Police Chief at Squaxin Island Tribe

Job Title: Police Chief
Department: Public Safety and Justice
Reports To: Executive Director
FLSA Status: Exempt
TS Range: 12/13 DOQ
Opening Date: August 30, 2024
Closing Date: September 16, 2024

SUMMARY

The Chief of Police is responsible for the direction and coordination of all personnel and activities of the Tribal Law Enforcement Department. This includes the protection and conservation of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and natural resources; the enforcement of tribal laws; and the adherence to treaty fishing and conservation regulations and ordinances. The Chief also plays a vital role in strengthening the community through active participation in community-centered events, fostering positive relationships, and implementing strategies that promote both public safety and cultural respect. The Chief prepares and manages the department budget, ensuring efficient resource allocation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leadership & Administration:
  
  
  
  • Plans, directs, and administers the law enforcement program for the Squaxin Island Tribe.
  
  
  • Manages Law Enforcement Department staff, ensuring proper training, supervision, and professional development, with a focus on community-oriented policing and cultural sensitivity.
  
  
  • Develops and manages department resources and budget, including grant application and management.
  
  
  • Develops and implements goals, objectives, and policies that align with Tribal Council directives and community needs.
  
  
  • Selects, trains, supervises, and disciplines all personnel assigned to the department.
  
  
  
  


• Community Engagement & Strengthening:
  
  
  
  
  • Engages actively in community-centered events, promoting positive interactions between law enforcement officers and community members.
  
  
  • Develops and implements initiatives that empower community members to participate in safety and crime prevention programs.
  
  
  
  


• Law Enforcement & Protection:
  
  
  
  
  • Enforces Tribal, state, and federal laws with a focus on protecting the rights and safety of all community members, while also ensuring the conservation and protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and other natural resources.
  
  
  • Collaborates with the Natural Resources Department to enforce treaty fishing rights, conservation regulations, and environmental ordinances.
  
  
  • Oversees patrols and investigations related to natural resources violations, ensuring compliance with environmental protection laws.
  
  
  • Participates in patrol and investigation activities in a supervisory capacity, ensuring that all law enforcement activities are conducted fairly, respectfully, and in a manner that upholds the dignity of individuals.
  
  
  • Coordinates with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on criminal matters, jurisdictional issues, public safety concerns, and natural resources protection.
  
  
  • Ensures compliance with Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) standards and relevant law enforcement agreements.
  
  
  
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position has supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The successful applicant must receive a psychological evaluation that is favorable in the opinion of the tribe, as well as, a background investigation that is acceptable to the tribe.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s Degree in police science, criminology, or related course work and minimum of six years of progressively responsible and varied work experience as a law enforcement officer in a law enforcement agency and five years involving supervisory and management responsibilities OR Associate of Arts Degree in police science, criminology, or related course work and minimum of eight years of progressively responsible and varied work experience as a law enforcement officer in a law enforcement agency and five years involving supervisory and management responsibilities OR a high school diploma or GED with ten years experience of progressively responsible and varied work experience as a law enforcement officer in a law enforcement agency and five years involving supervisory and management responsibilities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must have successfully completed a basic police training academy and must become certified by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission within one year from employment. A current Washington State Driver’s License is also required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock, explosives and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

OTHER CONDITIONS: Must receive a psychological evaluation which is favorable in the opinion of the tribe, as well as a background investigation that is acceptable to the tribe.

DRUG FREE WORKPLACE: The successful candidate will be required to have a urinalysis for drug and alcohol screening in accordance with the Tribe’s Drug Free Workplace policy.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: Indian preference will be exercised in the hiring of this position consistent with the Tribe’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

TO APPLY: Submit application packets including a resume and cover letter on Paylocity through the
Squaxin Island Tribe Career Opportunities website. Contact Human Resources for more information:
360-432-3865.