Police Officer

The city of Gatesville Police Department has an opening for Police Officer.  

To apply, submit a City of Gatesville application for employment and resume to attention Chief Brad Hunt bhunt@gatesvilletx.com 

Our Town:

At the crossroads of US HWY 84 and State HWY 36, the City of Gatesville is a governmental and economic hub.  “The Spur Capital of Texas,” Gatesville is the County Seat of Coryell County and the primary retail area in a 25-mile radius.  The City is adjacent to the famed “Texas Triangle.”

The Texas Triangle consists of three metropolitan complexes: Dallas–Fort Worth at the northern tip, Houston-Galveston at the southeastern point, and Austin–San Antonio at the southwestern edge. These metros will soon include four of the ten most populous cities in the United States, and together represent the fifteenth largest economy in the world. 

-- www.bushcenter.org.

Gatesville is centrally located 37 miles from Waco, 35 miles from Temple, 36 miles from Killeen, and 27 miles from Copperas Cove, Texas.  It is also directly next door to North Ft. Cavazos, the training and deployment area for over 20,000 US Army troops per year.

Gatesville is preparing for growth while striving to maintain its small-town charm.

Our Department:

The police department employs 31 full-time positions and is organized into two major divisions: Patrol and Support Services (including CID and Administration).  The employees of the Gatesville Police Department serve the public with dignity, fairness, and respect. Quality customer service is our goal with continued emphasis on our law enforcement mission and community policing.

With recent council-authorized pay adjustments as implemented by the City Manager, staffing has improved but remains a primary challenge for the incoming Chief of Police.

The Gatesville Police Department boasts an FY 2025 Operating Budget of $2.9M, a modern vehicle fleet, cloud-based body- and in-car-cameras, and modern RMS and CAD systems, as well as being the Public Safety Answering Point for all of northern Coryell County.

Amongst the many opportunities this position presents, the new Chief of Police will influence the proposal to build a new police facility in the next three years, as well as manage the Department’s initiative to become an Accredited Agency under the Texas Police Chief’s Association Best Practices Program. 

Our Ideal Candidate:

The City of Gatesville is an upward trending community seeking a candidate for Chief of Police who is a team-builder, innovative leader, and has a servant’s heart.  The selected candidate should be a community-focused, innovative leader who is open and honest, and can foster a culture of integrity and trust.

The candidate will be forward-thinking and strategic, leading by example and helping the department define and pursue a clear vision for future success. The Police Chief will represent the Department and City in a positive, professional manner while establishing strong, resilient leadership traits with a focus on mentoring.

The ideal candidate will possess a broad background and experience in typical municipal police functions, as well as experience in the planning and development of capital projects, including facilities.  He or she will be flexible, self-reliant, and courteous while solving complex problems and maintaining positive relations with the public, community stakeholders, and fellow law enforcement agencies. 

The Position:

The Chief of Police performs complex executive and advanced protective services work overseeing police department operations, developing policies and procedures, preparing and presenting the annual budget, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work involves setting policies and goals under the direction of the City Manager. Departmental supervision is exercised over all personnel within the department.

Other responsibilities of the Police Chief include:

Recruits and selects department personnel.

Assigns, directs, trains, and inspects the work of staff.

Rewards, disciplines, coaches, counsels, and evaluates staff performance.

Develops staff schedules and directs transfers, promotions, suspensions, terminations, and demotions.

Develops policies and procedures for the department to implement directives from the City Council and City Manager.

Directs, participates, searches, and examines major case crime scene investigations.

Works with other local, state, federal, and military jurisdictions.

Position Requirements and Compensation:

Annual Salary:  $105,000 - $115,000, DOQ.

Residency Requirement:  negotiable.

Texas Peace Officer License:  Master Peace Officer preferred; out-of-state candidate must successfully obtain Texas Peace Officer license within 12 months of appointment.

Generous benefits program, including health, dental, vision, and a $50,000 life insurance policy; a TMRS Supplemental Death Benefit; a Flexible Spending Account; paid vacation and sick leave; take-home vehicle if residence is within reasonable distance from city limits; and a provided cellphone.

The City participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) at a 7% employee deposit rate with a municipal matching ratio of 2:1 and 5-year vesting.

A 457 plan through Mission Square (formerly ICMA) is also available.

The Police Chief will also have a free membership to the City-owned fitness center.

Civil Service:  The Gatesville Police Department is not a Chapter 143 Civil Service agency.

Reports to:  City Manager.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree with coursework in criminal justice or related field. 

Extensive experience with a minimum of ten (10) years supervisory experience working in the law enforcement field. Preferred  fifteen (15) years of increasingly responsible experience in public safety or law enforcement, including five years of administrative and management responsibility. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Preferred completion of at least one police leadership course, such as LEMIT, FBINA, or other.

Possession of a valid Class C driver’s license upon hire.

Obtain Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) approved Peace Officer Master Proficiency Certificate within one year of hire.

Must meet and maintain all training and education requirements for position.

Our Process:

Please apply online at https://www.gatesvilletx.com/jobs.

This position posting will close on October 6, 2024.

For more information on the Chief of Police position, please contact:

Bradford Hunt, City Manager

bhunt@gatesvilletx.com

254.220.4628

The City of Gatesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce.

References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.  Prior to selection as a finalist, an applicant’s name will not be released to the public. 

Selected applicants will participate in one or more exercises online. 

Applicants selected as finalists for this position will participate in a community meet & greet, interview panel, and a staff meet & greet, as well as undergoing a comprehensive background check.

The City Manager will make the final selection for the position, based on the results of the application process and with input from the community, City Council, and staff.