THE CITY OF BELTON, MO SEEKS ITS FIRST APPOINTED POLICE CHIEF 

Salary range from $96,000 to $146,000 DOE with highly completive benefits  

 

Belton, a dynamic and growing community, is seeking to fill the position of Police Chief, resulting from a city charter change from an elected to appointed Police Chief effective April 2021. Belton is the largest city in Cass County with an estimated population of 25,000. Belton benefits from its convenient location with a short 35-minute commute to Downtown Kansas City, direct access to Interstate 49 at four interchanges, and close proximity to the region’s fast-growing Highway 150 Corridor - an east/west connection crossing just north of Belton through southern Kansas City into Johnson County, Kansas, just 4 miles to the west. 

Following direction provided by the City Council, the City organization has made great strides in 2019 and 2020 to address the highest priorities of Roads and Infrastructure, Public Safety, and Code Enforcement, including the adoption of a half-cent sales tax for Public Safety.Because of the community’s continued support for strategic investment into facilities, infrastructure and long-term planning, Belton’s economic future will continue to prosper. Strong community support is also evident with a number of institutions beyond the City, including Belton Regional Medical Center and its recently completed and planned future expansions, and Belton Public Schools, a highly respected district operating six elementary and two middle schools, plus a high school that recently expanded its campus with additional classrooms, new aquatic and performing arts centers, and a gymnasium.   

The City is governed by a Mayor and eight-member City Council. The Mayor and City Council appoint a City Manager that is responsible for the City’s day-to-day operations. Reporting to the City Manager, The Police Chief commands a modern and progressive agency with authorized staffing of 67.5 full-time equivalents, of which 48 are commissioned peace officers, augmented by 4 reserve officers. This position directs, plans, and manages all functions and operations of law enforcement of the Police Department for the City of Belton, including Administration, Animal Control, Communications, Emergency Management, Investigations, Jail, and Patrol. The Police Chief directs the enforcement of laws and ordinances, the prevention of crime, and protection of life and property. 

BPD is actively engaged with the Belton community, to include problem-oriented policing and a variety of community interaction vehicles. The elected Police Chief will remain in place until April 2021, at which time the appointed Police Chief will assume command, allowing a seamless transition of leadership of the Police Department.

The Police Chief will be a key member of the City’s leadership team possessing highly developed and polished technical, communication and presentation skills with an ability to perform well under pressure and meet deadlines.  The ideal candidate will have an established record of teamwork in law enforcement and possess a record of building and maintaining strong relations in the community, including marginalized and minority communities.   

Requirements include a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Justice Administration, Public Administration, Business Administration  or related field (graduate degree is preferred) and Missouri POST Certification and six years (10 years preferred) of supervisory/management experience in  career law enforcement work that includes responsibility for a variety of police functions including major command responsibilities, crime detection, and investigative work; and three years of staff supervisory, budgetary, and management responsibility; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.  Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid Missouri State Driver’s License and Missouri Class A POST certification (or other equivalent state/federal training programs) is required.  Out of state hires must obtain Missouri Class A POST certification within one year of hire. Relocation assistance and temporary housing allowance considerations are available for the successful candidate.  Establishing residency in Belton within 6 months of appointment is required. 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Qualified candidates please submit your cover letter and resume online by visiting our website at:

https://bakertilly.recruitmenthome.com/postings/2683

This position is open until filled; first review of resumes occurs on November 2, 2020. Following this date, applications will be screened against criteria outlined in the recruitment brochure.  Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a criminal history, credit, driver’s license, educational credentials and personal background check prior to interviews. The City Manager will offer interviews in Belton or virtually to candidates identified as finalists. The selected candidate will be subject to a comprehensive background review in accordance with Missouri POST standards. For more information, please contact Chuck Rohre at [email protected] or 214.608.7477. For more information about the City of Belton, please see the website at www.belton.org. 

The City of Belton is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce. (EOE)