Find & Apply For Law Enforcement Chief / Deputy Jobs in Arcola, Texas

POSITION SUMMARY

The City of Arcola, Texas, is seeking an experienced, ethical, and community-focused law enforcement professional to serve as its next Chief of Police. The Chief of Police is the chief executive officer of the Arcola Police Department and is responsible for the overall leadership, management, administration, and operation of the Department. The Chief provides strategic direction for patrol, criminal investigations, public safety, personnel, training, technology, budgeting, policy development, and community relations. The successful candidate will be expected to provide strong professional leadership while maintaining accountability, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the highest standards of integrity and public service. The Chief will work closely with the Mayor, City Council, City administration, employees, residents, businesses, neighboring law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, emergency services, and other governmental and community organizations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The Chief of Police shall: Direct, supervise, and coordinate the overall operations of the Arcola Police Department. Establish and maintain professional standards for police personnel and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Develop, implement, review, and update Department policies, procedures, rules, and directives. Provide leadership and supervision regarding personnel matters, including hiring, promotions, performance management, training, counseling, discipline, and employee development. Ensure that all personnel actions are handled consistently, fairly, professionally, and in accordance with City policy and applicable law. Receive, review, and appropriately respond to citizen complaints and concerns. Ensure that internal affairs investigations and other administrative investigations are conducted promptly, thoroughly, objectively, and fairly. Develop and maintain effective recruitment, retention, training, and professional-development programs. Establish performance expectations and conduct regular performance evaluations of Department personnel. Prepare and administer the Police Department's annual operating budget. Monitor expenditures and ensure Department operations remain within approved budgetary limits. Identify equipment, technology, staffing, training, and facility needs and make appropriate recommendations to the Mayor and City Council. Maintain accountability for Department property, vehicles, firearms, equipment, records, technology, and other resources. Ensure appropriate records management, reporting, data collection, and compliance with applicable reporting requirements. Oversee the effective use of police technology, communications systems, records systems, body-worn cameras, in-car video, and other public-safety technology. Ensure effective communication throughout the Department and between the Department and City leadership. Serve as the primary liaison between the Police Department, Mayor, City Council, City administration, and other municipal departments. Attend City Council meetings, community meetings, public events, and other functions as required. Represent the City and Police Department before civic organizations, community groups, governmental agencies, and other law enforcement organizations. Maintain professional working relationships with neighboring police departments, county sheriff's offices, state and federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, emergency-management organizations, and other criminal justice partners. Coordinate Department activities with the District Attorney's Office, County Attorney's Office, municipal courts, county courts, and other components of the criminal justice system. Ensure effective coordination with emergency medical services, fire departments, emergency management, dispatch/911 services, and other public-safety organizations. Establish and maintain effective mutual-aid relationships with neighboring law enforcement agencies. Develop and maintain appropriate emergency response and critical-incident procedures. Serve as the Department's primary command representative during major incidents, disasters, critical incidents, and other significant public-safety events. Ensure that Department personnel receive required and appropriate training, including firearms qualification, legal updates, defensive tactics, emergency response, and other professional-development training. Ensure the Department maintains appropriate standards for officer safety, use of force, pursuit operations, evidence handling, property management, and other critical police functions. Promote positive relationships between the Police Department and the citizens of Arcola. Ensure citizen concerns and requests for service are addressed professionally, respectfully, and in a timely manner. Develop community-policing initiatives designed to strengthen trust, communication, and cooperation between the Department and the community. Review Department operations and make recommendations for improving efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, and service delivery. Conduct or oversee management studies and operational reviews when appropriate. Maintain confidentiality and security of sensitive Department and personnel information. Perform other duties as assigned by the Mayor and City Council.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of education, training, experience, leadership ability, and professional accomplishments that demonstrate the ability to successfully lead a municipal police department.

Minimum qualifications include:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Police Administration, Management, or a related field. At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including substantial command or upper-level management experience. Demonstrated experience supervising, managing, and evaluating sworn law enforcement personnel. Demonstrated experience in police administration, budgeting, policy development, personnel management, and departmental operations. Must possess an active Texas Peace Officer License issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), or be eligible to obtain and maintain such license within the time permitted by applicable law. Must possess a valid Texas driver's license or be able to obtain one within thirty (30) days of appointment. Must meet all applicable TCOLE requirements for appointment as a Texas peace officer. Must successfully complete required background investigation, reference checks, and other pre-employment screening. Must successfully pass a physical examination, psychological evaluation, drug screening, and other examinations required by the City, if applicable. Must successfully pass required firearms qualification and maintain firearms proficiency as required by Department policy and TCOLE standards.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

Comprehensive knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, policies, and procedures. Knowledge of Texas criminal law, criminal procedure, and applicable law enforcement regulations. Knowledge of TCOLE requirements and standards. Knowledge of municipal government operations and the relationship between elected officials, city administration, and law enforcement. Strong knowledge of personnel management, employee relations, discipline, and performance management. Strong knowledge of police budgeting and fiscal management. Knowledge of emergency management, critical-incident response, and mutual-aid operations. Ability to establish clear expectations and hold employees accountable. Ability to lead with professionalism, fairness, integrity, and sound judgment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong public-speaking and presentation skills. Ability to communicate effectively with elected officials, employees, residents, news media, and other stakeholders. Ability to build positive relationships with the community and other public-safety agencies. Ability to analyze complex situations and make sound decisions under pressure. Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands. Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information. Proficiency with computers, law enforcement records systems, communications systems, and other technology necessary to perform the duties of the position. Ability to work independently while maintaining accountability to the Mayor and City Council.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

The City of Arcola is seeking a Chief of Police who will: Lead with integrity. Maintain the highest ethical standards and serve as an example for every member of the Department. Build trust. Develop positive relationships with residents, businesses, community organizations, City leadership, and neighboring agencies. Develop people. Recruit, train, mentor, and retain qualified personnel while establishing clear expectations and accountability. Manage responsibly. Protect taxpayer resources through responsible budgeting, purchasing, equipment management, and operational planning. Embrace professionalism. Maintain current policies, training, technology, and law enforcement practices consistent with modern professional standards. Communicate effectively. Keep City leadership and Department personnel informed while ensuring citizens receive professional and respectful service. Plan for the future. Develop a long-term vision for the Arcola Police Department that addresses growth, staffing, technology, training, equipment, public safety, and community needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, climb, hear, speak, operate a motor vehicle, and use standard office and law enforcement equipment. The Chief must be capable of safely operating firearms, police vehicles, communications equipment, computers, and other equipment associated with law enforcement duties. The position may require responding to emergency situations, crime scenes, major incidents, disasters, and other situations involving physical or environmental hazards.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Chief of Police works in both office and field environments. The position may involve exposure to inclement weather, hazardous conditions, traffic, crime scenes, emergency situations, firearms, physical confrontation, and other risks inherent in law enforcement. The position requires the ability to work under pressure, make timely decisions during emergencies, manage multiple priorities, and respond to significant incidents outside normal business hours. The Chief is expected to maintain reasonable availability for emergency situations and significant Department matters.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The City of Arcola offers a competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Annual Salary:

Open Additional benefits include those provided to eligible City employees under current City policies and benefit plans. Specific benefits and employment conditions will be discussed during the selection process and are subject to applicable City policies.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit the following: Completed City of Arcola employment application. Current resume. Cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in serving as Chief of Police for the City of Arcola. Copy of applicable TCOLE certification/license. Copies of relevant educational credentials and professional certifications. Professional references, including current and former supervisors.

Applications should be submitted to:

City of Arcola Attn:

Don McCall, Consultant 13222 Hwy 6 Arcola, Texas 77583

Email:

dmccall@arcolapdtx.gov

Application Deadline:

August 25, 2026 at the close of business. The City of Arcola reserves the right to modify the recruitment schedule, conduct interviews, conduct background investigations, and use other selection procedures deemed appropriate. The City of Arcola is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Arcola is committed to selecting a Police Chief who will provide professional, ethical, accountable, and community-oriented leadership while protecting the safety and quality of life of the citizens we serve.

Qualifications:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference may be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following: TCOLE Master Peace Officer License. Experience serving as a Police Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, or equivalent command-level position. Experience managing a municipal police department or agency of comparable size and complexity. Demonstrated experience developing and managing a municipal law enforcement budget. Experience with accreditation, policy development, Texas law enforcement best practices, or similar professional standards. Experience developing community-policing and public-engagement programs. Experience working with elected officials and municipal government. Experience with grant administration and identifying outside funding opportunities. Experience implementing modern law enforcement technology and records-management systems.