Deputy Police Chief

About the role

The Deputy Police Chief assists the Police Chief in planning, directing, and administering all operations of the Ypsilanti Police Department. This position provides executive-level leadership, oversees departmental divisions as assigned, and serves as the Chief's designee in their absence. The Deputy Police Chief plays a critical role in advancing professional policing practices, strengthening community trust, and ensuring efficient, constitutional, and equitable law enforcement services.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Police Chief in the overall management, strategic planning, and administration of the Police Department.
• Oversees daily operations of assigned divisions, units, and specialized functions.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates departmental policies, procedures, goals, and performance metrics.
• Provides leadership in community-oriented policing, problem-solving initiatives, and collaborative partnerships with residents, businesses, and community organizations.
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates command and supervisory staff; promotes professional development and succession planning.
• Assists in budget development, fiscal oversight, grant administration, and resource allocation.
• Reviews and addresses internal affairs matters, critical incidents, and use-of-force reviews in accordance with policy and law.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local laws, accreditation standards, consent decrees (if applicable), and best practices.
• Represents the Police Department at public meetings, City commissions, intergovernmental committees, and community events.
• Participates in labor relations activities, including contract administration and discipline consistent with collective bargaining agreements.
• Acts as Incident Commander or command-level support during major incidents and emergencies.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including 4 years in a command or senior supervisory role (Lieutenant or above).
• Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification, or ability to obtain certification within a specified timeframe.
• Valid Michigan driver's license.
• Ability to pass all required background investigations, medical, psychological, and drug screening requirements.
• Staff in Command Leadership Training Course preferred

Qualifications

• Experience in a municipal police department serving a diverse or university-adjacent community.
• Experience with community-based policing models, reform initiatives, or accreditation processes.
• Training or experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and mental health response partnerships.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, transparency, and accountability in policing.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and administration.
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and organizational management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and work effectively with diverse communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to analyze complex issues, manage change, and implement innovative solutions.
• Knowledge of personnel management, budgeting, and municipal governance.
• Proficiency in policy development, risk management, and critical incident response