Chief of Police #2003-313500-01

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is a highly respected law enforcement agency, both in our community and nationally. Our progressive department provides exciting opportunities for law enforcement professionals to develop partnerships with our citizens in order to prevent the next crime, and to enhance the quality of life within our community always treating people with fairness and respect. The department employs nearly 2,000 sworn officers and over 500 civilians serving a jurisdiction with close to 1 million people. Our employees are men and women from diverse backgrounds interested in meeting the needs of and serving an equally diverse community.  The men and women of the CMPD are committed to providing the very best service possible and maintaining the high level of confidence this community has in us.

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 872,498 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

Executive

A national search is underway to attract highly qualified candidates to apply to lead the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).  Recent events around the country have underscored the need for, and importance of, lasting collaborative relationships between law enforcement and the community.

The City of Charlotte leadership is eager to make comprehensive and positive changes that build both community trust and ensure public safety; with strong civic and community support, meaningful changes are underway. Charlotte seeks a proven reform-minded leader with top-notch communication skills, the utmost ethical standards and a commitment to transparency who will thrive in this dynamic organization.

The City of Charlotte

Why Charlotte? Low cost of living and high quality of life. With a population of more than 2.3 million, the Charlotte metropolitan area offers all the advantages and amenities of a major urban area with the feel of a small town. The City of Charlotte’s population of approximately 900,000 is growing rapidly every day, making it the largest city in the region and the 16th largest city in the United States with a FY 2020 budget of $2.6 billion, AAA bond rating, and approximately 8,000 employees.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is the department of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina which includes the City of Charlotte. The City is supported by 1,972 sworn officers and 520 non-sworn staff with a 2019/2020 operating budget of $285,066,260 covering an area of 438 square miles with a population of nearly 900,000. It is the largest police department between Washington DC and Atlanta, Georgia.

The Position

The City of Charlotte operates under a “council-manager” form of government that divides responsibilities between elected officials and an appointed city manager. Citizens elect the mayor and 11 council members every two years. The Chief of Police is appointed by and reports to the city manager.

The Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Department was formed on October 1, 1993 through the consolidation of the Charlotte Police Department and the Mecklenburg County Police Department. CMPD serves the residents of the City of Charlotte and the unincorporated areas. The Chief of Police provides administrative direction for CMPD functions, operations, and personnel through the supervision of subordinate staff and review of their activities.

• Formulating policies & regulations governing activities
• Preparing or directing preparation of proposals concerning department activities
• Selection / training / assignment / discipline of all departmental personnel
• Directing preparation of annual budget estimates & controlling expenditures of departmental appropriations
• Developing short / long-range plans & objectives improving department services
• Directing development of in-service training programs increasing department efficiency & preparing employees for advancement
• Coordinating department activities with those of other City departments / local / regional law enforcement agencies 
• Serves as primary City authority on matters pertaining to department programs & law enforcement
• Speaks before public groups on plans / programs / goals of CMPD 

Please review the comprehensive position description and department organizational chart posted at www.ralphandersen.com

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a reform-minded leader who conveys an effective command presence and has outstanding people and management skills.  The ideal candidate will be capable of inspiring trust and confidence in all of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s diverse communities, as well as earning the respect and confidence of both sworn and civilian employees.  The successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with other City departments.

The next Chief of Police will be well-versed in community-oriented policing and problem solving, have a proven reputation for being accessible and transparent, and have a reputation for building partnerships between the CMPD and the community to address crime and quality of life challenges. 

He or she will be a communicative, confident, collaborative, and decisive leader with proven cultural sensitivity and competency, political acumen, sound judgment, astute self-awareness, strong professional presence and an inspiring demeanor to move the CMPD forward.

• Have extensive knowledge of large / complex / urban environments & demonstrated commitment of equitably serving / recruiting minority candidates / working with all spectrums of multiracial / multicultural / multi-religious / socioeconomically diverse communities
• Exhibit outstanding communication skills & being hands-on / open / receptive to working with people creating & sustaining environment of trust / respect
• Possess passion for public service / public safety / futures for all Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents
• Exhibit exceptional leadership & people skills / ability to work with & establish relationships with wide range of stakeholder groups / strategic partners / elected officials / colleagues / media
• Demonstrated ability to hold others to values characterized by commitment to integrity / honesty / transparency / humility / proactivity / innovation / equity / compassion / service excellence / responsive leadership
• Ability to be politically & technologically savvy / can receive constructive criticism
• Demonstrate ability to make decisions based on facts & merit
• Display demonstrated commitment to community-oriented policing / problem solving / staff development / morale building to set positive tone within CMPD

• Advanced degree in criminal justice or related field
• Additional command & leadership training such as F.B.I. National Academy / Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) / Senior Management Institute for Police / similar training experience

• Graduation from accredited college or university with Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice / business / administration / related field with minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in law enforcement including serving as Chief of Police and/or Deputy / Assistant Chief of Police of comparable size & complexity to Charlotte
• Successfully complete all North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training requirements within six months of hire date
• Possess valid North Carolina Driver’s License & acceptable driving record by hire date
• Residency within corporate limits of City of Charlotte within three (3) months of hire date

Commensurate with Experience

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To Be Considered:

This is a confidential process and will be handled accordingly throughout the various stages of the process.  References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.  The first review of resumes will take place on Friday, April 3, 2020. This position is open until filled; however, candidates are encouraged to apply early in the process for optimal consideration. Resumes will be reviewed and evaluated throughout the recruitment process.

• Interested candidates may apply by submitting a cover letter, comprehensive resume, salary history, and six professional references via email to apply@ralphandersen.com 
• The evaluation and selection process may consist of a supplemental questionnaire and/or written exercise(s) to further evaluate relative experience and overall suitability for this position.  Ideally, the Chief of Police will join the City of Charlotte in May 2020 or within a mutually agreed upon start date
• Finalist candidates will be required to sign a release form to authorize preliminary reference calls and verifications to be conducted.  Employment history, degrees obtained, and other certifications/accomplishments will also be verified
• Should you have any questions regarding this position or the recruitment process, please call Mr. Robert Burg at (916) 630-4900. Confidential inquiries are welcomed

If you need assistance completing your online application, you are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available.

Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays. Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.