Chief of Police - Town of Morrisville, NC

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Company: Town of Morrisville

Location: Morrisville, NC 27560

Description:

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Morrisville, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-19
Employer: Town of Morrisville
Opening Date: 03/14/2025
Closing Date: 4/13/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

About Us
You could be the next Chief of Police of the Town of Morrisville, NC Police Department if you...
  • Have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with residents of diverse cultural and backgrounds, , and tenure in a community that is rapidly growing and evolving.
  • Are diplomatic and effective in advocating for the needs of the department and employees.
  • Have a track record of building trusting community and interagency relationships.
  • Are interested in implementing innovative and creative approaches to recruitment and retention.
  • Are engaging and inclusive of staff perspectives in Departmental decision-making.

The Town of Morrisville is seeking a Chief of Police who will be a visionary and collaborative leader with a focus on engaging members of a diverse community, increasing regional partnerships, using technology and data to meet public safety goals, and being an enthusiastic advocate for the Department's resource needs. The next Chief is expected to be engaged both internally and externally, trusting his or her staff to manage incidents while being skillful in fostering effective relationships with the community, elected officials, Town administration, as well as the command staff, supervisors, officers, civilian members of the department, and partners in multi-jurisdictional agreements.

About the Community:

Morrisville's population has increased from around 5,000 residents in 2000 to over 32,500 in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing towns in North Carolina. It has become one of the most racially diverse communities in the state, with a racial composition that is 46% Asian/Indian, 35 % White, 10% African American, % Hispanic or Latino, and 6% Two or More Races, as well as one of the most affluent, with a median household income of $125,000, nearly double the statewide median of $70,804.

With an area of approximately 10 square miles and located in Wake County between Raleigh and Durham in the Research Triangle region, Morrisville is nestled between the beaches and the mountains of NC with a year-round temperate climate. The region offers multiple universities, major corporations, medical centers, museums, theaters, and outdoor activities. Morrisville is in the heart of the Research Triangle, with access to employment centers like Research Triangle Park and major transportation hubs such as Interstates 40, 885, 85, 540, Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and the state capital. Morrisville has quickly established itself as a hub for bio-manufacturing and life sciences in its McCrimmon Parkway corridor, and the town is often mentioned in discussions with Boston and San Francisco as a leader in supporting these industries.

"Live Connected. Live Well." is the Town's motto. When surveyed, residents communicated that they value the connection they feel in the Town - the connection they have to global businesses, opportunities, parks, open space, and most importantly, each other. Morrisville is a place to gather, talk with neighbors, and engage with Town leaders. It is a warm and welcoming community. The community embraces small-town ideals with the conveniences and amenities of a metropolitan city available in town or with easy access nearby.

Recognized as an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2021, Morrisville was one of only ten communities nationwide to earn this recognition. Morrisville's many accolades include the following:
  • No. 10 Best Small City in the U.S. to Start a Business by WalletHub.com (2023).
  • No. 5 Best Place to Live for Families by Fortune Well, a living and wellness subsidiary of Fortune.com (2022).
  • No. 1 Best Place to Live in North Carolina in 2022 and 2021 as rated by Niche.com.
  • No. 10 Best Place to Live in the United States (2020) and rated by Money magazine.
  • No. 3 Best Place to Raise a Family in North Carolina (2019) and ranked by WalletHub.

About the Organization:

The Town of Morrisville is governed by a seven-member Town Council using the Council/Manager form of government. The Town Council sets the policy and direction, and the Town Manager oversees the organization's day-to-day operations, which consists of a team of 246 employees across 13 departments, not including part-time and seasonal staff. The of $59.5M is supported by a property tax rate of .35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The strategic focus of Morrisville is guided by the community vision established in the 2017 and renewed in the 2021 update. The six strategic goals for Morrisville are Improved Transportation Mobility, Thriving Livable Neighborhoods, Engaged, Inclusive Community, Public Safety Readiness, Operational Excellence, and Economic Prosperity. A 2022 Community Survey indicated that 94% of residents think Morrisville is a good or excellent place to live. The Town also relies on its , , , and other policies adopted by the Town Council to guide its work.

Duties/Responsibilities
About the Department and Position:

The Morrisville Police Department (MPD) is a CALEA-accredited law enforcement agency. The MPD is committed to maintaining safe and secure neighborhoods through the delivery of professional law enforcement services in partnership with its residents, businesses, and other stakeholders. MPD's core values of courage, integrity, and professionalism serve as the foundation for providing the highest standard in services while recognizing the need to treat everyone in the community with respect and dignity. Recognizing the necessity of educating the public for the short and long-term well-being of the community, the Department sponsors an 8-week Community Police Academy to give a thorough overview of the department to interested community members.

Reporting to the Assistant Town Manager, the Chief of Police will lead a department with an approximate annual budget of $6.6 M and 49 full-time personnel who work in the divisions of Patrol Operations and Support Services, each overseen by a Captain (the full organizational chart can be found ). The next Chief will perform complex professional and administrative work in the leading, planning, implementing, and supervising of the programs and personnel of the Police Department. As a member of the Town Manager's Leadership Team, the Chief will be responsible for helping formulate long-range goals for the organization, developing policy and procedures in support of the core values of the Town, and working collaboratively with other Town departments to effect positive change and to best serve the community through operational effectiveness and efficiency. The Chief will regularly interact with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders, including the Town Leadership Team, the Public Safety Advisory Committee, and Town Council, to share updates on Police Department operations and to ensure a clear understanding of the perspectives of those the department serves.

The next Chief must be comfortable dealing with town and organizational growth, evaluating and assessing internal and external short-term needs while establishing a long-term vision through strategic planning, and managing community issues such as meeting the cultural needs of a diverse population and the logistical factors of serving a community impacted by ongoing development.

Key Position Priorities:
  • Focusing on improving recruitment and retention, including by implementing innovative or creative solutions as well as advocating for Departmental needs.
  • Building and maintaining relationships with other local and regional agencies to improve coordination and area public safety.
  • Enhancing Departmental data analysis capabilities.
  • Continuing the robust Community-Oriented Policing focus to maintain public support and productive working relationships with a diverse population.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
  • A BA/BS degree in criminal justice, business administration, or a related field is required
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience with 5-7 years of cross-functional and progressive responsibility in leadership within law enforcement.
  • Certification as a sworn law enforcement officer by the State of North Carolina or the ability to obtain certification within twelve months of employment is required
  • Possession of a valid North Carolina driver's license, or possession of a valid license from another state AND the ability to obtain a North Carolina driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency (per NC law).

Preferred Qualifications:
  • A master's degree is preferred.
  • A minimum of 3 years of Administrative or Command experience as a chief or the second in command position of a similar-sized or larger department.
  • North Carolina Advanced law enforcement certification
  • Advanced leadership courses such as Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA), Administrative Officers Management Program of North Carolina State University (AOMP), and Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville (SPI).

Transfers: An officer holding probationary certification may not laterally transfer from one law enforcement agency to another. The probationary period must be completed in its entirety at the same agency. If an officer terminates employment with one agency before their year ends, they must start a new probationary period at the new agency. In-state candidates with less than a three-year break in NC service may receive partial credit toward basic law enforcement training. Out-of-state transferees will be evaluated to determine the amount and quality of their training and experience. At a minimum, out-of-state candidates must have two years of full-time, sworn law enforcement experience and must have successfully completed a basic law enforcement training course accredited by the state from which they are transferring and cannot have a break in full-time service exceeding three years at the time of appointment. Individuals with Federal law enforcement officer certification who have not had a break in service exceeding three years at the time of appointment may receive partial credit toward NC basic law enforcement training. NC does recognize and give partial credit for military police (MP) training if the candidate has completed a formal military basic training program, has been awarded a military police occupational specialty rating, and has served as a military police officer for not less than two of the five years preceding the date of appointment.

The successful candidate:
  • Is engaged, accessible, and visible within and across departments and in the community, and enjoys being the face of the Department;
  • Embraces a community of diversity and has a track record of proactively bringing stakeholders with differing values and cultures together;
  • Is skilled in developing trust among community members and creating opportunities for collaborative problem solving;
  • Personally "walks the talk" on community-oriented policing initiatives and holds staff accountable;
  • Has a proven track record in developing and supporting staff to achieve excellence and proactive policing through building strong working relationships and programs for strategic succession planning, training, responsibility, productivity, morale, and retention;
  • Develops and maintains collaborative partnerships with community organizations, homeowner associations, the Wake County Sheriff's Office, other municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and social service agencies to leverage resources and maximize quality of life opportunities, ensuring that the Morrisville Police Department is fully engaged and a vital part of the community.
  • Is experienced in systematic evaluation of department organization, staffing, resources and service levels to implement effective plans that maximize current assets
  • Is up-to-date on evidence-based practices in law enforcement (e.g., body cameras, mental health training, use of force, etc.) and has a track record of evaluating and making appropriate recommendations to ensure optimal departmental responses;
  • Understands and uses crime data statistics and other performance metrics to evaluate operations, identify trends, needed resources, develop benchmarks, and measure performance of established policing goals;
  • Understands the significance of diversity within all aspects of the Department and has a proven track record of developing innovative solutions to attracting, retaining, and promoting diversity;
  • Is tech-savvy and understands and embraces how technology and social media can enhance effective law enforcement;
  • Has experience working in a council-manager form of government and skills in navigating the complexities of varying roles;
  • Is experienced across functional areas, including patrol, support services, investigations, and other specialized units;
  • Is skilled in budget development and management, policy development and application, and progressive policing strategies despite budget constraints;
  • Is an excellent communicator both verbally and in writing and possesses well-developed interpersonal skills and abilities;
  • Is an individual with impeccable integrity and a proven record of consistency in managing both internal and external relationships to mitigate challenges and maximize opportunities;
  • Thrives in a culture of high expectations and personal accountability and has a track record of developing the same departmental standards as a highly accomplished law enforcement leader.
  • Has advanced knowledge of professional police practices, including accreditation management.
  • Participates as an active member of a lead professional police association such as IACP.

Additional Information
Salary and Benefits: The hiring range is $ 155,000 - 185,000 base salary, and compensation is negotiable within the range based on experience and qualifications. Residency within 15 miles of Town limits (exception considered at the approval of the Town Manager). Information about benefits can be found

To apply, please visit and click on the Chief of Police - Town of Morrisville, NC, title.
  • All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) - NOT the Town's employment application portal or any other external website.
  • Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
  • Applicants should apply April 13, 2025, to be considered during the first round of reviews.
  • The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluations on May 8-9. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
  • Direct all inquiries to

The Town of Morrisville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this positionTo learn more about our selection process, visit , select "Client Openings," and scroll down to "Important Information for Applicants.
Developmental Associates, LLC is managing the recruitment and selection process for this position.
Benefits are specific to the employing organization. Please refer to the benefits information that is in the ad as well as in the recruitment brochure. If you need further information, please contact the employer associated with the position
01

CONFIDENTIALITY DISCLOSURE AND APPLICATION COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Developmental Associates works on behalf of this client to recruit and collect information on candidates for this position. All applicant materials will be shared with the employer and their employees who are involved in the hiring process for this position. This application process uses a combination of automated and hand scoring of all application materials against screening criteria that have been established by the employer. 1) By submitting this application, I am consenting to have my application materials shared with this employer. 2) I understand that if I have not completely and fully answered all application questions and/ or supplemental questions with details, my application may not be accurately evaluated. 3) Further, I understand that merely referring to my resume (e.g. "see resume" in lieu of providing detailed responses) is not sufficient for purposes of ensuring accurate application evaluation.
  • Yes
  • No

02

The ideal candidate will have at least a bachelor's degree. What is your highest degree?
  • High School or GED
  • Some College/Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Some Graduate School, No Degree
  • MPA, MCJ, MBA or other related Master's Degree
  • Ph.D.
  • Other Degree

03

Of which of the following executive law enforcement training programs are you a graduate, if any? (Please select all that apply by clicking on the desired items while holding the CTRL key. For Mac users, use the SHIFT-COMMAND keys to select multiple options).
  • Have Not Attended Long Course
  • FBI National Academy
  • NCSU Administrative Officers Management Program
  • Southern Police Institute
  • Northwestern Police Staff & Command
  • Other Equivalent Long Course

04

If you answered Equivalent Long Course above, please list the course name, institution, location and dates attended or indicate N/A.
05

How many cumulative years of sworn law enforcement experience do you have?
  • Less than 5
  • 5-7
  • 7-10
  • Greater than 10

06

How many cumulative years of cross-functional and progressive responsibility do you have at your highest law enforcement rank?
  • Less than 3 Years
  • 3-5 Years
  • 5.1- 7 Years
  • Greater than 7 Years

07

This position requires progressive leadership experience in law enforcement roles. What is the highest rank you achieved in a law enforcement leadership role?
  • I Have Not Served in a Law Enforcement Leadership Role
  • I Have Reached the Rank of Lieutenant
  • I Have Reached the Rank of Captain
  • I have Reached the Rank of Major/Assistant or Deputy Chief
  • I Have Reached the Rank of Chief of Police
  • Other

08

Are you currently a certified full-time local, state or military law enforcement officer?
  • Yes
  • No

09

If you answered No to the question above concerning law enforcement certification, please enter your separation date from full-time law enforcement service or enter N/A.
10

If you are an honorably discharged military police officer, what was the date of your separation from military service? If not applicable, please skip this question.
11

Transfers: An officer holding probationary certification may not laterally transfer from one law enforcement agency to another. The probationary period must be completed in its entirety at the same agency. If an officer terminates employment with one agency before his or her year is up, then he or she must start a new probationary period at the new agency. In-state candidates with less than a three-year break in NC service may receive partial credit toward basic law enforcement training. Out-of-state transferees will be evaluated to determine the amount and quality of their training and experience. At a minimum, out-of-state candidates must have two years of full-time, sworn law enforcement experience and must have successfully completed a basic law enforcement training course accredited by the state from which they are transferring and cannot have a break in full-time service exceeding three years at the time of appointment. Individuals with Federal law enforcement officer certification who have not had a break in service exceeding three years at the time of appointment may receive partial credit toward NC basic law enforcement training. NC does recognize and give partial credit for military police (MP) training if the candidate has completed a formal military basic training program and been awarded a military police occupational specialty rating and has served as a military police officer for not less than two of the five years preceding the date of appointment.By selecting yes below, you indicate your acknowledge of these regulations regarding transfers.
  • Yes
  • No

12

What level operating budget have you personally and directly been responsible for managing?
  • No Direct Budget Management Experience
  • Less than 500K
  • $500K-1M
  • $1M-2M
  • $2.1M-4.0M
  • $4.1M-6M
  • Greater than $6M

13

What is the total number of employees (sworn and non-sworn) in the largest DEPARTMENT in which you have served in a law enforcement management level or higher?
  • I have Not Served at the Management Level
  • Less than 10
  • 11-20
  • 21-30
  • 31-40
  • 41-50
  • Greater than 50

14

What is the largest population in a community where you have served as a member of the law enforcement command staff (Captain or higher)?
  • Under 5,000
  • 5,001-10,000
  • 10,001-20,000
  • 20,001-30,000
  • Greater than 30,000

15

In which of the following have you served for more than five years during your career:
  • Administration
  • Patrol
  • Investigations
  • Communications
  • Special Units (e.g. K-9, Gangs, SWAT, etc)
  • Internal Affairs
  • Other

16

If you answered other in the prior question, please describe:
17

What is the largest number of people for whom you have held managerial responsibility (direct and downline)?
  • I've never had managerial responsibility for supervising others.
  • Fewer than 10
  • 11-20
  • 21-30
  • 31-40
  • 41-50
  • Greater than 50

18

I understand that the hiring range for this position is $155,000 - 185,000, commensurate with education and experience.
  • Yes
  • No

19

The City is using a multi-step screening and evaluation process, including a skill evaluation process for selecting the next Chief of Police. The dates for this virtual skill evaluation process are May 8-9, 2025. Participation as a candidate involves engaging in 2-3 activities to assess key competencies. This is a time investment of about 2 hours of engagement during the 2-day process, not including preparation time. These are not public meetings but there will be substantial interaction with other professionals in the field who will serve as assessors. Further, we have all participants sign letters of confidentiality. NC Law does not require the announcement of applicants until a finalist is selected. The "yes" below indicates your understanding of these process elements.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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