Chief of Police- Thornton (CO) Police Department

Thornton, Colorado, is seeking an experienced police executive to serve as the next Police Chief.Thornton is the 6th largest city in Colorado and benefits from its proximity to downtown Denver, Denver International Airport, and the foothills of the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Thornton has a current population of just under 150,000 people and is expected to grow by another 100,000 people in the next 30 years. The City offers both established neighborhoods and newer, affordable homes, creating a safe, sought-after, and active environment with a wide variety of municipal services.Thornton has a very diverse population with a wide range of socio-economic conditions for residents throughout the city. While early development in Thornton was primarily residential, it has become a destination for primary employers and regional retail. The City hosts three Regional Transportation District commuter rail districts with two additional planned investments. The City’s Comprehensive Plan, current development code update, and several key projects will invite greater density and additional mixed uses to build on Thornton’s already high quality of life.Thornton has aggressively pursued recreation programs with nearly 1,000 acres of land developed or designated for public parks. The numerous lighted tennis courts, athletic fields, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, recreation centers, and gymnasiums offer recreation opportunities for people of all ages and activity levels.Today, Thornton continues moving forward in a responsible manner that strengthens the City's increasing footprint. This includes the City’s responsiveness to growth with an ever-growing menu of city services, programs, and capital investments.Thornton is a home rule city operating under the Council-Manager form of government. The city council consists of the Mayor, who is elected at large, and eight council members, two elected from each of the city's four wards. The Mayor and council members each serve four-year terms and all have an equal vote. The City Council enacts ordinances, approves the city budget, and appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, and Municipal Judge. The City Manager administers the daily operations and programs of the City through the department heads, other staff members, and employees. The Police Chief currently reports to the City Manager.The current Police Chief retired in September after four years as Thornton Police Chief and 29 years in law enforcement. The current Interim Police Chief has served the Department for 34 years and does not intend to seek permanent appointment.The Thornton Police Department is an innovative department whose defined Core Values of Leadership, Accountability, Teamwork, Safety, Service, and Integrity guide the organization towards the vision of being the standard of excellence in law enforcement. With only 50% of Thornton land currently developed, the expected growth will provide an excellent opportunity for career advancement. With 258 authorized sworn police officers and 88 non-sworn staff, Thornton emphasizes community involvement and is committed to providing high-quality police services, which are reflected in both the Department’s mission and values.During a time when many Police Departments have struggled with recruitment and retention, Thornton has maintained a relatively low vacancy rate. With its incoming 2025 academy class, the City will increase its sworn staffing rate to 97%. A focus on competitive pay and strategic investments like the City’s newly opened police training center should preserve this strength. Thornton has enjoyed a positive, productive relationship with the Police Union under the leadership of the Interim Chief. The ranks of Police Officer and Police Sergeant are currently in the second year of a two-year agreement. The next union negotiation will be conducted in the first and second quarters of 2025 and should have a finalized agreement around May 2025.A new Police Chief will join a stable, professional organization that is valued by its community. The 2023 Satisfaction Survey found that performance had increased in several areas between 2020 and 2023, including the professionalism and timeliness of police responses; safety on parks and trails; and animal control. A new Police Chief will have an opportunity to contribute to continuous improvement as the survey found the overall feeling of safety in the community lags compared to some accomplishments, and recent feedback from employees and community members further illustrate areas of accomplishments and ongoing priorities.MISSION : To serve and protect in partnership with the community, working to reduce crime and disorder, while providing the highest quality police services.VISION : A safe and prosperous city served by a police department recognized as the standard of excellence.#J-18808-Ljbffr