THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of Richland, Washington offers an unparalleled career opportunity to collaborative, progressive law enforcement leaders as it seeks to identify its next Police Chief. The Richland Police Department enjoys a trust-based relationship with its residents and the internal organizational culture is widely viewed as healthy. Richland is seeking a Police Chief that will position the organization for success through continual improvement, innovation, and dedication to staff development.

ABOUT RICHLAND

Richland is located at the confluence of the Columbia and Yakima Rivers in southeastern Washington in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Richland and its sister cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and West Richland make up the Tri-Cities MSA with a population of 312,000. Richland is the third largest city in the region with a population of approximately 62,500 residents.

The city and its citizens are proud of the community’s excellent quality of life, which includes educational opportunities, outstanding health care providers and facilities, cultural and recreational amenities, and municipal services that consistently score very high in community surveys. In addition, Richland receives wide recognition for the beauty of its integrated parks, river-shore, commerce centers, living spaces, and economic opportunities, making it a desirable place to live, work and play.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Richland Police Department is organized into four divisions, each led by a Police Commander or Professional Staff Manager: Administrative Services, Investigations, Operations, and Professional Staff. The Department receives added support from the Richland Police Department Foundation which supports the community and staff through the Community Care and Professional Development funds.

The Police Department is staffed with 73 commissioned officers and 22.5 professional staff focused on community service and safety. Reporting directly to the Police Chief is the Deputy Chief and an Executive Assistant. The FY 2024 budget for the Richland Police Department, including all divisions, is approximately $21.8 million. The Operations Division responded to nearly 68,000 calls for service last year.

THE POSITION

Under the direction of the City Manager, the Police Chief manages, plans, and directs all activities, operations, and personnel of the Richland Police Department to enforce federal, state, and municipal laws and ordinances in the prevention of crime and protection of life and property. The Police Chief advises the City Manager and City Council regarding public safety issues, establishes work priorities, and develops and monitors the department budget. As a member of the City’s Executive Leadership Team, the Police Chief is expected to actively partner and support peer department directors to solve citywide issues and help guide the city’s vision and direction.

The ideal candidate for the Chief of Police will be a committed, decisive leader who can support and enhance the positive direction that currently exists in the department; be a personable, approachable leader who is highly visible inside the department and community; be committed to succession planning by mentoring, developing, and recognizing future leaders within the department; and have deep experience in all levels of modern municipal law enforcement to include administrative expertise.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job is qualifying. The most qualified candidates will possess the following:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Police Science, Public Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree and/or advanced leadership training such as the FBI National Academy are strongly preferred.

• Experience: Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in police services, with a minimum of six (6) years in a senior management capacity and must be a current law enforcement officer. Applicants separated out of law enforcement for more than 24 months will not be considered for this position.

• Certification: Must meet all requirements of RCW 43.101.095, Washington State Peace Officer Certification, and obtain certification within six months of employment as well possess a valid driver’s license. Additionally, candidates must meet eligibility requirements mandated by State law to hold the position of Police Chief (RCW 35.21.333).

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for the Chief of Police is $149,043 to $208,660, with placement in the range dependent on qualifications. The city offers an outstanding benefits package which includes retirement benefits provided by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems, supplemented by deferred compensation with the City Matching up to 4% in contributions and an additional City non-matching contribution of 4% for executive level positions.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit a comprehensive résumé and compelling cover letter below no later than Monday, May 13, 2024.

This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality until finalists have been identified. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established. 

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Chief Bryan Noblett (ret.) |bryan@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100

Chief Greg Nelson (ret.) | greg@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100

The City of Richland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.