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 116 Jobs

Assistant Police Chief

  • Kissimmee, FL
  • 13 hours ago
  • Kissimmee, FL
  • 13 hours ago

Is able to direct thorough criminal investigations. Has extensive knowledge of legal rights of accused persons and law enforcement....

Director of Public Safety

  • Easton, MD
  • 14 hours ago
  • Easton, MD
  • 14 hours ago

Foster collaboration with internal stakeholders and external law enforcement agencies to enhance the safety and security of all facilities....

COMING SOON - Police Chief

  • Napa, CA
  • 18 hours ago
  • Napa, CA
  • 18 hours ago

*** The City of Napa is seeking our next Police Chief!...

enforcement....

Chief of Police

  • South Burlington, VT
  • 1 day ago
  • South Burlington, VT
  • 1 day ago

Demonstrated ability to manage and maintain confidential information to include criminal investigative matters sensitive in nature and confidential....

Chief of Police

  • Charlotte, NC
  • 2 days ago
  • Charlotte, NC
  • 2 days ago

safety and security Knowledge of overall operations of police departments, criminal investigations, police report writing and criminal law Ability to maintain professional and emotional control under...

Police Chief April 2025

  • Longboat Key, FL
  • 2 days ago
  • Longboat Key, FL
  • 2 days ago

JOB PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of modern police administration and law enforcement methods....

Chief of Police

  • Henderson, NV
  • 2 days ago
  • Henderson, NV
  • 2 days ago

enforcement, public or business administration, or a closely related field Fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, to include seven (7) years of supervisory experience...

Chief of Police

  • Strasburg, OH
  • 3 days ago
  • Strasburg, OH
  • 3 days ago

Chief of Police VILLAGE OF STRASBURG Strasburg, OH Full-time Law Enforcement Posted on April 6, 2025 Salary: $32.10 per hour The Village of Strasburg Is accepting applications for the position of CHIEF...

Deputy Chief Of Police For Support Services

  • Hobbs, NM
  • 3 days ago
  • Hobbs, NM
  • 3 days ago

In the absence of the Police Chief, the Deputy Chief for Support Services may be called upon to perform the duties associated with the Police Chief in an acting Police Chief position....

Professional Staff Assistant to the Director of Public Safety Department

  • Grand Junction, CO
  • 4 days ago
  • Grand Junction, CO
  • 4 days ago

Assists Director with administrative duties related to the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Center (CLETC) technical committee....

District Police Chief

  • Stockton, CA
  • 4 days ago
  • Stockton, CA
  • 4 days ago

The District Police Chief is a highly visible, uniformed member of the District Police Department and the District's chief law enforcement officer....

Chief of Police - United States Capitol Police

  • Washington, DC
  • 5 days ago
  • Washington, DC
  • 5 days ago

Knowledge and experience in interagency coordination, with proven experience building coalitions with federal, state, city, and county law enforcement agencies and military entities for law enforcement...

Campus Police Chief

  • GA
  • 5 days ago
  • GA
  • 5 days ago

Campus Police Chief Georgia - Dekalb - Clarkston NEW HOT Law Enforcement Georgia Piedmont Technical College - GPTC 4 days ago Apply for Job Share this Job Sign Up for Job Alerts Campus Police Chief...

management of the defined departmental area POST Certification PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Master's degree in Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Education, or a related field *and* a minimum of Two (2)...

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...
Introduction to Policing
Introduction to Policing online course with Griffith University, through Open Universities Australia. Study Legal, Justice and Security online.
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...

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
7.3%
High School or GED
7.3%
Doctorate Degree
6.6%
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 »