public peace and safety is maintained.




PERIPHERAL DUTIES

• May command force during emergencies, such as fires and riots.
• May prepare funding requests for special operations or for purchasing equipment for department.
• Is required to fill in for other positions within the department.


DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

(A) Bachelor's degree in police science, law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration or a closely related field;
(B) Fifteen (15) years of experience in police work, seven (7) years of which must have been equivalent to police lieutenant or higher, and
(C) Completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training; or
(D) Any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

◼ Thorough knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment.
◼ Considerable knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations.
◼ Skill in the use of the tools and equipment listed below.
◼ Ability to train and supervise subordinate personnel.
◼ Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition.
◼ Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
◼ Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers and supervisors.
◼ Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
◼ Ability to give verbal and written instructions.
◼ Ability to meet the special requirements listed below.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

(A) Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid SC Driver's License without record of suspension or revocation in any state;
(B) Ability to meet Department's physical standards;
(C) Must receive and maintain certification as law enforcement officer from SC Criminal Justice Academy.
(D) Must successfully complete periodic training programs, both internal and external.


TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Police car, police radio, handgun and other weapons as required, handcuffs, personal computer including word processing software, pen, pencil, ruler, blueprints, charts, diagrams, directives, documents, forms, manuals, publications, reference books, schedules, specifications, Federal and State statute books, alarms, camera, telephone, caution sign, ladder, map, protective clothing, ticket book.


ESSENTIAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with established policies, procedures and safe work practices. Each employee must follow safety training and instructions provided by their supervisor. Each employee must also properly wear and maintain all personal protective equipment required for their job. Finally, each employee must immediately report any unsafe work practices or unsafe conditions as well as any on-the-job injuries or illnesses. Every manager/supervisor is responsible for enforcing all safety rules and regulations. In addition, they are responsible for ensuring that a safe work environment is maintained, safe work practices are followed, and employees are properly trained.



PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of activities required and work environment encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

◼ The employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear.
◼ The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
◼ The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.
◼ Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
◼ The employee frequently works in outside weather conditions.
◼ The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration.
◼ The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.


The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

10/23/20