Police Commander

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Job Req ID: 321 

​Department: Operations 

Salary Range: $242,707.00 to $242,707.00 

Job Type: Unclassified     

Business Area: Police 

Personnel Area: Police 

Closing Date: 05/26/2025 

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JOB INFORMATION

The Police Commander position reports to the Assistant Chiefs and assists with the administration, planning, coordination, and direction of department activities including the nine patrol divisions, investigative commands, neighborhood and community policing services, and special operations.  This unclassified individual is a conduit of information, management, and leadership for their respective commands and will ensure that plan and policy are executed according to the Assistant Chiefs’ strategy. 
 
The City of San Diego is seeking a strong, experienced, and knowledgeable Police Commander with proven managerial and leadership capabilities to serve as Police Commander. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator and collaborator with a strong orientation toward neighborhood policing and a visionary leader with the ability to assess the current organization. The Police Commander shall be approachable, transparent, and a team player who will focus on creating a culture of inclusion and comradery. This person will be an innovator with the courage and ingenuity to challenge the status quo.
 
The successful candidate will be open-minded, trustworthy, and accessible, with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with the San Diego residential and business communities. 
 
Desirable candidates are those who can gain the confidence of and build trust with all City staff, elected officials, labor group representatives, and a wide array of community groups and individuals. This will require a competent and credible public safety professional with an established reputation as a leader in law enforcement and someone who continually demonstrates and promotes a high level of ethics and integrity. Experience in the areas of Restorative Justice, 21st Century Policing, and Community Policing are essential for this position. Candidates possessing practical experience in municipal police department budgeting, having experience working in a large department, and able to demonstrate a history of building trust and successful interaction with diverse communities will do well in this process. Candidates with experience who understand and recognize the need to learn from communities of color, LGBTQ+, different religions, and low-income areas and how best to protect them, are encouraged to apply.

Minimum Qualifications:
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge, 
skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the essential duties of the position is considered qualified. A typical way to meet this requirement would include: 
 

• A bachelor’s degree preferred from an accredited college or university in the areas of criminal justice, police science, public administration, or a closely related field.  
• Possession of a Police Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) management or executive level certification preferred. 
• POST Command College, FBI National Academy, California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute, PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police and/or a master’s degree are highly desirable, but not required. 
• Experience as a Police Captain or at a command level in a comparable law enforcement agency of similar complexity, size, and budget is also highly desired. 
• Candidates must demonstrate a stable employment history and possess a valid California Class C driver’s license.

Essential functions of the Police Commander include: 

• Direct and manage the operation of several large, specialized units of the department through their respective commanding officers.
• Make public appearances on behalf of the department.
• Resolve difficult public relations problems.
• Assess divisional operations and determines if the creation and implementation of new or revised rules, regulations, policies, or procedures are necessary.  
• Conduct or may direct comprehensive organizational studies or analysis on the operations of detention facilities.
• Prepare written reports, make recommendations, and presents them to the Assistant Police Chiefs. 
• Make public appearances on behalf of the department, including presentations to community organizations, other agencies, courts, and the media.
• Meet all standards imposed by law to be designated and serves as Police Commander for a city in California. 
• Establish departmental goals and objectives based upon the needs of the community and resources of the department. 
• Provide for the development and implementation of effective in-service training programs for all department personnel. 
• Offer education, direction, and leadership to the command staff and department personnel.  
• Ensure successful implementation of the Department’s strategic goals. 
• Promote high levels of customer service and quality of service delivery. 
• Embrace the community’s diversity and priorities to develop an ideal workforce to best meet the needs of the residents.  
• Afford a safe and livable working environment including diversity and inclusion for all department personnel.  
• Develop and maintain programs and policies ensuring operational readiness and personal accountability.  
• Maintain a highly visible presence throughout all areas and with all constituencies of the city.
• Attend and participate in various meetings related to public safety enforcement.  
• Plan and protect the community against violence within the City of San Diego.   

Benefits:

The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.). 
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee’s first 15 years of service, and approximately 216 hours for 16+ years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid Parental Leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid Bereavement Leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate. 
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance. 

For additional details, please review the Benefits Summary for Unclassified Employees  (Download PDF reader) or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924. 

The Department: 

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) is dedicated to serving and protecting the City’s residents with professionalism, dependability, and integrity. For 135 years, SDPD has upheld the law, preserved peace, and ensured safety through extensively trained officers who respond swiftly to emergencies, investigate crimes, and engage with the community. The department offers a comprehensive range of services, including neighborhood patrols, traffic enforcement, investigations, records management, permits and licensing, laboratory services, and more. Community-based policing and problem-solving partnerships with residents, government agencies, private groups, and individuals are central to its mission. The department's proactive policing and community partnerships foster trust and collaboration, making residents feel secure and supported. For more information, please visit this link.

The City:

With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan". 

As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 13,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2025 operating and capital budget of approximately $5.65 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.

Pre-Employment Requirements and Screening Process:

Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be successfully completed before employment begins. Please refer to the City’s pre-employment requirements and screening process webpage for additional information.  Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. 

Resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview.   
 
The City of San Diego has an active Equal Opportunity/ADA Program for employment and vigorously supports diversity in the workplace.