DEFINITION

Administers, plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and supervises the operations of the Public Safety Department in providing law enforcement, crime prevention, fire suppression, fire prevention, Youth and Family Services, animal control, emergency/disaster planning, and other related services concerned with the preservation of life and property in the City; performs other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Director of Public Safety is the administrative head of the Public Safety Department and is charged with the overall management of all of the Department's programs and operations serving as the Chief of Police, Fire Chief, and Chief Animal Control Officer.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED

Administrative direction is provided by the City Manager and policy direction is given by the City Council. Supervisory responsibilities entail direct and indirect supervision of sworn law enforcement management and line staff as well as non-sworn management employees.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Provides leadership, short and long term planning, organization development to the department; administers, plans, organizes, and directs the Public Safety Department's program activities involved in law enforcement, fire suppression, and related programs concerned with the preservation of life and property; provides consultation and makes recommendations to the City Manager and City Council regarding Departmental programs; directs the coordination of Departmental programs with services provided by other City departments and public agencies; oversees the selection, training, discipline and development of Department personnel; ensures that department personnel receive adequate training to carry out their assigned duties; develops and promotes Public Safety concepts and programs; formulates a variety of rules, policies, and procedures for the operation of the Department to ensure compliance with State, Federal, and local laws, ordinances, and policies; represents the City and Department on a variety of boards and commissions concerned with Department program issues; prepares or directs the preparation of reports, studies, and projects related to Department operations; develops Departmental budget recommendations; manages the appropriate expenditure of allocated funding; develops procedures and oversees compliance with applicable laws and procedures for conducting criminal investigations; meets with a variety of community organizations to promote Department activities and develop positive community relations; administers, plans, and coordinates the City's disaster preparedness and hazardous material response activities; directs the investigations of citizen complaints regarding officer misconduct; responds to complaints and inquiries regarding Department operations and policies.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience/Education

Sufficient experience and education to successfully perform the duties of the Director of Public Safety A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree in Police science, Fire science, or a related field from an accredited college or university and five years of increasingly responsible work experience in public safety enforcement and service work, including at least two years in a management capacity. A Master's degree in Police or Fire Science is desirable.

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of police and fire administration, organization, and management; codes, laws, and ordinances involved in law enforcement and fire suppression activities; procedures and techniques for successfully implementing crime prevention, juvenile, gang, and other law enforcement activities; principles of municipal management, organizational development, and public administration; techniques for budget development and the management of expenditures; principles of supervision, training, management of sworn and non-sworn staff; case law and guidelines for conducting criminal investigations and the detention of suspects; regulations regarding law enforcement and fire investigation recordkeeping; appropriate procedures for the proper handling of property taken into custody; methods and practices for the management of fire suppression, fire prevention, and fire investigation; techniques for working with community organizations in the implementation of a variety of Department programs; use and care of firearms; apparatus and equipment used in law enforcement and fire protection. Ability to plan, assign, direct, coordinate, and supervise the Department's varied program activities, including law enforcement, fire services, Youth and Family Counseling, and animal control; provide leadership, direction, and supervision to assigned staff; develop recommendations on policies and procedures for department operations, and evaluate program effectiveness; interpret, explain, apply, and enforce a variety of laws, ordinances, regulations, and court decisions affecting public safety functions; develop and present Department budget recommendations; efficiently manage the control of the expenditure of allocated funds; provide professional sound consultation to the City Manager, City Council, and others regarding public safety related programs and policies; prepare comprehensive and concise reports; make effective public speaking presentations; tactfully and courteously represent the Public Safety Department with citizens, community groups, and other government agencies; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Working Conditions

Position requires sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, crouching in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in writing reports, and using a scenes and evidence and firing a weapon. As a law enforcement officer the incumbent may, although infrequently, be required to run in pursuit and subdue suspects while taking them into custody. In emergency situations the incumbent may work outdoors in all weather conditions, around loud siren noise, moving vehicles. This position may require working around chemicals, pesticides, blood, and other potential toxic exposures. Incumbents may be subjected to physical threats, verbal abuse, and other stressful situations.

License/Certificate

Possession of a management certificate issued by the California Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) and a Class C California driver's license by date of appointment.