CalPERS Retirement Program
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
Paid Holidays, Sick Leave, Vacation
Longevity Pay
Tuition reimbursement
Onsite City Health and Wellness Clinic (no out of pocket expenses)
Preferred Education:
4 Year Degree
The City of Visalia Police Department is recruiting for the position of Police Lieutenant. Please click here for the recruitment announcement.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Visalia Police Department has served the citizens of Visalia since 1923 and has a long history of outstanding law enforcement service and strong community relations. The Visalia Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency serving the public safety needs of the City of Visalia and its approximately 145,000 residents and more than 37 square miles.
The Visalia Police Department employs 265 full-time employees, including 168 sworn officer positions and is comprised of three divisions: Operations, Operations Support, and Administration.
The Operations Division consists of the Patrol Bureau and the Communications Unit. The Operations Division provides patrol, traffic, commercial, and vital communication and coordination support for the Department. In 2024, the Department fielded more than 129,000 police calls for service. The Patrol Bureau operates out of two District Substations, one in each policing district. The Communications Unit operates out of the newly constructed Visalia Emergency Communications Center.
The Operations Support Division consists of the Investigations Bureau and the Special Enforcement Bureau. It includes crime analysis, crime lab, digital evidence, property and evidence, youth services, property crime, violent crime, gang and narcotics enforcement for the Department.
The Administrative Division consists of the Records Unit and the Professional Standards Bureau which oversees records management, court and subpoena services, personnel, hiring, policy, and training.
The Visalia Police Department works to embrace new technologies, implement proactive policing strategies to address crime and quality of life issues in Visalia, and strives to create partnerships with our community that are essential to public safety. We are honored to serve our community through professional police services and by building positive police-community relationships.
Examples of Duties:
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Monitors community needs for police service; deploys assigned personnel and resources to achieve maximum effect in crime prevention and suppression and investigation; and assists officers in handling difficult situations.
Oversees hiring and termination, discipline and reward, training and evaluation of personnel in assigned unit; supervises Sergeants and civilian personnel responsible for supervision of other Department personnel.
Investigates complaints and misconduct and policy violations; conducts other confidential internal affairs investigations.
Responds to major law enforcement incidents; personally participates in major investigations; determines disposition of incident and investigation reports.
Exercises authority to change or waive Department policy to achieve law enforcement objectives in a given situation.
Researches, designs, directs and promotes a variety of special projects such as Personalized Vehicle, conversion of City services to private enterprise for cost control; development of Department manuals and policies, Neighborhood Watch, SWAT Team, 911 Emergency Response System, development or revision of City Ordinances, and Department productivity measurement.
Participates in formulating Department policies and division budget and workplan; monitors progress against plan; prepares a variety of reports as required; and may prepare grant proposals.
Participates in a wide variety of community relations and education activities including making public presentations and representing the Department to community groups, task forces and other government agencies.
If assigned to the administrative division may manage communications, dispatch, crime analysis, property and evidence, duty officer, fleet, records and personnel.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate for Police Lieutenant will be an experienced, ethical, innovative, self-motivated, professional police supervisor/manager with strong interpersonal and leadership skills. They will possess the ability to perform complex administrative duties, oversee investigations, manage bureau operations and budget, and have strong administrative and personnel skills. Candidates will possess good listening and communication skills, work as a problem solver, demonstrate strong community involvement, and be supportive of new ideas. They will have demonstrated an excellent working relationship with their Police Chief or prior law enforcement executives and managers, department personnel, the community, and other governmental partners. The Police Lieutenant candidate must have worked collaboratively with others at all levels and be recognized as an individual who reflects the organizational values of the Visalia Police Department and the City of Visalia. They must be a person of high integrity and committed to making the community a great place to live, work, and play.
The ability to communicate effectively is a key element of this position. The successful candidate will attend City Council and other meetings to present reports, answer questions and make recommendations. They will be an effective problem solver who identifies goals, gathers information, considers the consequences, makes decisions, and evaluates their decisions. The ability to multitask, identify and overcome obstacles, be a team player and work cooperatively with the management team is essential.
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge, skill and ability is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skill and abilities would be:
Previous experience as a Police Sergeant or comparable position, with demonstrated management, organization and planning abilities in police patrol, investigation or administration.
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, police science, public administration or related field.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Possession of an Advanced POST Certificate.
Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Must successfully complete the POST Middle Management Course within one (1) year of appointment.
