I starting thinking about how a posting for a Madison chief of police should read in order to attract the kind of leader they need — a leader who can take their police department strongly into the 21st century.
The Commission that will select the new chief has decided to take applications from outside the department as well as from those who are inside. A decade ago, many of my colleagues strongly criticized me for saying the selection should be within the department. No so today. I think it is healthy for Madison leaders to put themselves in contest with other police leaders in the country.
The Commissioners are serious about getting the best leader and need to hear from those of you who consider themselves as a visionary leader who is able to keep on building a great police department. The job won’t be easy. I know. But it will be rewarding, has tenure, and the new chief will take over a department that can easily be a world leader and teacher.
If that’s you – apply NOW!
If you know someone that meets these criteria, get them to apply – NOW!
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A Unique Professional Opportunity
CHIEF OF POLICE
City of Madison, Wisconsin
The City of Madison, Wisc. Police Department is an organization with a long tradition of excellence in problem oriented and community policing. It is now searching for someone to lead it further into greatness after the retirement of Chief Noble Wray who lead the department for nine years during his 30 years as a Madison police officer.
The police department is unique; an educated, diverse, community-oriented team of men and women ready to continue its world-class reputation and be the benchmark of delivering quality police services which intensely protects the rights of all citizens under the rule of law.
Madison’s top police leader is likewise expected to be educated, have an intimate understanding of diversity, focused on the community, a track record of being able to improve an organization, a staunch protector of the Constitution, have deep, sensitive, and compassionate listening skills. But most of all, the department’s leader must be able to strongly model the desired behavior of a police officer in a democracy. Be able to walk his or her talk.
Within its ranks, a significant percent of officers have college degrees and advanced educations, over one-third of the department’s sworn officers are women, and the percent people of color is reflective of the community. This is a great opportunity for a visionary leader with a passion for continuously developing and bringing democratic policing in America to its highest level.
An elected advisory council of officers has been in existence for three decades to advise the chief and the employee association (union) president is a member of the chief’s management team. The next chief of police will be selected by a board of five citizens who are appointed by the mayor of the city. Wisconsin state law provides tenure to the chief who will be expected to serve at least seven years. A chief can only be removed for cause, not political whim.
This is a unique opportunity for a man or women who has not only a gift of leadership but a clear vision of how police are to operate in our society; especially when confronted with diverse community expectations, political protests in the city and on the campus, and the use of physical force.
If you are such a person and you have the skill and passion to collaboratively lead a unique department such as Madison, you are invited to apply for the position of our city’s CHIEF OF POLICE contact the Madison Board of Police and Fire Commissioners c/o City of Madison, City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, Wisc., 53703.
Improving Police: A Necessary Conversation 