Police Chief - Village of Oak Park, IL

Village of Oak Park, Illinois (Pop. 54, 583) is seeking an experienced, collaborative leader for the position of Police Chief. The Village desires candidates who can engage with an active and involved community and who are excited by the opportunity to lead and innovate on issues of public safety. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to 21st Century Policing, a vision of equity and inclusion – within the Police Department and beyond - and the ability to cultivate a positive work climate that is reflective of the Village’s Core Values. Oak Park is a community of choice - diverse, socially progressive, and nationally recognized for architecturally significant historic neighborhoods and thriving business areas. Located just nine miles west of downtown Chicago and bordered by Chicago to the east and north, the Village offers a distinct urban/suburban lifestyle for the many who live, work, and play there.

The Police Chief reports directly to and provides complex administrative support to the Village Manager who reports to the Village Board in a Council-Manager form of municipal government. The position oversees all the activities and operations of the Police Department including field operations, criminal investigations, management services and records management, while coordinating activities with other Village departments and outside agencies. In addition, the Police Chief is responsible for providing oversight and control of all law enforcement functions in the Village using broad interpretative judgment within prescribed standards and procedures.

The Police Chief oversees 147 employees, 80% of whom are sworn staff and manages an approximately $27 Million operating budget. Patrol Officers, Sergeants and CSO’s are represented by the Fraternal Order of Police, and Civilian employees are represented by the Service Employees International Union. Additionally, the Police contract expired in 2020 and a new contract has not yet been finalized.

Please note the following about this exciting opportunity:
• Oak Park is committed to an environment that reflects 21st Century Policing practices, with an emphasis on police oversight, community policing, crime prevention, training, and education. Achieving these goals require a leader who is not only skilled at managing change, but also embraces it – and the tension it creates – as critical and necessary.
• The new Police Chief will be expected to use information from recent surveys to ensure department and community concerns related to alternative response and building community relationships are addressed. Actively cooperating with the Police Oversight Committee as a way of reinforcing transparency will also be important.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Seven (7) years of broad and extensive law enforcement experience including three (3) years of administrative and supervisory experience
• Possession of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in police science, criminal justice, public administration, or a related field.
• License or Certificate: Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver license from the State of Illinois, FEMA Certifications as appropriate and Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Police Officer Certification or the ability to obtain certification within 6 months.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in police science, public administration or a related field is highly desirable. Vaccination against COVID-19 is strongly preferred.

The annual salary range for the Police Chief is $130,000-$190,000. Placement within the approved salary range will be dependent upon career experience and qualifications. First review of applicants will occur on August 29, 2022.

To apply, candidates must submit a comprehensive resume, cover letter and contact information for 5 professional references to www.GovHRjobs.com. Candidates may contact the recruiters, Joe De Lopez, Vice-President, GovHR USA at (847) 380-3240, EXT 115, or Rodney Crain, Vice President, GovHR USA at (847) 380-3240, EXT 112.

The Village of Oak Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from candidates of color.