CHIEF OF POLICE

WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

Waukesha, Wisconsin

City of Waukesha, Wisconsin

The City of Waukesha, Wisconsin (72,173) is an award-

winning, growing, and historic community located west of Milwaukee in southeast Wisconsin, Waukesha has

experienced considerable residential, commercial and

employment growth. Nationally recognized as one of the

“100 Best Places to Live” in the U.S., Waukesha’s

downtown includes a thriving arts district, a popular

farmers’ market, and a river walk. The City seeks highly-

skilled public safety professionals with strong

communication skills as candidates for its next Chief of

Police.

The City, at 27 square miles, is a full-service municipality

and prides itself on excellent customer service. The

department enjoys strong working relationships with the city’s elected officials, business community, community

leaders and other stakeholder groups.

The Chief of Police is responsible for providing executive leadership for the effective organization and supervision of

all phases and operations of a robust and well-resourced

police department. The Chief oversees a department of

156 full and part-time personnel including 119 sworn

officers, and a budget of more than $18.4 million. In 2018

the department responded to approximately 27,000 calls

for service. Dispatch services are handled in-house. Patrol

officers are unionized positions.

The successful candidate will:

• Be a strong leader, and possess an ability to work with

a variety of stakeholders;

• Be forward-thinking and an exceptional communicator;

• Possess a passion for public service;

• Be able to thoughtfully represent the interests of the

department and the city, with a high level of

community engagement; and

• Be comfortable working in a collective bargaining

environment.

Candidates should also have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law

enforcement, or related fields.

• Command leadership training such as the F.B.I.

National Academy, Northwestern University’s School

of Police Staff and Command, Southern Police Institute Command training or similar programs is a

plus; and

• Have at least ten years of service in law enforcement,

including five years of supervisory experience in a full-

time, paid police department; or equivalent

combination of training and experience which provides

the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

The Chief of Police is appointed by the Waukesha Police

and Fire Commission, reports to the Mayor, and works

closely with the City Administrator.

Chief of Police

Community Background The City of Waukesha has a strong identity as a full-service, independent community located 15 miles west of Milwaukee, Wisconsin along the shores of the Fox River. Waukesha is an award winning community named one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People”, “One of the Best 100 Places to Live” (Money Magazine), and the recipient of the prestigious Gold Medal Award by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Waukesha is the seventh largest city in the state with a daytime population of approximately 100,000 people. It is located in one of the fastest growing and wealthiest counties in Wisconsin and its commercial and residential boom is expected to continue.

There are 30,165 households in Waukesha. A wide variety of housing sizes, styles and price ranges are available throughout the community from older structures to new construction home sites. The median household income is $61,380 with a median home value of $232,000 based on 2017 U.S. Census data. Waukesha’s population is approximately 84% white, 12% Hispanic and 4% African American. The neighboring City of Milwaukee has more than 600,000 residents, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of more than 1.5 million.

Education is a top priority for the Waukesha community. There are excellent public and private schools from K through 12 in the City. The City is home to the state’s oldest college, Carroll University (est. 1848), and the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, a two-year university. The City is also served by Waukesha Technical College immediately adjacent to the City. The greater Milwaukee area offers a wide variety of higher education opportunities. Chief among them include the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Marquette University.

Diverse recreational opportunities abound in Waukesha and the surrounding area. The City manages 45 parks and 1,100 acres of open land. There are hundreds of miles of biking and hiking trails in and around the City. Waukesha is within minutes of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. There are 12 golf courses and 77 lakes within the County. Waukesha hosts a lively arts community ranging from the Wisconsin Philharmonic and Waukesha Civic Theatre to the Waukesha Choral Union and free summer concerts at the Les Paul Band shell.

Read more about the city using this link.

City Government The City of Waukesha is an independent, full-service municipality governed by a Mayor elected at large and a 15-member Common Council, each elected by district. The Mayor serves as the City’s chief executive officer.

An appointed City Administrator is responsible for administering the day-to-day operations of the City, providing leadership and direction to the City’s management staff which include the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Assessor, City Clerk/Treasurer, Public Works Director, Community Development Director, Finance Director, Library Director, Director of Information Services, Cemetery Director, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director and Human Resources Director. The City also has an elected City Attorney and Municipal Judge.

The elected and appointed positions all work very closely and cooperatively with the City Administrator and City staff. The Common Council, through standing committees, provides policy oversight of City activities, services, and programs.

The Chief of Police is appointed by the Waukesha Police and Fire Commission. By state statute, the Chief reports to the Mayor. In addition, and in Waukesha, the Chief works closely with the City Administrator.

EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT

Waukesha, Wisconsin

Waukesha Police Department The Chief oversees a department of 156 full and part-time personnel including 119 sworn officers, and a budget of more than $18.4 million. In 2018 the department responded to approximately 27,000 calls for service.

Command staff in the department consists of the Chief, Deputy Chief and three Captains. The department’s work is divided into four divisions: Patrol, Special Services (school liaisons and dispatch), Criminal Investigation (detectives and special crime units), and Community Policing.

The department’s headquarters was built in 1992, and has an indoor heated garage that holds 38 vehicles. In 2018 a substation was added to the southwest area of the city to increase response time.

The department’s mission: A pledge to service with integrity, honor and courage. The department’s priorities are: Safety, Communication, Teamwork and Accountability. See this link for more about the department.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES The Chief of Police is a key member of the City’s leadership team, so developing and maintaining relationships with the Mayor, elected officials, Police and Fire Commission, City Administrator, department heads, and all levels of employees, both union and non-union employees alike, is paramount. In addition, the Chief is a community leader, one that is expected to easily and proactively interact with a variety of community stakeholders. Proven communication, interpersonal and human relations skills, and the ability to interrelate with a wide variety of people possessing various attitudes and positions are all important and desirable qualities for the next Chief.

Community and department Issues identified as areas of importance include:

• Community Relations – The department enjoys strong working relationship with community and business groups representing a diverse set of stakeholders in Waukesha, including leaders in the Hispanic and minority communities, and representatives of downtown business groups and non-profit organizations. The department also possesses a strong reputation for working cooperatively with its neighboring jurisdictions. The next Chief is expected to maintain and build upon these critical networks.

• Homelessness – The city, not unlike other municipalities in major urban areas, is seeing growth in its homeless population. In Waukesha, a number of community organizations in concert with the city, are seeking solutions. The next Chief can expect to be a significant player – and adept leader – in addressing this problem which is occasionally marked with divergent opinions on how to successfully address this thorny issue.

• Opioid Use – Waukesha, similar to many communities throughout the country, is experiencing an increase in opioid-related crimes and overdoses. The issue is one of complicated proportions, to be sure. The police department, in affiliation with a number of agencies including Waukesha County, is working a multi-pronged approach to reduce overdoses. The work is promising, yet on-going, and the next Chief can anticipate working with a number of agency partners to battle this epidemic.

• Low rates of property crime and a high degree of personal safety are some of the reasons why people choose to live or stay in Waukesha. The community is highly supportive of the department’s policing efforts, and the Common Council has built on that confidence by providing the department the resources it needs. The next Chief can expect to build on these strong metrics and good will, and to lead the department to an even higher level of achievement.

• The Department has successfully employed a community policing model for years. The success of the program is attributed to the attitude of individual officers that recognize the value of their participation and relationships they have built with the community-based organizations and residents. Along these lines, too, the running of Waukesha’s police organization has been punctuated by a team-leadership model, a management style that has been enthusiastically embraced by the department’s command staff. The new Chief will not only be sensitive to the benefits that these approaches have achieved, but embrace and grow the culture of the programs for the benefit of the City.

• With working in a collective bargaining environment, the new Chief will need to appreciate and honor the fundamental provisions of the collective bargaining agreements, but seek and value input from all segments of the organization to develop the Department, and the talents of its staff.

Chief of Police Waukesha, Wisconsin

Candidate Qualifications The City of Waukesha is seeking a Police Chief with a proven track record of excellence, one able to effectively adapt to the resources and culture of the community and the police organization, while performing as an effective and innovative leader. In the ideal, candidates will possess the following background, management and leadership style. Education and Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, or related fields.

• Command leadership training such as the F.B.I. National Academy, Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, Southern Police Institute Command training or similar programs is a plus.

• Have at least ten years of service in law enforcement, including five years of supervisory experience in a full-time, paid police department; or equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Be dedicated to a high level of communication and interaction in the Police Department; while valuing the importance of chain of command; able to value input from all levels in the Department.

• Have a professional record of open communication with elected officials, community groups and residents, with a dedication to transparency in local government.

• Have excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate openly and with clarity with the Police and Fire Commission, Mayor and Aldermen, citizens, community leaders, local schools, City Administrator and staff and other appointed and elected officials.

• Have experience leading a team that emphasizes a collaborative approach to solving problems and encourages creativity and innovation within the Police Department.

• Have an understanding and appreciation of the benefits of developing community partners in neighborhoods to further the culture of community oriented policing.

• Have experience establishing, maintaining and further developing positive relationships with other local law enforcement agencies; able to recognize and evaluate opportunities for shared or consolidated services.

• Have extensive experience in and knowledge of employee and labor relations and possess a reputation for dealing openly and fairly with both individual employees and employee groups. Be able to effectively carry out initiatives in the interest of the department and the City of Waukesha.

• Possess demonstrated experience as a recognized law enforcement leader in a similar municipal organization; have a reputation for being an approachable and responsive problem solver and leader.

• Have the ability to formulate an effective means to evaluate, recognize and develop personnel through a consistently applied career development program; to provide succession planning and leadership development in the Department; to identify and develop future leaders in the Department.

• Be available for and make presentations to the community as the “emissary” for the City.

• Be able to thoughtfully represent the interests of the department and the City, with a high level of community engagement.

C H I E F O F P O L I C E

Chief of Police Waukesha, Wisconsin

• Candidates must have complete personal and professional integrity inspiring the confidence of elected and appointed officials as well as the general public; conduct all personal and professional interactions fairly, honestly and ethically, avoiding any appearances of a conflict of interest.

• Be flexible, have an open, friendly personality and management style and be one who can establish trust quickly with others.

• Have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with differing personalities. Maintain a calm demeanor during times of stress, providing thoughtful guidance to employees, other department heads and elected officials.

• Be an articulate and effective communicator orally and in writing; someone who is comfortable listening to and talking with a wide spectrum of people, and is open, friendly, and diplomatic with residents; someone who makes a good first impression.

• Be adept in presenting Police Department policies and procedure both internally and to the media, community and other public agencies; able to explain law enforcement concepts in understandable and practical terms.

• Be an effective delegator, allowing latitude to staff to carry out their responsibilities independently while remaining knowledgeable and accountable for Police Department operations.

• Regularly demonstrate good listening skills and a willingness to work out issues in a collegial, respectful

manner. Be resilient, flexible and adaptable with an understanding when it is critical to exercise leadership and when to be flexible and adaptable to new ideas.

• Have strong analytical skills, developing reports and well-reasoned recommendations based on a thorough analysis of the relevant data.

• Be enthusiastic about participating and being active in community events, being the face of the Police Department and part of the “fabric” of the community.

• Have a history of success in working in a collective bargaining environment.

• Have management experience in creating an environment of trust, integrity and mentorship where employees respect one another and where the organization consistently functions at a high level of customer service.

• Have experience in intergovernmental relations, working with appropriate local, regional, state, and federal jurisdictions and agencies in a constructive and cooperative manner, and representing City-approved policies in an effective manner.

• Have a record of keeping up-to-speed on modern/innovative technology, programs and procedures.

• Be a team-oriented, transformational leader who can coach and develop employees to manage organizational change, and who can motivate employees to meet their individual performance goals.

Leadership Skills & Management Style

COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY Starting salary (midpoint): $130,000 +/- DOQ, plus exceptional benefits.

Candidates should apply by November 18, 2019 with resume, cover letter and contact information

for five work-related references to www.GovHRjobs.com to the attention of Lee Szymborski, Senior

Vice President, GovHR USA, 630 Dundee Road, #130, Northbrook, IL 60062. Tel: 847-380-3240.

The City of Waukesha is an Equal Opportunity Employer.