ROCKVILLLE, MARYLAND SEEKS A HIGHLY MOTIVATED, EXPERIENCED AND VISIONARY POLICE SERVICE PROFESSIONAL TO SERVE AS THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE THE COMMUNITY The City of Rockville, MD seeks a highly motivated, experienced and visionary Police Service Professional to serve as the next Chief of Police. Rockville, Maryland s 3rd largest city with a population of nearly 70,000, is a vibrant community developed over 14 square miles and is poised for future success. The city is located 12 miles northwest of the nation s capital, and 35 miles southwest of Baltimore with easy access to Washington, D.C., Rockville is served by three Metro rail stations, several major highways and three major airports. Uniquely positioned along the I-270 BioTech corridor, Rockville is rich in technology-based businesses and is home to a daytime labor force of over 80,000. Rockville possesses a strong sense of community and benefits from a highly-educated, ethnicallydiverse and engaged citizenry, stable neighborhoods, annual celebrations, and a wide range of recreational and cultural opportunities. The city is proud of its downtown that serves as the county seat for Montgomery County, one of the most affluent and well-educated counties in the United States. The downtown area is a vibrant mixed-use district with pedestrian-friendly streets and plazas, numerous restaurants and stores, the Rockville Memorial Library, a business incubator and VisArts (a community center for the arts), making Town Center a lively attraction for residents and visitors to the community. The city is also home to cultural and family-friendly amenities, such as the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, Adventure Theatre, Glenview Mansion Art Gallery, Peerless Rockville (an organization celebrating the city s history), and the Croydon Creek Nature Center.
THE COMMUNITY (CONTINUED ) Rockville embraces a wide range of diverse cultures. Recent data from the 2016 Census indicates that the city continues to reflect the growing diversity of the metropolitan Washington region with Asian, Hispanic and African American populations, as well as a highly educated population. Rockville residents are served by the award-winning Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in Maryland, with an enrollment of over 150,000 students from 164 countries who speak 184 languages. Students in the district are among the top performers in the United States on Advanced Placement examinations. A number of private and parochial schools are also located in or near the city. Several institutions of higher education are convenient, including Montgomery College (Rockville Campus), Johns Hopkins University (Montgomery County Campus) and the Universities at Shady Grove (a collaboration of nine Maryland public degree-granting institutions). MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION Founded in 1860, the City of Rockville has operated under the Council-Manager form of government since 1948. The governing body of the city consists of an independentlyelected Mayor and four Council members, all of whom are elected at large, every four years. The Mayor and Council serve as the city s legislative body engaging with the community, setting goals, adopting laws and ordinances, and providing policy direction for the operation of the city. The Mayor and Council approve the city s annual budget and establish the tax rates and fee structure. The City Manager is appointed by the Mayor and Council and serves as the organization s chief administrative officer, overseeing all operations and affairs of the city. Under provisions of the City Charter and Code, the City Manager is responsible for preparing a budget for Mayor and Council consideration; recruiting, hiring and supervising city staff; and carrying out the Mayor and Council s policies and priorities. The FY 2018 operating budget for all funds (fiscal year is July through June) is $130.3 million, supporting 612 full-time equivalent positions. The General Fund budget is $79.7 million. The City of Rockville provides a full range of well-developed and customerfriendly services for the community, including police protection; zoning, planning and community development; water, sewer and refuse collection; licenses, permits and inspections; fleet services, street maintenance and other public works functions; recreation and parks; facilities; public information and engagement; and special programs for senior citizens, youth, and low-income residents. While the city offers a largely urban environment, Rockville takes great pride in its open space and recreation opportunities. Residents and visitors enjoy approximately 1,035 acres of parkland in 65 parks with a variety of amenities. The city offers an award-winning Senior Center, a municipal swim center and golf course, three neighborhood community recreation centers and an extensive array of recreation programs, ranging from robotics summer camps for youth to overnight trips for seniors. Additional information about Rockville is available at www.rockvillemd.gov.
THE POSITION Appointed by and reporting directly to the City Manager, the Chief of Police is a recognized community leader and commands a nationally accredited agency of 95.5 regular FTEs in FY 2018, of whom 62 are sworn officers. The Department s operations and personnel are supported by a FY 2018 budget of $12.6 million. The vacancy for the Chief position occurred with the retirement of a 27-year veteran of the Rockville City Police Department (RCPD). The department has a reputation for effectiveness and is well regarded by the community and its peer departments. RCPD has concurrent jurisdiction with Montgomery County Police and most complex investigations, such as homicides and sexual assaults, are handled by the County. The City seeks a strong and visionary leader who is team-oriented, possesses exceptional communication skills, and utilizes a style that engenders mutual trust and openness with community stakeholders and among all levels of the Department s operations, including command staff, sworn and non-sworn personnel, and FOP leadership. Priorities include officer recruitment and retention, staff relations and development, implementation of policing best practices, community engagement and partnerships with other local law enforcement agencies and stakeholders. ROCKVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFFING AND ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE Office of the Chief of Police 5 FTE Chief and Administrative Support Professional Standards Community Services Field Services Bureau 42 FTE Homeland Security Patrol K-9 Administrative Services Bureau 10.5 FTE Public Safety Communications Records Retention Alarm Monitoring Evidence Control Warrant Control Special Operations Bureau 38 FTE Property Standards Enforcement Animal Regulation Enforcement Traffic Accident Investigations Background Investigations Criminal Investigations Parking Enforcement
CURRENT ISSUES AND PRIORITIES The following is a representative sample of challenges and opportunities for the next Chief of Police and is not intended to be allinclusive: Growth and Development As Rockville continues to grow, redevelop and shift from a more suburban to more urban character, the Chief must be able to articulate departmental needs and serve as an effective advocate for the resources required to address any challenges relating to staffing, facilities, equipment, technology, and the fleet. Internal Relations and Communications Relations within the Department must be improved in terms of trust, credibility and communications. The new Chief must employ a management and leadership style that engenders mutual trust and openness among all levels of the Department s operations, including command staff, sworn and non-sworn personnel. The Chief must also establish and maintain a cordial and productive relationship with the FOP. Recruitment and Retention A priority for RCPD is the recruitment and retention of highly skilled and professional officers and non-sworn staff at all levels. With Rockville s proximity to the nation s capital, there is intense competition for experienced officers from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies within the region. Community Relationships The Chief will engage the community by participating in community meetings and events, problem solving with community leaders and building bridges with underserved and underrepresented segments. The ideal candidate will possess the capacity and passion to serve as an ambassador for RCPD and the city. The Chief should utilize modern communication techniques to inform and engage the public. Management & Staffing Review The city has engaged the Center for Public Safety Management to conduct a review of departmental staffing and organizational structure. The Chief will be integral in assessing and implementing its findings and recommendations. Interlocal Agreements The new Chief must be comfortable in working with other law enforcement agencies and communities in a mutually dependent and cooperative environment, while ensuring that Rockville s interests are protected. Training and Staff Development The department is committed to a high level of training for its personnel at all levels. The Chief will assess internal strengths and gaps in experience, and develop strategies to effectively address skills development and succession planning. With a relatively tenured department, the Chief will ensure that institutional knowledge and experience is preserved as experienced officers retire.
CANDIDATE PROFILE The Chief of Police will be a key member of the city s management team and must possess highly developed technical skills, polished communication and presentation skills, the ability to perform well under pressure, the capacity to meet deadlines, and the ability to develop and maintain credibility and trust with the department and city staff, the public, the media and cooperating agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. The Chief will operate as a team-oriented member of the city s executive team and facilitate cooperation and coordination across city departments and with peers. The successful candidate will have in-depth knowledge and experience in the management of municipal police departments, especially those providing a high level of community engagement and advanced crime prevention practices. An in-depth appreciation for the 21st Century Report on Policing and its implications for municipal departments is essential. The ideal candidate will have significant operational experience in the various ranks of a police department as his/ her career has progressed. As the Department s top executive, the Chief will manage its personnel, budget, programs and activities with an eye for continuous improvement to meet the needs of a rapidly developing community within a complex, urban environment. He/she will work collaboratively with the City Manager, City Attorney and other department directors to ensure the city s best interests are served and potential liability is limited. A strong and visionary style of leadership, both engaging and personable, emphasizing the needs of the Department s internal and external customers, is essential. The Chief must be willing to make tough, even unpopular, decisions that benefit the organization, maximize its human and equipment resources, and provide the best services possible to the residents and businesses the department protects. Other characteristics and traits sought in the next Chief of Police include operating as a decisive leader who is willing to collaborate with staff while remaining responsible and accountable for the final decision. The successful candidate must have a commitment to mentoring, training, staff development and engagement, while valuing employee input into decisions and developing the leadership for tomorrow s Department. The Chief will have a high degree of visibility in the Department and community, both on and off the job. The successful candidate will have the desire to enter into a long-term relationship with the city and the community. The Chief s active commitment and appropriate level of involvement in professional networking and training will enable RCPD to be aware of the most appropriate and applicable equipment, training methods, best practices and technology needed for the Department to be innovative in responding to current and future service demands. The Chief will be astute politically without engaging in politics, and display impeccable character, candor and a professional reputation.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE A minimum of a Bachelor s degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, business, public administration, or a related discipline is required, with a graduate degree preferred. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of police department operations and management, a familiarity with what is required to manage local governments, and knowledge of best practices in the management of municipal police services. Command level experience in a comparable or larger agency, or the equivalent, is required. Advanced training such as the FBI National Academy, Southern Police Institute or equivalent programs is highly preferred. The selected candidate must be able to obtain Peace Officer certification in Maryland and a Maryland Driver s License in a reasonable period of time. The selected candidate will be required to attain residency within the Rockville city limits within a negotiated period of time. While the city has established minimum qualifications for the Chief of Police, the key selection criteria will be a demonstrated record of excellence in the required elements and proficiency levels of the position and may elect to accept substitutions for some of the required education or experience, depending upon the total professional background and credentials of individual candidates. COMPENSATION The starting salary will be in the $150,000 to $175,000 range, depending upon the background and qualifications of the successful candidate, plus use of a vehicle and contributions to a deferred compensation plan. The city has a highly competitive benefits program including a Retirement System, health, dental and life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, paid vacation and sick leave. Working conditions within the city are outstanding and Rockville offers its residents a high quality of life. Relocation assistance and temporary housing allowance considerations are available for the successful candidate. The City Manager will offer a severance-based employment agreement to the selected candidate. APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS Qualified candidates please submit your resume online by visiting our website at https://springsted-waters.recruitmenthome.com/ postings/1742. This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply not later than February 14, 2018. Following the first review date, resumes will be screened against criteria outlined in this brochure. Final interviews in Rockville will be offered by the city to those candidates named as finalists, with reference checks, background checks and academic verifications conducted after receiving candidates permission. For more information please contact Art Davis at adavis@springsted.com or by calling 816.868.7042 or Chuck Rohre at crohre@springsted.com or by calling 214.466.2436. The City of Rockville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a criminal history/credit/driver s license check prior to the interview. 14285 Midway Road, Suite 340 Addison, TX 75001 Phone: 972-481-1950 Fax: 972-481-1951 Springsted 380 Jackson Street, Suite 300 Saint Paul, MN 55101 Phone: 651-223-3000 Fax: 651-223-3002