The City of Arcata is located on the Northern California coast, approximately 275 miles north of San Francisco and 110 miles south of the Oregon border, in Humboldt County. The City is framed by Humboldt Bay to the south, forested hills on the east, the Mad River on the north, and expansive agriculture lands to the west. At the center of Arcata is the Plaza, which is surrounded by vibrant local restaurants, coffee shops and various retail and professional businesses.

Arcata’s mild climate, good air quality, beautiful scenery, and wealth of outdoor activities and recreation including fishing, hiking, surfing, and river rafting, make it a desirable place to live and raise a family. As home to Cal Poly Humboldt, and College of the Redwoods just 30 minutes away, it allows easy access to higher education and cultural opportunities. The Police Department is responsible for the protection of life and property, the prevention of crime and reduction of the fear of crime, and the enforcement of motor vehicle laws and regulations.

The City of Arcata is seeking a Chief of Police with a proven passion for community policing, patrol enforcement and alternative response who earns the trust and support of the community and achieves respect from their staff. The ideal candidate will be experienced, affable, fair, ethical, and one who will be an effective mentor to both build and lead a multigenerational police department that reflects the diversity of the community. The incoming Chief will be compassionate, straightforward, and value the public’s perspective on issues pertaining to the City and will have experience promoting and implementing succession planning for all levels of the Department.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in police science, administration of justice, business or public administration, or a closely related field, and at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience, including at least four (4) years of experience at the rank of Lieutenant or above, including administrative and budgeting experience. Possession of a POST management certificate (or out of state equivalent) is highly desirable and must be obtained within one year of employment with the City. POST Command College, FBI National Academy, California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute, Senior Management Institute for Police and/or a master’s degree are highly desirable, but not required.

The annual salary range for the Chief of Police is $113,462.12 to $144,809.62 and placement within this range is dependent on the qualifications and experience of the individual selected. The City also offers a competitive benefits package.