Chief of Police

Summary:  Provides general leadership and supervision to the Division of Public Safety. Provides oversight and direction for all public safety and law enforcement activities within the MetroParks system. Provides general leadership and supervision of all employees assigned to the department. Responsible for public safety and order, detecting and preventing crime, and the protection of park property and natural resources within and adjacent to lands under the jurisdiction and control of MetroParks of Butler County. Serves as a member of Executive Director’s Senior Leadership Team.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities – Essential Functions:

• Serves as chief law enforcement officer for MetroParks of Butler County. Plans, schedules, coordinates and/or performs the full range of public safety and law enforcement activities in accordance with established policies and general organizational standards. Enforces state law and MetroParks Rules and Regulations within and adjacent to park lands under the control of the Board of Park Commissioners pursuant to law and policy.
• Provides briefings to the Executive Director and/or others as directed regarding emergencies, law enforcement and public safety matters; safety and security issues; or related operational problems.
• Supervises MetroParks emergency responses to incidents and disasters and creates, updates, and maintains MetroParks emergency response plans and policies. Coordinates responses with outside agencies.
• Directly and/or indirectly supervises subordinate employees and assigned volunteers. Ensures state mandated law enforcement training and qualifications are completed by all division staff. Manages MetroParks safety training program for other departments or divisions as assigned.
• Attends community, professional and other meetings as a representative of MetroParks.
• Creates, reviews, and updates law enforcement and safety policies.
• Follows all MetroParks law enforcement and safety policies. Requires subordinate personnel to follow law enforcement and safety policies.
• Creates and manages budget for division. Follows MetroParks general financial procurement policies and ensures subordinate staff does the same.
• Responsible for physical security of all MetroParks owned and/or operated facilities, structures, parklands, and personal property.
• Responsible for supervising public safety at programs and events within MetroParks.
• Operates MetroParks owned motor vehicles, ATVs, APVs, bicycles, mobile phones, radios, personal computer, common office equipment, and other equipment as assigned.
• Explains MetroParks Rules, Regulations and Policies to the public in a diplomatic and professional fashion and requires similar standards for all department personnel. Provides information and assistance to park visitors to enhance the quality of their park experience.
• Maintains a professional, cooperative working relationship with other staff members, volunteers, and other agencies.
• Develops and maintains MetroParks safety and security policies and programs. Serves as primary employee safety officer administrating the employee safety program and leading the safety committee. Inspects parks and facilities for safety issues, reports same and works with other staff to resolve such matters.
• Serves as the primary liaison to property, casualty, and liability insurance providers. Completes applications for insurance, seeks competitive pricing pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code and MetroParks policies. Acts as primary point of contact for insurance, recovery, pending litigation, or traffic incidents.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Detail oriented with the ability to work independently, to organize and coordinate, and to prioritize and self-initiate completion of assigned work with high standards and sense of pride of ownership in projects assigned.
• Ability to manage and complete multiple projects effectively and appropriately.
• Competent knowledge and ability to use computers and smart phone, and software including, but not limited to, email, internet browsers, word processing, database and spreadsheet programs, as necessary.
• The physical ability to perform labor and the tasks noted above is required of this position as well as possession of the ability to effectively, efficiently, and safely complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Must be able to communicate and deal tactfully and in a timely and effective manner with superiors, subordinates, co-workers, and the public.
• Ability to maintain confidentially on sensitive issues and non-public records.
• Ability to maintain a professional, cooperative working relationship with other staff members, volunteers, and the staff of other agencies.

Required Education and Experience:

• A minimum of a four (4) year degree from an accredited college or technical school in Criminal Justice or a related field and/or at least six (6) years of service in a supervisory role in a law enforcement position.
• A current and valid Ohio Peace Officer’s certificate by date of employment and thereafter is required. Ability to obtain and maintain LEADS/NCIC certifications.
• Have and maintain eligibility to legally possess a firearm for law enforcement duty pursuant to all applicable local, state, and federal laws at the time of employment and continuously throughout employment and the ability to periodically qualify with assigned or approved firearms pursuant to policy.
• Competent knowledge of all laws of the State of Ohio. Competent knowledge of all local ordinances and MetroParks Rules, Regulations and Policies pertaining to law enforcement and public safety.
• Competent knowledge of federal and State statutes pertaining to the civil rights of all members of the public and staff.
• Competent knowledge of laws, policies, guidelines, and best practices for the administration of personnel and human resources.
• Certification by American Heart Association or American Red Cross in CPR and Standard First Aid within the first six months of employment period and continuously maintained throughout employment.
• A valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle driving record allowing insurability by the park district’s current vehicle insurance carrier under existing coverage provisions at the time of employment and thereafter. Candidates may not have more than 4 total points deleted from an Ohio Driver’s License (or equivalent penalty by another recognized governmental licensing authority) for driving-related violations on their driving record at the time of employment.
• Good character with no history of felony convictions or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Ability to be bonded against dishonesty and theft by MetroParks current liability insurance carrier under existing coverage provisions at the time of employment and continuously throughout employment.
• Successfully complete a psychological evaluation, medical evaluation, and a comprehensive background check to include a polygraph/cvsa examination with no deception indicated immediately prior to initial employment in law enforcement with MetroParks.

Work Environment & Schedule:

Maintains flexible schedule and is prepared to respond to emergencies on an on-call 24-hour basis unless otherwise arranged in advance.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the Chief of Police is regularly required to stay in a stationary position, to traverse, in interior and exterior, improved, and unimproved surfaces and to converse effectively. This employee must be in excellent health and have the ability to perform activities requiring agility, strength, and physical conditioning, as well as the ability to use defensive tactics. Eyesight may be 20/100 if correctable to 20/20. Reasonable accommodation will be made for known physical limitations of qualified employees and applicants with disabilities.

The position functions and responsibilities are illustrative only and do not represent all the duties or tasks to be assigned or performed by an employee with this position title.

Alternates to the above qualifications may be acceptable as approved by the Executive Director.