CHIEF OF POLICE

DESCRIPTION The City of Long Beach, CA (City) is seeking an experienced and passionate law enforcement professional to serve as its next Chief of Police. The Chief of Police serves as the chief law enforcement and public safety executive for the City of Long Beach and provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for all police and public safety operations. The Chief of Police will oversee for department operations, crime prevention, investigations, emergency preparedness, emergency preparedness, budgetary and staffing resources, and collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity to lead the second largest municipal police agency in Los Angeles County and provide law enforcement services to the 7th largest city in the State of Southern California. For a collaborative and forward-thinking leader energized by public safety and public service, Long Beach offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the safety and resilience of an entire community. THE COMMUNITY: Idyllically located on the Pacific Coast just south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, Long Beach is a vibrant city of approximately 450K residents. Known for its diverse and inclusive community, Long Beach features a unique blend of urban sophistication, cultural richness, and coastal charm. The City encompasses about 51 square miles, offering an array of parks, beaches, and recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy mild climate year-round perfect for outdoor activities such as biking, running, water sports, and much more. Long Beach is home to world-class attractions including the Aquarium of the Pacific, the historic Queen Mary, the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and the 11k seat F&M Bank Amphitheater - the largest waterfront amphitheater on the West Coast. The City of Long Beach will serve as a major Venue City for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Long Beach also boasts a thriving economy supported by industries such as aerospace, education, health services, manufacturing, tourism and professional services. With two advanced educational institutions, California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College, and robust K-12 schools, the City is a hub for learning and innovation. Transportation options abound. The Long Beach and Metro transit systems along with the City's own airport provide convenient access throughout the broader Southern California region. Long Beach is recognized as one of the nation's most walkable and bike-friendly cities. THE CITY GOVERNMENT: Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and a Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) annual budget of $4B. The City employs over 6K full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations. As the City navigates a challenging fiscal environment and addresses projected budget shortfalls, City Leadership remains focused on strategic prioritization, operational efficiency, and long-term organizational sustainability while continuing to deliver high-quality services to the community. - City Departments - Citywide FY27 Budget - 2030 Strategic Vision - Elevate '28 Infrastructure Investment Plan The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization and integrated into hiring, professional development, leadership, and organizational decision-making. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to foster a more inclusive, accessible, and transparent organization. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress. THE DEPARTMENT : The Long Beach Police Department is the second largest municipal police agency in Los Angeles County and provides law enforcement services to the 7th largest city in the State of California. With over X sworn officers and a total staffing of 1,191 personnel, LBPD is dedicated to professional, proactive and innovative policing and is committed to building and maintaining positive relationships with the diverse community they serve. With an annual operating budget of over $344 million, the Department also provides contracted law enforcement services to the Port of Long Beach, Long Beach Airport, Long Beach Transit, and Long Beach City College. The Department provides a diverse array of services to safely and constitutionally address a variety of public safety concerns. Its core services include 24/7 response to 9-1-1 emergencies and general calls for service, criminal investigations, victim support, police contract services supplied to external agencies, and a growing workload stemming from federal and state legislative mandates. The Department continues to augment its basic patrol services with its Quality of Life Teams, Mental Health Evaluation Teams, and has increased its partnerships with regional partners that provide long term care for individuals experiencing homelessness and/or requiring mental health services, care, and intervention. The Department operates in the following bureaus and divisions: The Executive Office consists of the Chief of Police and Assistant Chief of Police is responsible for promoting collaborations and innovations in managing many of the priority issues, including crime fighting strategies, use of force, de-escalation and building public trust. Responsibilities include strategic planning, vision development, managing legislative mandates, strategic communications and fostering partnerships with other law enforcement agencies, City departments and the community amongst other things. Internal Affairs is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct involving any member of the Department. Investigators are Department supervisors who receive specialized training in conducting personnel investigations. The investigative process is meant to provide a thorough, fair and objective review of misconduct allegations made by the public . The Administration Bureau is comprised of the Personnel Division, Records Division, and the Community Engagement Division. The Records Division manages departmental records, fleet vehicles, and technology activities. The Personnel Division is responsible for the personnel and payroll services for the nearly 1,191 police Department employees. The Community Engagement Division is responsible for the Business Desk Operations, Live Scan services, Media Relations Detail and volunteer opportunities. The Financial Bureau is responsible for processing purchase orders for payment, issuing billings, preparing the annual budget and monitoring its execution, performing financial analyses, and providing office supplies to the Department. The Investigations Bureau is comprised of the Detective Division, Gang and Violent Crimes Division, Forensic Science Services Division, and the Criminal Intelligence Section. The detectives and support staff are dedicated to investigating crimes, analyzing evidence, apprehending suspects, preventing abuse, and promoting positive relationships between officers and youth. The Bureau includes five 24-hour on-call teams which include the Sexual Assault Response Team, Homicide Investigations Team, Domestic Abuse Response Team, Crime Lab Response Team, and the Child Abuse Response Team. The Patrol Bureau is the Department's largest bureau encompassing over 40% of the organization's budget and more than 50% of its personnel. The Patrol Bureau includes one specialized Field Support Division and three geographical divisions: North, East and West. Officer deployment occurs annually. Supporting the "beat integrity" concept to develop trust and ownership, officers are assigned to a beat for a minimum of one year. The Support Bureau provides varied services and includes the Jail Division, Port Police Division, Security Services Division, and the Training Division. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES THE POSITION: The Chief of Police reports directly to the City Manager and is the City's chief law enforcement officer. The Chief of Police is responsible for public safety and security, serving as the lead for public response to citywide safety emergencies and large public events, establishing and maintaining a stable organizational environment, ensuring the effective and efficient utilization of personnel, financial and material resources and providing police services that are responsive to the changing needs and conditions within the City of Long Beach. The Chief will work closely with the Office of Constitutional Policing to ensure the Department meets community public safety concerns through a forward-looking evaluation of current policies, procedures, and training with a focus on a transformative culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Significant issues identified in the current budget include crime reduction, gang-related violence, homeland security and resource optimization. As the Department Director, the Chief must strategically provide efficient police services and adhere to the increasing demands for efficient utilization of police resources. This requires creative utilization of budgetary allocations to respond to community needs, crime and advancing technology. THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: The next Chief of Police for the Department must be both an inspirational leader and astute manager. Must have considerable experience and track record in working with diverse communities, and expertise in developing crime reduction stra