Position Details
The Village of Oak Park Police Department welcomes applications for current vacancies in the Commander rank. Oak Park Police Commanders are responsible for the administrative, operational and fiscal oversight of assigned units providing a broad range of police and safety related services to the Village of Oak Park. Commanders support the Chief of Police in achieving community and organizational goals through the management of department strategies and objectives; and the implementation of operational and technological processes in accordance with the department work plan, policies and procedures and Village ordinances. Commanders are responsible for directing and reviewing the work of sworn and non-sworn personnel performing law enforcement and support activities including patrol, investigations, Community Service Officer (CSO), training, and administrative responsibilities including budget and project management.
Description of the Department:
The mission of the Oak Park Police Department is to provide high-quality law enforcement services that are accessible to all members of the community. Oak Park Police officers believe in the dignity of all people and respect individual and constitutional rights. The Department follows a community-based policing philosophy that relies on citizen involvement, problem solving, ethical behavior, leadership and the value of employees. This philosophy and its values guide interactions both within the Police Department and the community, as officers’ work to promote quality of life by maintaining and improving peace, order and safety through excellence in law enforcement and community service.
Description of Oak Park:
The Village of Oak Park is a thriving, transit-oriented community of approximately 52,000 residents adjacent to the west side of Chicago and known for its outstanding neighborhoods, architectural heritage, and innovative public policy initiatives. Within its 4.5 square miles reside one of the region's most diverse mixes of cultures, races, ethnicities, professions, lifestyles, religions, ages, and incomes.
Oak Park operates under the village manager form of government. An elected legislative board consisting of a mayor and six trustees directs a professional manager to carry out policies and oversee day-to-day government administration. Village services and programs are performed by about 370 employees.
Minimum and Desired Qualifications:
- The successful candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience: If applying as a sworn police officer of the rank of Sergeant in the Oak Park Police Department: Three (3) years of law enforcement experience as a Police Sergeant preferred. A combination of experience and training will be considered for internal applicants. External applicants must have five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible supervisory work experience in a law enforcement agency, three (3) of which must be in a managerial capacity.
- Training: Possession of a bachelor’s or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, organizational development or behavior, or a related field is required; a graduate degree is preferred. AND
- License or Certificate: Possession of a valid Illinois driver's license; possession of, or ability to obtain, an Illinois police officer certificate.
- All applicants must be certified to be a police officer in the State of Illinois.
Knowledge of:
- Operational characteristics, services and activities of a comprehensive law enforcement program.
- Management skills to analyze programs, policies and operational needs.
- Principles and practices of program development and administration.
- Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
- Law enforcement theory, principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
- Recent law enforcement court decisions and how they affect department operations.
- Use of computers and other modern police equipment.
- Functions and objectives of Federal, State, and other local law enforcement agencies.
- Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
Ability to:
- Manage, motivate, direct and coordinate the work of sworn and non-sworn supervisory, professional, and technical personnel.
- Select, supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate staff.
- Oversee and direct the operations, services and activities of the assigned shift.
- Develop and administer division goals, objectives and procedures.
- Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports.
- Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
- Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
- Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
- Meet and deal tactfully and effectively with staff and the public.
- Act quickly and calmly in emergencies.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including Village and other government officials, community groups, and the general public.
- Establish and maintain interpersonal skills in the workplace to effectively communicate and interact with others.
- Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following:
- Sitting for extended periods of time
- Operating assigned office equipment
- Drive an automobile.
- Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
- Making observations
- Communicating with others
- Reading and writing
- Operating assigned office equipment.
- Sustain cognitive abilities that enable the potential for:
- Making sound decisions
- Demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
