Chief of Police - City of Fayetteville, NC

Salary : See Position Description

Location : Fayetteville, NC

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 2025-10

Employer : City of Fayetteville

Opening Date : 02 / 14 / 2025

Closing Date : 3 / 13 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Eastern

About Us

You could be the next Chief of Police of the City of Fayetteville, NC Police Department if you...

• recognize that law enforcement agencies and communities are experiencing stressors that require proactive and innovative leadership;
• have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to unite community members of diverse ages and backgrounds around common goals;
• understand that department morale drives recruitment, retention, and excellence in service delivery
• apply an equity lens that infuses principles of diversity, inclusion, and belonging from program conception through decision-making and implementation;
• are diplomatic and effective in advocating for the needs of the department and its staff.

The next City of Fayetteville Chief will join a Police Department with international accreditation that is committed to uniting the community and reducing crime through strategies centered on the principles of intelligence-led policing, community partnerships, operational efficiency, and crime prevention. The Chief will bring unique and innovative approaches to maintaining the department's trust and reputation within the community. They will carefully navigate the perspectives of various population groups and educate the community on the mission, values, and strategy of the department. A collaborative, solutions-oriented leader who willingly engages the other regional law enforcement agencies is essential.

The Chief's experience must have depth and breadth; from experience equipping staff to respond to mental health issues to implementing effective response protocols regarding protests, the Chief will have demonstrable success in proactive methods to support crime prevention. Leading a young department with roughly 75% having served less than 5 years, the Chief will be a strong advocate for the department and will hold themselves and the department to high standards of excellence. The ideal candidate will have success in community immersion with diverse communities like Fayetteville and must be adept in embracing, navigating, and leading the City's diverse population, including its increasing student and military population. From quarterly meetings with the faith community to de-escalation, the Chief must be highly competent in modern policing methods, a genuine leader who remains calm in crisis, and demonstrates impeccable decision-making and problem-solving skills.

About the Community :

Fayetteville was settled in 1739 by immigrants from the Scottish highlands arriving via the Cape Fear River. Its presence as the home of Fort Liberty (Bragg)has imbued it with the values of freedom, democracy, and patriotism.

The City of Fayetteville, with a population of more than 209,000 community members, is the 6th largest city and 5th largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. Recognized for innovation, leadership, and excellence and a four-time All-America City award winner, the City of Fayetteville is America's Can Do City. Fayetteville offers the amenities of a sizable city, including historic sites, seven museums, three colleges and universities, multiple entertainment venues, a historic downtown, and award-winning recreation amenities.

Fayetteville is the county seat for Cumberland County (pop. 326,328) and is one of nine municipalities within the county. Fayetteville is the proud home of Fort Liberty (Bragg), one of the largest military installations in the world and headquarters for U.S. Army Forces Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army Reserve Command, and U.S. Army Special Operations Command. With an active-duty population of over 48,700 troops, the strong military presence offers significant economic development potential.

Demographically, the community members of Fayetteville are 38.3% white, 42.3% Black / African American, 13.1% Hispanic / Latino, 5.62% two or more races, 3.1% Asian, and less than 1% American Indian or Alaskan Native. As of 2022, the median household income in Fayetteville was $53,424.

Located in North Carolina's Sandhills region, residents enjoy a pleasant climate with distinct seasons. Fayetteville and the surrounding counties include scenic rivers, lakes, and other recreation areas, as well as world-renowned golf courses that host major tournaments. Fayetteville is two hours from the North Carolina coast and four hours from the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

There are three colleges and universities in Fayetteville. Fayetteville State University (HBCU) is a part of the University of North Carolina System, offering more than 60 programs of study at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. Methodist University is a private university established by the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Methodist University offers bachelor's degrees in more than 80 fields of study and six graduate degrees. Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC)is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, offering more than 250 programs of study leading to the award of an associate degree, certificate, or diploma.

One of Fayetteville's greatest assets is its thriving downtown area, which contains a vibrant arts and cultural community. From theatres to museums for adults and children, there is something available downtown for everyone. The Airborne and Special Operations Museum honors the City's unique connection to our service members. A variety of festivals and special events are held throughout the year downtown and across the City. A revitalized downtown area, complete with retail shops and dining establishments, is catalyzing additional growth spurred by the $40 million baseball stadium, which serves as home to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, a Houston Astros affiliate. The revitalized historic Prince Charles surrounds the stadium, offering 59 one- and two-bedroom luxury apartments. Investment and expansion opportunities will continue to rise as Fayetteville experiences growth. Learn more about the opportunities in Fayetteville here and get a taste of what a weekend is like in Fayetteville by watching this short video.

Duties / Responsibilities

About the Organization :

The City of Fayetteville operates under a council-manager form of government. It has more than 1,800 full-time and 400 part-time seasonal employees working across 19 departments. The across all funds.

The City's core values of RESPECT (Responsibility, Ethics, Stewardship, Professionalism, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Commitment, and Teamwork) are the basis for actions and decisions. They are the compass for accomplishing the City's mission, vision, and objectives. The City has dedicated resources to transparency and accountability for meeting City goals and objectives through the Office of Strategic Performance Analytics and a strategic planning process that engages the community proactively. The annual 2025 Strategic Plan can be found here.

The City prides itself on community engagement and offers multiple ways for the community to become involved and stay informed. These include 26 Advisory Boards and Commissions, state-of-the-art communication tools such as the cable and streaming FayTV government access channel, social media, podcasts, and community surveys. The City earns numerous awards and recognitions at the department level and nationally for its efforts. Explore more about the City of Fayetteville here.

About the Department and Position :

The Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) is an internationally accredited law enforcement agency with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. The department was first accredited in 1989 and is now a full-service law enforcement agency. The FPD is committed to improving the quality of life by creating a safe and secure environment for the community members we serve. The department is committed to always acting with integrity to reduce crime, create partnerships, and build trust while treating everyone with respect, compassion, and fairness.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Chief will oversee a budget of more than $65 million and 432 sworn and 168 non-sworn employees. The FPD is organized into two primary components, the Field Operations Bureau and the Specialized Services Bureau, and is divided into three (3) districts : Campbellton, Central, and Cross Creek. The next Chief will lead the department's vision to serve as a premier law enforcement agency that is invested in the growth and safety of the community through innovation and a balanced approach to Law Enforcement. The Chief will commit to pursuing and engaging the best trained, equipped, and committed professionals who demonstrate the highest standards of performance and best policing practices in partnership with the community. Furthermore, the Chief will uphold and demonstrate the department's values : FAITH. PRIDE. DEDICATION.

The department's reflects the department's mission, values, principles, goals, and strategies to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in Fayetteville. The 2022 found that interpersonal disputes fuel most violence in the City, which is generally between individuals with high levels of untreated trauma who are disconnected emotionally, socially, and economically. The next Chief will prioritize addressing the role of responding to mental health issues in reducing crime and will bring a new and effective approach to tackling crime in the community. The Chief will have significant experience bridging the gap between community members and law enforcement with demonstrated success in delicately and strategically balancing community outreach / education to establish trusting relationships with the department while also enforcing and upholding laws for all community members. The department desires a humble, genuine Chief - an honest and accountable leader that they can rely on. A faithful and loyal leader who will fulfill promises and commitments and ensure the continued implementation of valued and successful departmental programs and initiatives will garner the interest and trust of the community.

Key Position Priorities :

Qualifications

Qualifications :

The City of Fayetteville seeks a law enforcement leader with a minimum of 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience and 5-7 years of cross-functional and progressively responsible experience, including administrative and command work at the rank of Captain or higher; a BA / BS degree (Master's degree highly preferred) along with executive law enforcement training (e.g., FBI National Academy, SMIB, FBI LEEDA, Administrative Officers Management Program, etc.) is required . Candidates must have current certification as a municipal or local government law enforcement officer by his / her respective state or with no more than a three-year break in full-time sworn service at the time of appointment. Please note that North Carolina law does not recognize nor have a reciprocal relationship with Federal law enforcement certification. A valid NC driver's license is required, or the ability to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of relocating to NC.

The Successful Candidate is :

Additional Information

Salary and Benefits : The anticipated hiring range is $160,000 - $185,000. Extensive qualifications and experience may be considered to offer above the hiring range. The City of Fayetteville offers a comprehensive , including the outstanding NC Local Government Retirement system with vesting after five years. The city will consider relocation assistance based on personal circumstances.

To apply, please visit :

Please note the following :

Developmental Associates, LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this positionTo learn more about our selection process, visit and scroll down to "Important Information for Applicants."

Note : There will be a virtual discussion on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 5 PM led by Manager Doug Hewett and Chief Braden about this opportunity that candidates can view at the following link . If you are interested in anonymity, please make sure you manage your title on the Zoom platform prior to entering the session. You will be able to submit questions to Mr. Hewett and Chief Braden during the session if you so desire.

Recruitment and Selection are being managed by Developmental Associates, LLC.

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

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 able 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.

The ideal candidate will have at least a bachelor's degree. What is your highest degree?

This position requires progressive leadership experience in law enforcement roles. What is the highest rank you achieved in a law enforcement leadership role?

If your highest rank was less than captain or you said "other", please list the specific rank and organization. If not relevant, please indicate NA.

Of which of the following executive law enforcement training programs are you a graduate? (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).

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

Are you currently a certified full-time local, state or military law enforcement officer?

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.

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.

What level operating budget have you personally and directly been responsible for managing?

How many cumulative years of progressive sworn law enforcement experience do you have?

The position requires ten years of professional management or related experience in police administration including five to seven years of related administrative supervisory experience.

What is the total number of employees (sworn and non-sworn) in the largest DEPARTMENT in which you have served in a law enforcement executive management level (e.g. Captain) or higher?

What is the largest number of people for whom you have held managerial responsibility (direct and downline)?

What is the largest population in a community where you have served as a member of the law enforcement command staff (Captain or higher)?

In which of the following have you served for more than five years during your career :

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

I understand that the salary range is $160,000 - $185,000, depending on qualifications and experience.

The City uses a multi-step screening and evaluation process, including an assessment center process for selecting the Chief of Police. The virtual assessment center process dates are April 14-15, 2025. This will involve participation in three (3) activities to assess key competencies. 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. Indicating "yes" below represents your understanding of these elements of the process.

Required Question

Salary : $160,000 - $185,000