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.

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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 snow-

capped 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.

Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington

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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 pop-

ulation of 3,549 at its incorporation, it has grown to

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.

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 av-

erage family income is $101,061 with only 5% of all

families falling below the poverty level.

Government Mill Creek is a non-charter code city operating as a

Council-Manager form of government. The City is

governed by a seven member City Council which ap-

points 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.

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 gar-

bage, 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 ser-

vice, safety, and security, while maintaining flexibility

and responsiveness to the ever-changing dynamics of

our vibrant and active city. This commitment to out-

standing service has allowed Mill Creek to enjoy one of

the lowest community crime rates in Snohomish County.

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 par-

ticipation, collision investigation expertise, police records

and passport processing services, emergency prepared-

ness, and much more.

Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington

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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 relation-

ship 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.

Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington

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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. Success-

ful completion of a comprehensive background check,

including a polygraph and psychological examination

is required.

Compensation and Benefits The salary range for the Police Chief is $99,000 –

$130,000, DOQ.

Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental,

vision and life insurance, professional development,

public employee retirement system contribution

(LEOFF), and a generous leave package including hol-

iday, 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 So-

cial Security credit while employed with the City.

Recruitment Schedule 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, re-

sponses to the supplemental questions, and a detailed

(two-page maximum) cover letter that describes your ex-

perience, leadership style and why you are interested in

the position. Packets must be submitted to the Washing-

ton Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and to the

attention of Deb Gregory at the contact information be-

low. 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.

Mailing address:

WASPC

Deb Gregory

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 em-

ployees 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.

Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington

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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.

Police Chief | Mill Creek, Washington