Police Chief

Police Chief

Salary $150,501.48 - $203,176.57 Annually

Location Snoqualmie, WA

Job Type Full-Time

Job Number 202600002

Department Police

Opening Date 02/02/2026

Closing Date 3/2/2026 11: 59 PM Pacific

Description

EQUITY STATEMENT

The City of Snoqualmie strives to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We value a variety of perspectives and life experiences and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status under federal, state and local laws. We believe diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to the success of our City operations.

SUMMARY

An at-will management/professional position under general direction of the City Administrator. The Police Chief plans, organizes, directs, and controls all police services delivered to the community, including developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, procedures, and practices to accomplish the police department’s mission including specific public safety programs and the annual budget.

Examples of Duties

• Prepares a realistic and fiscally sound annual budget to enable the Police Department to achieve the City’s Public Safety objectives: following the goals and objectives of the City Council; ensuring that the department functions within budget appropriation.
• Approves all department expenditures; obtains and evaluates bid proposals on equipment.
• Assures that department personnel are capable of providing services to maintain all police department operations by providing managerial leadership and supervision to subordinates.
• Directly supervises or directs work through subordinate supervisors, the entire Police Department personnel, including patrol and records. Develops and maintains a climate in which morale, motivation, human relationships, and individual effectiveness can flourish best.
• Recommends selection of staff.
• Reviews performance of Police Department personnel through performance evaluations and reports. Approves merit pay and other personnel actions. Institutes disciplinary action as required.
• Assures that rules, regulations, and union agreements are administered consistently and uniformly, and in such a way that maximum management rights are retained and that precedents are not established which set long range adverse effects.
• Frequent involvement in confidential, sensitive, or emotionally charged interactions which require discretion, tact, integrity, and sensitivity along with the ability to gain the trust and confidence of others.
• Assures departmental operations comply with all local, state and federal legislation and regulations. Prepares clear, concise reports and makes presentations to City Council upon request.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other City employees, other criminal justice agencies, elected officials, and the public.
• Attends frequent staff & community meetings as required, including City Council, Public Safety committee meetings & public hearings.

These duties are not inclusive of all duties, and as such, this position may perform other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:
• Must possess an AA degree in Police Science or related field.
• A minimum ten years’ experience in a municipal public safety agency as a commissioned police officer and a minimum of four years of successful and progressive management experience.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in Police Science or related field
• Experience as a Chief is preferred.
• Other qualifying experience which provides an equivalent balance of the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet the position requirements will be evaluated that may substitute for the required education and experience listed above.

Licensing and Certification:
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License with driving record free of serious or frequent violations.
• Must be certified as a peace officer in Washington State, or able to meet standards.
• Must be able to pass a background investigation, a psychological exam and medical exam.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:
• Thorough knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices of delivering police services.
• Budgeting systems and techniques.
• Municipal practices and procedures.
• Civil Service policy and procedures.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate ideas both written and oral.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Principles of training and providing work direction.

Ability to:
• Provide leadership, counsel, motivation, and constructive performance reviews to department personnel at all levels securing their perspective commitments to the department’s goals.
• Analyze situations and adopt a quick, effective, and reasonable course of action, especially under conditions which are psychologically and emotionally stressful.
• Communicate effectively with people who are in physical or emotional distress.
• Determine priority of customer needs and follow up on them.
• Consistently demonstrate tact, courtesy, reliability, and maturity while carrying out assigned duties.
• Disseminate sensitive information in a discreet and confidential manner.
• Understand and carry out complex oral and written instructions in the English language.
• Have effective organizational, interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Perform basic arithmetic calculations.
• Understand and utilize code regulations, instruction manuals and maps in performing job functions.
• Work independently with little or no supervision.
• Provide work direction to others.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Council, fellow employees, the public, City Commission, Committee and Board members.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee works primarily in an office setting although there is significant time traveling locally and to other cities, by vehicle, for business meetings, court, and public speaking presentations. There is some walking, standing, stooping, and reaching. The work sometimes requires above average physical agility and conditioning. The employee is exposed to inclement weather, although minimal. Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 50 pounds. Work may periodically require the employee to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl.

RCW 10.93.020
Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(4) "General authority Washington peace officer" means any full-time, fully compensated and elected, appointed, or employed officer of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency who is commissioned to enforce the criminal laws of the state of Washington generally.

RCW 43.101.095
Peace and corrections officer certification—Background investigation.
1. As a condition of employment, all Washington peace officers and corrections officers are required to obtain certification as a peace officer or corrections officer or exemption therefrom and maintain certification as required by this chapter and the rules of the commission.
2. (a) Any applicant who has been offered a conditional offer of employment as a peace officer or reserve officer or offered a conditional offer of employment as a corrections officer after July 1, 2021, including any person whose certification has lapsed as a result of a break of more than 24 consecutive months in the officer's service for a reason other than being recalled to military service, must submit to a background investigation to determine the applicant's suitability for employment. Employing agencies may only make a conditional offer of employment pending completion of the background check and shall verify in writing to the commission that they have complied with all background check requirements prior to making any nonconditional offer of employment.

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