CITY OF LOS ANGELES
Invites Your Interest in the Position
of
CHIEF OF POLICE
THE COMMUNITY
Neighborhoods are Los Angeles. From Granada Hills nestled into the Santa
Susana Mountains on the north, to the port communities of San Pedro and
Wilmington on the south, and from the bluffs of Pacific Palisades overlooking
the blue of the ocean on the west, to the birthplace of the City at EI Pueblo
on the east, Los Angeles is the world’s most diverse city. With over 4 million
residents, and covering 469 square miles, Los Angeles is a mix of diverse
people, changing terrain, and urban and economic opportunity.
The City’s principal asset is creativity in all its forms, home to
world-renowned offerings in education, business, culture, recreation and sports
and dominant as the global capital of the entertainment industry. The
redevelopment of downtown continues to reinvigorate the City’s historic core,
bringing lofts, housing, and cafes to downtown adjacent to the iconic Walt
Disney Concert Hall and Cathedral, L.A. LIVE, and the Broad Museum. Museums,
theaters, libraries, community centers, parks and modern mass transit, built or
re-imagined over the last decade, are bringing increased vibrancy to the City’s
neighborhoods and connections between them.
Los Angeles’ economic base is as diverse as the city itself. The backbone of
the City’s huge and diversified economy is entrepreneurial, driven by small and
medium-sized businesses. The Los Angeles region is an economic engine for a
wide array of significant industries from telecommunications, law and medicine
to media production and product design and every imaginable product and
professional service of international trade. With the municipally owned Los
Angeles World Airports and Port of Los Angeles as portals, Los Angeles is the
country’s primary link to the markets of Asia and Latin America. As the largest
manufacturing center in the United States, LA is also a major production hub,
producing a fantastic variety of goods from trend-setting fashion apparel to
aerospace technology.
Unrivaled in cultural as well as geographic diversity, Los Angeles is home
to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of
Southern California (USC), as well as a score of excellent liberal arts
colleges and universities. From Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, to
Venice, to Boyle Heights and the coastal communities, Los Angeles residents
enjoy easy access to a mix of urban attractions and outdoor pursuits ranging
from nearby mountains and hiking trails to rugged deserts to the inviting
beaches of the Pacific Ocean.
CITY GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE
Los Angeles is a charter city and is governed by a Mayor and City Council.
The City Council serves full-time and has fifteen members elected by district
for four-year terms. Boards of Commissioners, appointed by the Mayor and
confirmed by the City Council, oversee several of the City’s departments and
bureaus. Mayor Eric Garcetti was elected in May 2013 and is currently serving
his second term.
The City has 37 departments, bureaus, and offices for which funds are
budgeted annually by the Mayor and City Council. Additionally, the City has
three departments (the Departments of Water & Power, Harbor, and Airports)
that are financed by revenue generated from their operations, which are governed
by Commissions, as well as two distinctly separate pension systems. In total,
there are 42 departments, bureaus, and offices that support the elected
officials and provide a full range of services to the City.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is one of the largest law
enforcement agencies in the world and has been recognized nationally for its
long history of considerable experience and dedication to professional
policing. LAPD operates on a budget of $1.6 billion and is comprised of over
13,000 employees (10,045 sworn and 3,015 civilian). The LAPD takes pride in
being a diverse organization which is reflected in sworn officer
representation: 18.5% female; 47% Hispanic; 32% Caucasian; 11% Asian/Pacific
Islander/Filipino/American Indian; and 10% African American.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHIEF
The Chief of Police directs, plans, and coordinates the enforcement of the
penal provisions of the City Charter, the ordinances of the City, and the laws
of the state and nation for the purpose of protecting persons and property and
for the preservation of the peace of the community. The Chief of Police is
responsible for testifying before the City Council, and state and national
legislative bodies on law enforcement matters of importance to the City of Los
Angeles.
The Chief of Police reports directly to the Police Commission, meets with
Commission members to keep them informed about Department operations and
responds to citizens’ complaints and concerns. The Chief of Police acts on
all matters related to disciplinary issues and recommends awards for
exemplary conduct of the Department’s sworn and civilian employees. The Chief
of Police works in cooperation with the Commission’s Inspector General in
assuring proper review of the internal disciplinary process, civil litigation,
and citizen complaint procedures. The Chief of Police also works in
coordination with the Commission’s Executive Director regarding implementation
and accountability for execution of Commission policies. The Chief of Police
makes presentations to private citizens’ community groups, churches, schools,
and the business and industrial community to promote the goals and missions of
the Police Department and to solicit their input in making the City of Los
Angeles a safe place in which to live, visit and conduct business.
During a state of emergency, the Chief of Police assumes a leadership role
in planning, coordinating and directing all activities aimed at restoring peace
in the City or otherwise returning conditions to normal.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City of Los Angeles is searching for a Chief of Police who has
demonstrated strong and compassionate leadership and a respect for civilian
oversight. He/she must have a proven track record of working in partnership
with diverse communities, appointed and elected officials, and other law
enforcement organizations based on mutual respect and cooperation. He/she must
have a demonstrated record of respect for diversity in the workforce both in
recruitment and promotion.
The next Chief of Police for the Los Angeles Police Department must be both
an inspirational leader and an astute manager. He/she must have a proven
knowledge, expertise and commitment to Community Based Policing, impacting the
issues of homelessness, developing crime reduction strategies, and preventing
terrorist activity. He/she must be capable of and committed to holding staff
accountable while motivating and supporting officers, and at the same time
building trust with the diverse communities of Los Angeles. The ideal candidate
must have considerable experience in management principles involved in
strategic planning, resource allocation, fiscal management, labor relations,
applying technology within law enforcement, and creating a work environment
that encourages problem solving and innovation. He/she must have excellent
interpersonal skills with the ability to project confidence and credibility to
the media and public, the ability to relate to a broad variety of individuals,
and to emulate the highest level of professional deportment and integrity
always.
The Chief must be appropriately assertive, able to persuade, influence and
provide his/her best professional judgment, recommendation and opinion and not
be afraid of being wrong or not having the answer. Finally, the next Chief of
Police for LAPD must be committed to a transparent administration and building
on the success of Department reforms.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Ten years of progressively responsible police service experience including
experience at the senior executive level is required. Prior experience should
have been gained with a large metropolitan police agency.
A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university is required. An
advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Criminal
Justice or related discipline is preferred.
THE COMPENSATION
The salary range for the Chief of Police is currently $234,232 to $415,303.
Effective June 24, 2018, the salary range will increase by 2.25%. The City also
offers a generous benefits package that includes retirement, medical, dental,
life, and disability insurance, vacation, and sick leave.
TO APPLY Electronic submittals are required. If you are
interested in this outstanding opportunity, please immediately
submit a resume, compelling cover letter of interest, and professional
references to:
City of Los Angeles Personnel
Department
Attn: Executive Recruitment
Email:
per.execsearch@lacity.org
Questions may be referred to
Leonard Torres at (213)
473-9394 or Janell Ishii Hata at (213) 473-9393
Application Deadline: March
23, 2018
Following the closing date, resume packages will be screened against the
criteria outlined in the Ideal Candidate and Desired Qualifications
sections of this brochure. The most qualified candidates will be asked to
submit responses to supplemental questions prior to being recommended as
finalists. References will only be contacted with candidates’ permission.
Finalists will be invited to interview with the Los Angeles
Police Commission. Those that move forward will interview with the Mayor.
The Chief of Police is appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by
the City Council, after recruitment and preliminary screening by the
Personnel Department and ranking by the Board of Police Commissioners.The
Chief of Police shall serve a five-year term and may be appointed, in the
manner described in the City Charter, to a second five-year term. The
Chief of Police shall serve at the pleasure of the City, and shall
not attain any property interest in the position of Chief of Police. The
Chief may be removed, either by the Board of Police Commissioners or the
City Council, prior to the completion of a five-year term, in accordance
with the City Charter.
The City of Los Angeles is an
Equal Employment
Opportunity Employer
