Chief of Police

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JOB DESCRIPTION

CHIEF OF POLICE

FULL-TIME EXEMPT

Starting annual salary: $110,000 - $120,000

Open until filled
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ABOUT THE CITY OF BELEN:
The City of Belen, located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, is a historic and growing community serving as a regional center for commerce and transportation in Valencia County. Known as “The Hub City,” Belen offers a strong sense of community, affordable living, and convenient access to the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
Belen’s strategic location along Interstate 25, with three major exits, places the community in a position of both opportunity and challenge. Proximity to a major metropolitan area brings increased demands related to homelessness, substance abuse, transient populations, and regional criminal activity. As the city continues to grow, strong, visible, and accountable law enforcement leadership is essential to maintaining public safety and community trust.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

The City of Belen is seeking a highly structured, policy-driven, and forward-thinking Police Chief to lead the Belen Police Department during a period of growth and evolving public safety challenges. The ideal candidate is a disciplined and ethical leader who is not afraid to implement necessary change, enforce clear policies, and hold officers to the highest professional and ethical standards.
This is a hands-on, working Police Chief position. The Chief is expected to remain actively involved in departmental operations and serve as a visible presence within both the organization and the community. Responsibilities may include responding to scenes, managing active incidents, running calls for service, and conducting traffic stops when appropriate.

The successful candidate must be knowledgeable and responsive to current public safety issues affecting the city, county, state, and nation, including homelessness, drug-related activity, mental health crises, and regional crime trends influenced by proximity to the Albuquerque metro area.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership and Administration

• Provide strong, ethical, and transparent leadership to all Police Department personnel.
• Develop, implement, and enforce departmental policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee departmental operations, staffing, budgeting, training, and long-term planning.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, accreditation standards, and reporting requirements.

• Serve as a working Police Chief, maintaining operational readiness and situational awareness.
• Respond to critical incidents, major calls for service, and emergencies as required.
• Participate directly in field operations, including responding to scenes, running calls, and conducting traffic stops when appropriate.
• Provide real-time leadership and decision-making during active incidents.
• Maintain all required certifications and training to perform sworn law enforcement duties.

• Lead efforts to address challenges related to homelessness, substance abuse, mental health response, and regional criminal activity.
• Develop and implement data-driven strategies to reduce crime and improve public safety outcomes.
• Strengthen collaboration with Valencia County, neighboring jurisdictions, and state and federal law enforcement partners.
• Ensure the Department remains current on best practices, legal requirements, and emerging trends in modern policing.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with residents, businesses, and community organizations.
• Promote transparency, fairness, and effective communication between the Police Department and the public.
• Represent the City and Police Department at regional meetings, task forces, and community events.

• Hold officers and staff to the highest standards of conduct, ethics, and performance.
• Oversee internal investigations, discipline, and corrective actions as necessary.
• Promote ongoing training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, community policing, and officer wellness.

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, law enforcement, or a related field (preferred but not required).
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including five (5) years at a supervisory or command level.
• Must possess or be able to obtain New Mexico executive law enforcement certification.
• Demonstrated experience in policy development, personnel management, budgeting, and organizational leadership.

• Thorough knowledge of modern policing principles and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and enforce clear, consistent standards.
• Strong decision-making, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to address complex public safety issues, including homelessness, substance abuse, and regional crime trends.
• Effective communication skills with diverse populations, elected officials, City administration and partner agencies.

EQUIPMENT USES:
Equipment to be used by Police Personnel includes, but is not limited to:  Computers, fax machines, Copiers, Sleuth Computer Program, Microsoft Office Programs, Cameras (video and still), Digital recorders (Video and Audio), Tape Recorders, Firearms, Handcuffs, Expandable Baton, OC Spray, Radio, Police Vehicle with various emergency equipment, Templates, Various Measuring devices, Radar, Police Taser, Fares and various other equipment as necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Must be able to frequently lift and/or move heavy objects or persons.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to focus.

Must be able to sit, stand, talk and hear.  Must be able to use hands and fingers to feel objects and/or control them.  Must be able to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, run and physically subdue combative subjects,

The employee is required to perform shift work which may include days, evenings, nights including weekends and holidays.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
This position requires both administrative oversight and active field participation. The Police Chief must be physically able to perform the essential functions of a sworn law enforcement officer. Availability outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations, is required.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed inside/outside in all types of weather conditions.
The noise level in the work environment is moderate

DISCLAIMER:  The above information is intended to describe the general nature of this position and it is not to be considered a complete statement of duties, responsibilities, requirements or knowledge, skills and abilities.