Police Chief City of Melbourne, Florida

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1 Police Chief City of Melbourne, Florida The Opportunity The City of Melbourne is seeking a dynamic, principled, progressive and experienced leader to continue to shape the Melbourne Police Department into one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the State of Florida. The current Police Chief is retiring in early 2017 after nearly 37 years with the Melbourne Police Department. During his tenure the Chief has established effective community partnerships with neighborhood associations, community groups and businesses to ensure cooperative and effective community relations. He worked with local business leaders to create the Melbourne Police Foundation in Maintaining and building further on these effective community partnerships will be a key priority. According to the most recent FBI statistics, crime is at its lowest level in Melbourne since The City is also currently evaluating the buildings that house the Police Department, and the new Chief will be a key part of the project team that will make recommendations for the ultimate destiny for Police facilities.

2 The Organization The Melbourne Police Department has 236 full-time employees (169 sworn) and 23 part-time. The fiscal year operating budget totals $24,038,650. Of this $19,747,576 is in personnel, $3,394,453 in operating expense, and $896,621 in capital outlay. The Department is organized into four Divisions under the Chief of Police. A Commander leads each of these Divisions, which are: Patrol Division, responsible for responding to all dispatched calls for service. Special Operations Division, responsible for traffic, community service officers, community resource officers, school resource officers, community relations, reserves, emergency services and specialty teams, such as SWAT. Criminal Investigations Division, responsible for general crimes, major crimes, special investigations, crime analysis, crime scene investigations, digital evidence recovery, property and evidence, and sexual offender tracking. Support Services Division, responsible for the communications center, records, recruiting facilities, information technology and fleet. There is also a Deputy Chief who, in addition to having a place in the chain of command for the Patrol, Special Operations and Criminal Investigations Divisions, is responsible for the budget, payroll, purchasing, police planning and alarm/extra duty billing functions within the Department. The Department is credentialed with the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, which indicates its policies are consistent with state standards for law enforcement agencies. It has established strong reciprocal working relationships with law enforcement agencies in the region. The Department s fleet is undergoing a structured refresh, and the Information Technology supporting the Department has recently been enhanced. The Melbourne Police Department has a sound reputation as a great place to work. The compensation for its officers is competitive, and City Management has a productive and cordial relationship with the collective bargaining unit, the Police Benevolent Association. The Department currently has a number of vacancies, and recruiting is an ongoing challenge, particularly the recruitment of candidates representing the diverse communities we serve. The new Police Chief will be encouraged to bring fresh and innovative methods to recruit and retain officers and increase the diversity of the force. The City of Melbourne is the hub of commercial and economic activities in the region. The Melbourne Police Department provides public safety support to over 300 special events each year, including college sporting events, parades, marathons, festivals, concerts and airshows. In addition, the downtown Melbourne historic district is a popular destination with restaurants, night clubs and a vibrant night life that extends well into the early morning hours. The City of Melbourne operates under the Council/Manager form of government. Seven elected council members hire a professional city manager to operate the city according to their policy and budget priorities. The City Council takes great pride in its Police Department. Melbourne has a stable history of long-serving City Managers, providing consistent leadership to the council and staff. The current City Manager has nearly four years of service to the city, and nearly 30 years in local government service overall.

3 About Melbourne The City of Melbourne s unsurpassed natural amenities; reasonable housing prices; large high-tech, aviation, aerospace, and defense employment base; and strong sense of community make it one of the best places to live, work and raise a family. The City of Melbourne is square miles in size with a population of 80,419. Melbourne residents represent a broad spectrum of demographics, from retirees and well-seasoned professionals to a large base of young families beginning their professional careers. Services The City of Melbourne provides all the services normally associated with a full-service municipality, such as public safety (police and fire); parks and recreation; streets maintenance; traffic engineering and parking; wastewater treatment; reclaimed water; stormwater improvements and treatment; community redevelopment; code enforcement; planning and zoning; and general administration. In addition, the City also operates a regional water plant, two cemeteries, two golf courses and, under an appointed authority, the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Location Melbourne is located approximately 25 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center and Port Canaveral, and 65 miles east of Walt Disney World, providing easy access to Central Florida and points beyond. It sits astride the Indian River Lagoon with the majority of the City located on Florida s mainland and a portion located on an oceanfront barrier island.

4 What Makes Melbourne Melbourne is an ideal location for you and your family. With two historic downtown areas, a highly educated workforce, high quality of life, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, many beaches, Indian River Lagoon, and St. Johns River, there is something here for everyone. Special Schools The Brevard Public School system is a model of innovation and excellence in preparing young people for success and is one of Florida s finest school districts. The district is ranked third in the state with 98% of Brevard schools receiving a grade of A or B. It has been the recipient of a district-wide overall A-rating for 10 straight years. Brevard County is also home to several colleges and universities, including the world-renowned Florida Institute of Technology, a regional branch of the University of Central Florida, and multiple campuses of Eastern Florida State College. History Downtown Melbourne has its roots dating back more than 100 years to a small community located on a natural harbor of the Indian River Lagoon known as Crane Creek, the name of the freshwater river which ambled parallel to the downtown s main corridor to the salty lagoon. Today, Historic Downtown Melbourne is gaining recognition as Brevard County s hottest area with an eclectic mix of restaurants, galleries, shopping, night spots, and increasing residential options for those who enjoy the downtown lifestyle. Michael Seeley Cultural Life Melbourne s cultural amenities and art scenes include local musicians and artists in its downtown venues, as well as national and international performers at the King Performing Arts Center and two venues for live theater downtown alone. You will find plenty to do away from the office, including one of the nation s top-rated zoos, museums, art galleries, music and a thriving retail and restaurant scene. Weather Enjoy the benefits of Central Florida s ideal coastal climate. Melbourne averages 242 sunny days annually with extremely mild winter seasons between (F). With such an abundance of good weather, outdoor activities along the Atlantic coastline are plentiful for both the adventurous of heart and those seeking out relaxation. Mild winters and a lush blooming landscape all year round might be one of the highest selling points for those relocating from colder parts of the country.

5 The Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will have a clear vision of what a well-run modern law enforcement agency does every day to provide effective policing within our community, and will have a track record of showing the initiative and the ability to analyze and seek solutions to day-to-day problems. He/ she will understand the demands of modern policing, and the training, support, and leadership required to maintain high morale and quality outcomes. (The essential knowledge, skills, abilities, and technical expertise required are listed in the job description: The successful candidate will be a model officer, working with the command staff, officers, union, and community stakeholders to solve problems and prevent new ones. The individual will be a hands-on leader and active listener who will make improvements where applicable. He/she will understand the importance of consistent application of policies and contract articles, and the value of communicating changes and improvements across all divisions. He/she will demonstrate impeccable personal integrity and hold all members of the agency accountable to the same high standard. He/she will understand both the dynamics of leading a team and of being a team member. The agency is a mature organization, with most in leadership positions having come up through the ranks of the department. The ideal candidate will appreciate the value of those long-term contributions, while also infusing the agency with fresh ideas. His/her ears will always be open. The Chief will value training for him/herself and for all employees, and will challenge everyone to excel. He/she will have high standards and demand accountability, while empowering the staff and officers to set goals and direction. Once those are clearly understood, the Chief will let the employees do their jobs. He/she will not be a micromanager. A great Police Chief is an outstanding communicator, equally comfortable making a budget presentation to the City Council or speaking with crime victims. He/she will value transparency within the limits of police work. The Chief will understand politics, but will not be involved in them. The right candidate will understand effective use of finite resources. He/she must understand the budget process, and have the ability to operate within approved budgets, making decisions that yield the best outcomes using the resources provided. Attribution license for photos by ajmexico and Michael Seeley: licenses/by/4.0/ Photos were cropped to fit space. Qualifications The successful candidate will have a Bachelor s Degree in criminal justice or related field, supplemented by advance courses in police science, leadership and administration. He/ she will have at least 10 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, with at least five years as the chief agency executive of a law enforcement agency, or as Deputy Chief or Division level commander of a larger department. The individual must be certified as a Florida Law Enforcement Officer, or have the ability to obtain the certification from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission. He/she will have completed an executive leadership/management course sponsored by a leading law enforcement education provider such as the FBI Academy or Southern Police Institute. A Master s Degree is preferred. Compensation & Benefits Salary Depending on qualifications and experience, the salary range for this position is $81,639 - $137,119. Benefits The City provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes a generous subsidy for employee and family health insurance, membership in the Melbourne Police Pension Plan, and life insurance. Optional employee-paid programs include dental insurance, supplemental life insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account, plus optional deferred compensation program. Employees accrue time off for sick leave, vacation leave, and 9 paid holidays each year. How to Apply Completion of a City employment application is required and may be found at: ajmexico The position will be open until filled. Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages qualified women and minorities to apply. Under the Florida Public Records Act, all applications are subject to disclosure upon receipt. This position is exempt from Veteran s Preference.