Located 33 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego, the vibrant City of Santa Ana holds the county seat of Orange County and is home to the county’s primary county, state, and federal government buildings and courthouses. The City was founded in 1869 and became a charter city in 1952. Santa Ana encompasses an area of approximately 27 square miles and is the second largest city in Orange County, with a population of around 310,000. Proud of its rich history and cultural diversity, the City boasts an active arts and cultural community, including theaters, concert halls, municipal zoo, Artists Village, Discovery Science Center and Bowers Museum of Art. Additionally, world-famous amusement parks and beaches are just minutes away. The City’s diverse business community benefits from the City’s ideal location, a regional transportation center, and easy access to five major freeways. The City of Santa Ana is seeking a forward-thinking, experienced law enforcement professional with strong leadership presence and excellent interpersonal skills to serve as its Police Chief. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience dealing with the unsheltered crisis as well as recruitment and retention issues. The incoming Chief will be a morale builder who can foster a team environment, offering excellent communication skills, not only within the Police Department, but with other city departments, City Council, the City Manager, and the community. Qualified candidates possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in police science, criminology, public administration, or a related field as well as ten (10) years of progressively responsible sworn law enforcement experience with at least four (4) years at the level of Captain or above. POST Command College, FBI National Academy, PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police, California Police Chiefs Executive Leadership Institute and/or a master’s degree are highly desirable, but not required. Candidates with the ability to speak Spanish are highly sought. Possession and retention of a valid California Class C driver’s license is required.

The annual salary range for the Police Chief is $210,972 - $278,940; placement within this range is dependent on qualifications and experience.