Recruiting for: Chief of Police
Apply by December 4, 2015
The City of Mill Creek is looking for a successful,
seasoned law enforcement professional with experience
at the highest levels of city government to join our
organization as Chief of Police.
Our Community
The beautiful and progressive community of Mill Creek,
Washington is located just 20 miles north of downtown
Seattle. Originally developed as a golf course
community, Mill Creek is exceptionally well-planned
and has managed to retain much of its small town
charm over the last several years of growth and
community development. Aside from the landscape,
buildings, shopping and services, the character and
personality of the community is defined in large part by
our residents. Even the casual visitor will soon notice the
residents care about their city and their fellow citizens.
Mill Creek is recognized for its parks and its miles
of nature trails, including the scenic North Creek
Trail that runs from McCollum Park south to the
city limits. Nine attractive neighborhood parks
provide recreational opportunities for the
residents.
A well known highlight of the community is the
Mill Creek Town Center. Named “the best
lifestyle center in Washington State” in 2013, it is
comprised of a series of pedestrian plazas in a
park-like setting, featuring over 80 locally owned
and franchised retail and service businesses and
restaurants. The Town Center is a community
gathering place and a destination for many in the
metro Seattle area. It is a showcase that other
communities frequently visit and emulate in
developing their own communities.
Being close to the Puget Sound and the snowcapped peaks of the Cascade Mountains,
recreational opportunities such as boating and
skiing are just a short drive away. Nationally
ranked year-round golf courses are also in the
vicinity.
Mill Creek is served by the Everett Public School
District and has an elementary school, a
middle school and a high school all within its
boundaries. Seven excellent colleges and
universities are found within a 17 mile radius.
Primarily residential, the city is composed of a
mix of single-family homes, townhomes, and
apartments set in a lushly landscaped
environment. The median home price is
approximately $450,000 (for a four bedroom, three
bath, 2,800 square foot home). Real estate prices
range from as little as $320,000 to over $1,000,000
for homes in an exclusive neighborhood.
Major employers in Mill Creek are businesses
such as Albertson’s Food, Central Market, and
Lowe’s Home Improvement. The regional
economy is driven by, among other things,
aircraft design & manufacturing, high tech, and
biomedical.
In short, Mill Creek offers a hometown
atmosphere with the culture and many of the
amenities of urban living.
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Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington
History
Mill Creek had its beginnings in 1973 with a master plan
envisioning a golf-course-based community, and soon
became a sought after place to live. In 1983 the area’s
residents decided to become their own city. With a population of 3,549 at its incorporation, it has grown to
governed by a seven member City Council which appoints a Mayor and provides direction to the City
Manager. The Councilmembers are elected to
staggered four year terms. The City Manager serves as
Chief Administrative Officer and is responsible for all
city operations and management of the City. The Police
Chief will report directly to the City Manager.
19,760 as of April 2015. During this time, the City grew
from less than two square miles to its present four(+)
square miles.
Climate
Mill Creek’s climate is temperate and relatively mild as
can be seen from the table below. The area’s reputation
for rainy days comes from the frequency and not the
total accumulated rainfall. In fact, its annual average
rainfall is approximately 36 inches, less rain than
New York, Atlanta, or Houston.
Mill Creek operates with a biennial budget, the latest of
which began January 1, 2015. The General Fund
budget for the 2015-2016 calendar years is approximately
$24 million, and the total budget for all funds is
approximately $50 million. City provided services, in
order of magnitude, are law enforcement, public works/
streets services, community development, recreation,
and city administration. Mill Creek runs a very lean
government (only 62 FTEs, which includes 33 in police
and 11 in public works. Water, sewer, EMS, fire, and garbage, recycling and yard waste services are provided by
third parties).
The Police Department
Our officers and staff are committed to a common goal:
to consistently provide uncompromising levels of service, safety, and security, while maintaining flexibility
and responsiveness to the ever-changing dynamics of
our vibrant and active city. This commitment to outstanding service has allowed Mill Creek to enjoy one of
the lowest community crime rates in Snohomish County.
Demographics
Characterized by both young families and seniors, the
cross-section of residents is a testament to the
livability of Mill Creek. The median age is 40.5 which
is slightly above the national median age of 37.2. 63%
of the housing units are owner occupied and average
household size is 2.4 persons. Community residents
are well educated; 96% have a high school diploma
and 49% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The average family income is $101,061 with only 5% of all
families falling below the poverty level.
The department is made up of 25 commissioned officers
and 8 civilian staff, and boasts a diverse collection of
skills and expertise. Mill Creek has a K9 unit, SWAT participation, collision investigation expertise, police records
and passport processing services, emergency preparedness, and much more.
Government
Mill Creek is a non-charter code city operating as a
Council-Manager form of government. The City is
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Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington
The Ideal Candidate
After a long and outstanding 30 year career with the
City, the current Police Chief is retiring. If you are a
strong, dynamic, visionary leader looking for a great
place to continue your career, we invite you to apply
with us.
The City of Mill Creek is searching for an individual
that is committed to open communication and is able
to integrate into an interested and active community.
He or she will embrace the philosophy of community
policing, collaboration, and possess strong relationship building skills.
They will be accessible and
responsive to the public, City Manager and City staff.
The ideal candidate will be a strategic and innovative
thinker, and will have excellent budget and financial
management skills and experience. They will have the
ability to be a strong and respected leader within the
community. They will be a visionary leader who
maintains an up to date knowledge of regional and
national policing trends and best practices. This
self-motivated individual should enjoy working with
an engaged and supportive community and
mentoring a dedicated police force.
The Chief will join a City leadership team that works
well together and welcomes open communication and
collaborative problem solving. He or she must value
transparency and possess a character that exemplifies
honesty, integrity and the highest standards for
ethical and professional behavior. Experience with
Emergency Management and Incident Command
(ICS) will serve the chosen candidate in the Chief’s
dual role as our Director of Public Safety.
The next Chief must be comfortable operating as part
of the community and will be expected to take every
opportunity to act as a bridge between the department
and the citizens. He or she must be comfortable in
uniform, have polished public presentation skills and
possess attributes that promote confidence and trust
both within and outside the department. The ideal
candidate will also bring an appropriate sense of
humor and a flexible “can-do” attitude to the position.
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Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington
Job Requirements
The new Chief should have a Bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice, law enforcement, or a related field
from an accredited college or university. A Master’s
degree and advanced training is desirable (such as
through the FBI National Academy, the Senior
Management Institute for Policing or related courses).
In addition, candidates should have at least 10 years
of continuous law enforcement experience as a fully
commissioned officer with a municipal, county, or
state enforcement agency, including at least 5 years of
increasingly responsible management experience. An
equivalent combination of education and experience
that provides the candidate with the knowledge, skills
and abilities to do the job will be considered. Successful completion of a comprehensive background check,
including a polygraph and psychological examination
is required.
Recruitment Schedule
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Position Open: Thursday, November 5, 2015
Application Deadline: December 4, 2015
Interviews: January 7 & 8, 2016
Selection of Final Candidate: February 16, 2016
How to Apply
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
is assisting the City of Mill Creek in the search process.
All applicants must submit a packet with a resume, responses to the supplemental questions, and a detailed
(two-page maximum) cover letter that describes your experience, leadership style and why you are interested in
the position. Packets must be submitted to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and to the
attention of Deb Gregory at the contact information below. Electronic packets are preferred. Packets must be
received by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 4, 2015, to be
submitted for first review of candidates.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for the Police Chief is $99,000 –
$130,000, DOQ.
Mailing address:
Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental,
vision and life insurance, professional development,
public employee retirement system contribution
(LEOFF), and a generous leave package including holiday, vacation and sick leave. The City has a Social
Security Replacement Plan (Municipal Employees
Benefits Trust) which means employees of the City of
Mill Creek do not contribute to nor do they earn Social Security credit while employed with the City.
Deb Gregory
WASPC
3060 Williamette Drive N.E.
Lacey, WA 98516
Email: dgregory@waspc.org
Questions:
Michael Painter, Director of Professional Services
Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs
Phone: (360) 292-7959
Email: mpainter@waspc.org
Note: Please do not contact the City police department employees with questions regarding this recruitment.
Other Important Information
The City of Mill Creek embraces diversity and
strongly encourages women and minorities to apply. It is
also a drug-free, smoke-free workplace.
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Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE
CHIEF OF POLICE
Answers are restricted to one page maximum per question using 1" margins and at least 12 point font.
1.
Describe your experience with advancing a new vision in a police organization that involved managing
change. Explain significant challenges you encountered, how you navigated them, and lessons learned
that could be applied in the City of Mill Creek.
2.
What steps have you taken, both personally and with your staff, to engage lifelong learning and enhanced
professional competency during the last few years when most agency budgets have experienced reduced
resources?
3.
What role do you think crime prevention plays in the larger scheme of a policing strategy? Explain your
experience with implementing progressive crime prevention approaches and how those steps impacted
community safety in your prior positions.
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Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington