Police Chief Jobs in California

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.

1-13 of 13 Jobs

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...

Chief of Police

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 3 hours ago
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 3 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

  • Camarillo, CA
  • 1 day ago
  • Camarillo, CA
  • 1 day ago

E Direct, coordinate and supervise compreh ensive criminal investigations....

Director, Public Safety

  • San Diego, CA
  • 1 day ago
  • San Diego, CA
  • 1 day ago

Experience in managing security operations for large public venues, major corporate security programs, or law enforcement command-level experience strongly preferred....

Deputy Police Chief

  • Sacramento, CA
  • 1 day ago
  • Sacramento, CA
  • 1 day ago

Certification: Must obtain appropriate POST Certificate within POST designated timeframes....

Police Chief

  • Clayton, CA
  • 13 days ago
  • Clayton, CA
  • 13 days ago

Technical and administrative phases of crime prevention and law enforcement, including investigation, patrol, records management and care and custody of persons and property....

Chief of Police

  • Burlingame, CA
  • 13 days ago
  • Burlingame, CA
  • 13 days ago

Competitive candidates will bring a minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible law enforcement experience, including at least 2 years at a level comparable to rank of Captain....

Police Chief

  • Sanger, CA
  • 16 days ago
  • Sanger, CA
  • 16 days ago

The Police Chief represents the chief executive officer of the Police Department and advises the City Manager and the City Council regarding law enforcement matters.QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge: Current...

Chief of Police

  • South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • 21 days ago
  • South Lake Tahoe, CA
  • 21 days ago

Experience: Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible supervisory/administrative experience in Law enforcement, including at least four (4) years of management responsibility at the level equivalent...

Chief of Police

  • Escondido, CA
  • 24 days ago
  • Escondido, CA
  • 24 days ago

Escondido is seeking a forward-thinking law enforcement leader dedicated to community policing and excited to shape the future of public safety in Escondido....

Chief of Police

  • Escondido, CA
  • 30+ days ago
  • Escondido, CA
  • 30+ days ago

The City of Escondido has an exciting career opportunity for the position of Fire Chief. Please review the recruitment brochure by clicking here and send your resume and cover letter...

Chief of Police - Extended

  • Riverside, CA
  • 45+ days ago
  • Riverside, CA
  • 45+ 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

  • San Luis Obispo, CA
  • 90+ days ago
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
  • 90+ days ago

Thorough knowledge of modern principles, practices and techniques of police administration, organization and operation; technical and administrative phases of crime prevention and law enforcement, including...

Demographic Data for California

Moving to California? Find some basic demographic data about California below.


Local
National
39,536,271
996,598

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 Math Test
If you're like many other applicants, you might get a bit nervous when you hear there's math on the police test. Maybe it's because you think you're horrible at math or as it's been a long time...
Innovation in policing
This free course, Innovation in policing, explores the concept of innovation from the perspective of police and policing. It considers the ways in which innovation can apply in policing and how...

Title Synonyms

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


Salary for Police Chief Jobs in California

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 in California 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 in California
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



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