Chief of Police
Lakewood, WA
A search is underway to attract a highly qualified candidate to lead the Lakewood Police Department (LPD). Lakewood, Washington is a thriving, culturally and ethnically diverse community with 63,612 residents who enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s year-round outdoor playground. Lakewood is at the center of everything: mountains, water, and endless evergreens. Located north of the State Capitol of Olympia, just south of Tacoma, and adjacent to Joint-Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) and Camp Murray, Lakewood features beautiful parks, attractive neighborhoods, shimmering lakes, well-developed commercial districts, and rich history of collaborating with the community. The City seeks to continue a strong police-community relationship that engenders trust, advances community policing, and increases public safety. Lakewood seeks a Police Chief who is enthusiastic about that mission and this opportunity. LPD is one of the largest departments in the State of Washington. With a proposed budget of $26.7 million in 2023 and $27.1 million in 2024, LPD has a staff of 111 full-time employees, most of whom belong to one of three recognized unions. Currently, LPD has 96 commissioned officers and 4 limited and 11 non-commissioned employees. Under the general direction of the City Manager, the police chief plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates all activities and operations of the City’s Police Department. In addition, the chief provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Manager involving coordination and collaboration with other City departments and outside agencies, as well as public relations activities within the community. The police chief serves as a member of the City’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and participates on task forces and committees related to the City’s strategic planning efforts to address City-wide policy and management. The next police chief will be a strategic, results-oriented leader that is ready to hit the ground running. The ideal candidate is dedicated to serving and has a true passion for community policing through innovative, progressive, and diverse programming. The next chief will be both an inspirational servant leader and an experienced executive who will inspire confidence and trust from the community and earn the respect of both commissioned and non-commissioned personnel. The top candidate is team-oriented and will communicate a clear vision moving forward. The next chief will be a collaborator with an infectious “can do” attitude that inspires others to accept and manage change, while upholding high-performance expectations. This individual will build collaborative working relationships across city departments, in the community and with all other partners. The next chief will have superior communication skills, a strong belief in partnerships beyond policing, and an unwavering commitment to advancing safety in the community. The most competitive candidates for the Chief of Police position will possess at least 10 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, in a qualified federal, state, or local law enforcement agency including at least five (5) years of supervisory and command experience. It is preferred that this experience be with a similar-sized or larger metropolitan police agency. Candidates must have a history of working collaboratively inside the organization and with community and law enforcement partners. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field is required. A master’s degree is preferred, as is advanced leadership training. The salary range for this at-will position is $159,014 – $201,703 annually, with placement depending on qualifications and accomplishments. Compensation will be augmented by an excellent benefits package. This position will be considered “open” until a final selection is made. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit a compelling cover letter, comprehensive resume, and list of references via email to apply@publicsectorsearch.com by November 11, 2022.
Confidential inquiries and questions regarding this career opportunity should be directed to:
Public Sector Search & Consulting, Inc.
Gary Peterson, (Chief of Police, Ret.), Search Consultant
Mobile (916) 622-5323
Office (916) 789-9990
