CITY OF CHESTER, SOUTH CAROLINA
TITLE:
Police Chief DEPARTMENT:
Police REPORTS TO:
City Administrator FLSA STATUS:
Exempt SALARY RANGE:
$75,000 – $80,000
POSITION SUMMARY The Police Chief serves as the chief executive officer of the Chester Police Department, entrusted with protecting the safety, constitutional rights, and quality of life of the citizens of the City of Chester, South Carolina. The Chief is fully accountable for departmental leadership, administration, fiscal management, operational performance, and public trust.
The City of Chester seeks a Police Chief who understands the City’s history, values, and community dynamics and who is committed to visible, hands‑on leadership. The successful candidate must lead from the front, make difficult decisions, manage limited resources responsibly, and accept responsibility for departmental outcomes.
The Police Chief is expected to be a working executive leader who balances public safety, constitutional policing, fiscal discipline, staff accountability, and community confidence. This role includes direct responsibility for managing an estimated annual Police Department operating budget of approximately $2 million, subject to annual City budget adoption, and requires sound financial judgment, transparency, and accountability. The Chief must lead the Chester Police Department under public scrutiny while maintaining trust with the citizens served.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Executive Leadership and Accountability Provide clear, decisive, and ethical leadership for all sworn and civilian personnel serving the City of Chester. Establish, communicate, and enforce departmental vision, goals, policies, and performance standards aligned with the City Administrator’s strategic direction and the priorities of the Chester City Council. Hold command staff and supervisors accountable for results, conduct, and compliance. Foster a culture of professionalism, integrity, discipline, and service rooted in respect for the citizens of Chester. Take ownership of departmental challenges and outcomes.
Operational Oversight Direct all law enforcement operations within the City of Chester, including patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, community policing, special operations, emergency response, and critical incidents. Serve as Incident Commander or participate in a Unified Command structure during major incidents affecting the City of Chester. Ensure lawful, appropriate, and defensible use of force and personally review all high‑liability incidents. Oversee crime analysis, deployment strategies, and data‑driven policing initiatives tailored to the needs of the Chester community. Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, accreditation standards, and constitutional requirements.
Fiscal Management and Budget Responsibility Prepare, justify, and administer the Chester Police Department’s annual operating budget, estimated at approximately $2 million, in alignment with the City of Chester’s adopted budget and fiscal policies. Demonstrate hands‑on experience with budget development, expenditure control, forecasting, and fiscal accountability. Manage staffing, overtime, equipment, grants, and capital needs within approved funding. Identify efficiencies and implement cost‑effective policing strategies that protect public safety while respecting the City’s financial capacity. Provide transparent and accurate financial reporting to the City Administrator as required.
Personnel Management and Development Recruit, select, train, mentor, evaluate, discipline, and retain sworn and civilian personnel serving the City of Chester. Build a leadership pipeline within the Chester Police Department through coaching, succession planning, and professional development. Address performance issues promptly and appropriately. Ensure compliance with labor laws, City employment policies, and risk management standards.
Community and Intergovernmental Relations Serve as the primary public safety representative for the City of Chester in interactions with residents, businesses, elected officials, community leaders, media, and partner agencies. Build and maintain trust with the citizens of Chester through transparency, consistency, and meaningful community engagement. Collaborate effectively with county, state, federal, and regional law enforcement partners to advance public safety in Chester. Represent the City of Chester with professionalism, credibility, and sound judgment at all times.
Policy, Planning, and Compliance Develop, implement, and regularly review departmental policies and procedures that reflect best practices and the values of the Chester community. Ensure accurate and timely reporting to state, federal, and local entities. Maintain readiness for audits, inspections, accreditation, and legal review. Proactively manage risk and liability exposure to protect the City of Chester.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree
preferred ; significant command‑level law enforcement experience may substitute. Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including at least 5 years in a senior supervisory or command‑level role. Demonstrated experience in department‑wide leadership, management of a multi‑million‑dollar operating budget, and organizational accountability. Proven ability to lead during crisis situations and under public scrutiny. Thorough knowledge of modern policing practices, constitutional law, and law enforcement administration. Valid South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer certification or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe. Valid driver’s license.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Prior experience in an equivalent executive‑level law enforcement leadership role. Experience leading organizational reform, rebuilding morale, or restoring public trust in a community setting. Demonstrated success managing departments with limited resources. Grant management experience.
How to Apply Interested candidates should resume, references, and cover letter to:
Marquita Fair City Administrator mfair@chester.sc.gov
The City of Chester is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Job Type: Full‑time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance
Education: Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience: Leadership: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate: Chester, SC 29706: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
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TITLE:
Police Chief DEPARTMENT:
Police REPORTS TO:
City Administrator FLSA STATUS:
Exempt SALARY RANGE:
$75,000 – $80,000
POSITION SUMMARY The Police Chief serves as the chief executive officer of the Chester Police Department, entrusted with protecting the safety, constitutional rights, and quality of life of the citizens of the City of Chester, South Carolina. The Chief is fully accountable for departmental leadership, administration, fiscal management, operational performance, and public trust.
The City of Chester seeks a Police Chief who understands the City’s history, values, and community dynamics and who is committed to visible, hands‑on leadership. The successful candidate must lead from the front, make difficult decisions, manage limited resources responsibly, and accept responsibility for departmental outcomes.
The Police Chief is expected to be a working executive leader who balances public safety, constitutional policing, fiscal discipline, staff accountability, and community confidence. This role includes direct responsibility for managing an estimated annual Police Department operating budget of approximately $2 million, subject to annual City budget adoption, and requires sound financial judgment, transparency, and accountability. The Chief must lead the Chester Police Department under public scrutiny while maintaining trust with the citizens served.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Executive Leadership and Accountability Provide clear, decisive, and ethical leadership for all sworn and civilian personnel serving the City of Chester. Establish, communicate, and enforce departmental vision, goals, policies, and performance standards aligned with the City Administrator’s strategic direction and the priorities of the Chester City Council. Hold command staff and supervisors accountable for results, conduct, and compliance. Foster a culture of professionalism, integrity, discipline, and service rooted in respect for the citizens of Chester. Take ownership of departmental challenges and outcomes.
Operational Oversight Direct all law enforcement operations within the City of Chester, including patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, community policing, special operations, emergency response, and critical incidents. Serve as Incident Commander or participate in a Unified Command structure during major incidents affecting the City of Chester. Ensure lawful, appropriate, and defensible use of force and personally review all high‑liability incidents. Oversee crime analysis, deployment strategies, and data‑driven policing initiatives tailored to the needs of the Chester community. Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws, accreditation standards, and constitutional requirements.
Fiscal Management and Budget Responsibility Prepare, justify, and administer the Chester Police Department’s annual operating budget, estimated at approximately $2 million, in alignment with the City of Chester’s adopted budget and fiscal policies. Demonstrate hands‑on experience with budget development, expenditure control, forecasting, and fiscal accountability. Manage staffing, overtime, equipment, grants, and capital needs within approved funding. Identify efficiencies and implement cost‑effective policing strategies that protect public safety while respecting the City’s financial capacity. Provide transparent and accurate financial reporting to the City Administrator as required.
Personnel Management and Development Recruit, select, train, mentor, evaluate, discipline, and retain sworn and civilian personnel serving the City of Chester. Build a leadership pipeline within the Chester Police Department through coaching, succession planning, and professional development. Address performance issues promptly and appropriately. Ensure compliance with labor laws, City employment policies, and risk management standards.
Community and Intergovernmental Relations Serve as the primary public safety representative for the City of Chester in interactions with residents, businesses, elected officials, community leaders, media, and partner agencies. Build and maintain trust with the citizens of Chester through transparency, consistency, and meaningful community engagement. Collaborate effectively with county, state, federal, and regional law enforcement partners to advance public safety in Chester. Represent the City of Chester with professionalism, credibility, and sound judgment at all times.
Policy, Planning, and Compliance Develop, implement, and regularly review departmental policies and procedures that reflect best practices and the values of the Chester community. Ensure accurate and timely reporting to state, federal, and local entities. Maintain readiness for audits, inspections, accreditation, and legal review. Proactively manage risk and liability exposure to protect the City of Chester.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree
preferred ; significant command‑level law enforcement experience may substitute. Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including at least 5 years in a senior supervisory or command‑level role. Demonstrated experience in department‑wide leadership, management of a multi‑million‑dollar operating budget, and organizational accountability. Proven ability to lead during crisis situations and under public scrutiny. Thorough knowledge of modern policing practices, constitutional law, and law enforcement administration. Valid South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer certification or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe. Valid driver’s license.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Prior experience in an equivalent executive‑level law enforcement leadership role. Experience leading organizational reform, rebuilding morale, or restoring public trust in a community setting. Demonstrated success managing departments with limited resources. Grant management experience.
How to Apply Interested candidates should resume, references, and cover letter to:
Marquita Fair City Administrator mfair@chester.sc.gov
The City of Chester is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.
Job Type: Full‑time
Pay: $75,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance
Education: Bachelor's (Preferred)
Experience: Leadership: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Relocate: Chester, SC 29706: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
#J-18808-Ljbffr