Macon Times

The City of Forsyth, Georgia – a cohesive, small community just north of Macon, Georgia, is seeking a highly competent, professional law enforcement leader with the energy, passion, experience and technical skills to serve as Chief of Police.  

If you…

 - value and appreciate the uniqueness of small-town policing and have experience with a community oriented policing philosophy;

 - recognize that law enforcement agencies and communities are experiencing stressors that require proactive and innovative leadership;

 - have excellent interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to unite communities around common goals; 

 - are open minded and effective in advocating for the needs of the department and its staff, the Forsyth Police Department is the place for you. 

The successful Chief will be a strong advocate for the city and the department and will hold him/herself and the department to high standards of excellence, will ensure fairness and equity when enforcing and upholding laws for all community members, and will immerse him/herself in the community. The next chief will effectively balance the administrative duties of the position with being present in the community and responding to calls to support officers and staff when needed. 

CITY OF FORSYTH

Nestled in the heart of Georgia, the City of Forsyth is located on Interstate 75, one hour south of Atlanta and twenty minutes north of Macon. A progressive and diverse city, Forsyth is the home of the elite Georgia Public Safety Training Center. The county seat of Monroe County, Forsyth’s relaxed, traditional quality of life, yet easy accessibility to major cities makes it a great place to live for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Demographically, its population of approximately 4500 residents include 53% African American, 44% white and 3% other. The average household income is approximately $65,000 and the median age is 40 years. 

The city government operates under the City Manager / Mayor Council form of government. A full-service city, public safety encompasses a majority of the city’s expenses. 

FORSYTH POLICE DEPARTMENT

FPD consist of 21 sworn positions, assigned to administration, patrol, criminal investigations and code enforcement. Two civilian positions augment the sworn staff. 

Members of the department are dedicated to delivering the most effective, efficient, sensitive and professional police service possible. The current staff is extremely dedicated to the community and the department’s core mission of providing a safe community and improving the quality of life for all citizens and visitors. 

A department in transition due to several retirements, the Chief will have the ability build his/her own team, command staff and identity.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Chief of Police administers the department’s budget of $2.06 M and manages the staff of 22 members. 

The Police Department has a great working relationship with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and The Public Safety Training Center. 

POLICE CHIEF

The ideal candidate will be a strong leader, working well with the City’s leadership team, city council, community members and surrounding agencies. 

Priorities

Evaluate the department’s needs, current staffing, policing data and service delivery practices to assess what alignment and changes, if any, are needed to initiate and implement best practices

Recruit and retain qualified sworn and civilian staff while leveraging internal talent and closing gaps through engaging employees in training, development, and succession planning.

Assess equipment and technology needs against best practices to determine what upgrades may be needed

Ensure the department continues to be a fully engaged community partner – advocating among officers and city staff and collaborating with other agencies to continue to promote unity within the community and address community concerns

Qualifications

Candidates should possess, at a minimum, a valid high school diploma or GED equivalent, supplemented by formal academic or technical training in police administration. A Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Law or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience of a progressively responsible nature in law enforcement or crime prevention, including supervisory experience is preferred. A valid Georgia motor vehicle operator’s license is required.

Applicants must meet the requirements of Georgia Law 92A-2108.

Compensation

 A competitive salary depending on qualifications, and an excellent benefits package is available. 

To Apply

Please forward a letter of interest and resume to ahudson@cityofforsyth.com or deliver in person or by mail to the City of Forsyth Police Department, 200 South Kimball Street, P.O. Box 1447, Forsyth, Georgia, 31029. Please include a salary history and at least five professional references with email addresses and phone numbers. 

The position is open until filled.

A complete job description may be found at www.cityofforsyth.net.  

The City of Forsyth reserves the right to reject any applications received. The City of Forsyth is a Drug-Free Workplace. The City of Forsyth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Original source can be found here.