Chief of Police - Lawton

Listing Title:
Chief of Police 

Listing Description
Job Summary

The Chief of Police is the City of Lawton’s chief law enforcement executive and a key member of the City’s executive leadership team. The Chief provides overall strategic, administrative, and operational leadership for the Police Department, including sworn and civilian personnel, and is responsible for protecting life and property while fostering public trust through professional, ethical, and community-focused policing.

This position emphasizes strategic planning, organizational performance, fiscal stewardship, labor relations, and community engagement, while maintaining readiness to direct major incidents and critical law enforcement operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Strategic Management

•Provides overall leadership, direction, and administration of the Police Department, including patrol, investigations, special services, communications, records, and other support functions.
•Establishes departmental vision, mission alignment, long- and short-term goals, and performance objectives consistent with City priorities and best practices in modern policing.
•Advises the Deputy City Manager and City leadership on public safety strategy, crime trends, staffing, risk management, and long-range planning.
•Participates as a member of the City’s management team, collaborating with other department heads on organization-wide initiatives.
Policy, Legal Compliance, and Professional Standards
•Develops, implements, and enforces departmental policies, procedures, general orders, and work standards.
•Monitors changes in federal, state, and local laws, court decisions, and professional standards; implements necessary policy and operational adjustments.
•Oversees internal affairs, discipline, grievance resolution, and professional standards to ensure fairness, consistency, and due process.
•Promotes ethical conduct, constitutional policing, accountability, and organizational integrity.
Operational Oversight and Emergency Management
•Exercises executive oversight of all law enforcement operations and provides command-level direction during critical incidents, emergencies, and major investigations.
•Reviews police activity including emergency responses, investigations, citizen complaints, commendations, and use-of-force incidents.
•Ensures effective deployment of personnel and resources based on crime analysis, service demands, and community needs.
•Supports community-oriented policing and proactive problem-solving strategies throughout the organization.
Fiscal Management and Resource Stewardship
•Plans, prepares, presents, and administers the Police Department’s operating and capital budgets.
•Oversees procurement, equipment replacement planning, facilities, and technology investments.
•Seeks and administers state and federal grants and ensures compliance with grant reporting requirements.
•Ensures responsible stewardship of public funds and assets consistent with peer agency practices.
Personnel Management and Labor Relations
•Directs recruitment, selection, training, evaluation, promotion, and professional development of sworn and civilian personnel.
•Establishes performance management systems, sets expectations, and ensures timely completion of employee evaluations.
•Oversees labor relations and serves as management liaison regarding collective bargaining agreements, where applicable.
•Fosters a culture of leadership development, accountability, employee wellness, and continuous improvement.
Community, Media, and Intergovernmental Relations
•Serves as the principal representative and spokesperson for the Police Department to the public, media, community organizations, and elected officials.
•Actively engages with community groups to build partnerships, solicit feedback, and enhance public confidence in policing services.
•Coordinates and cooperates with county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies on multi-jurisdictional initiatives and investigations.
•Represents the City and Police Department at professional meetings, conferences, and regional or statewide public safety forums.
•Performs other related duties as assigned by the Deputy City Manager or designee.
•Performs any other duties as assigned by the City Manager or Deputy City Manager. 

Minimum Education and Experience

•Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Police Science, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field (preferred).
•A minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience at the command or executive level.
•Completion of a basic law enforcement training academy or equivalent.
•Completion of executive level training to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy (FBINA) or the Southern Police Institute (SPI) is preferred.
•Demonstrated experience in organizational leadership, budgeting, personnel management, and community policing.
Certifications and Licensing
•Must be certified as a peace officer by the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) or meet all requirements to obtain certification within six (6) months of appointment.
•Must successfully complete a CLEET-approved Police Chief Administration course or equivalent within twelve (12) months of appointment.
•Must possess a valid Oklahoma driver’s license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

•Thorough knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, practices, and trends, including community-oriented and data-driven policing.
•Knowledge of municipal government operations, public administration, budgeting, and personnel management.
•Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, labor regulations, and court decisions affecting law enforcement.
•Skill in strategic planning, policy development, fiscal management, and organizational leadership.
•Advanced interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and media relations.
•Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and make effective decisions in complex and high-risk situations.
•Proficiency in the use of law enforcement technology, records systems, and standard office software.

Physical Requirements

The position is primarily administrative but requires availability to respond to emergency situations and critical incidents. Duties may involve exposure to hazardous or high-stress environments inherent in law enforcement operations. The Chief must be able to occasionally lift of up to 50 pounds and working beyond normal business hours. This position requires lengthy periods of sitting and lengthy periods of standing dependent on the situation.

Notice

The duties listed in this description are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Lawton affords equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability status or genetic information. Persons selected for employment into any position must pass a drug test. Some positions may require passing an alcohol test. Previous employment and any additional experience will be subject to verification prior to employment processing. A driver’s license and driving record check will be conducted if driving is a job requirement. A post offer employment medical examination may be conducted prior to job placement. EOE AA EMPLOYER VETS DISABILITY 

(Job) Location:
Lawton, OK 

Website Address (please do not delete the http://):
http://selfservice.lawtonok.gov/ess/EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=5836&sreq=1&form=GEN2&desc=POLICE%20CHIEF

Contact Information -

Company/Municipality Name:
City of Lawton, Oklahoma 

Street Address
212 SW 9th Street 

City
Lawton 

State
Oklahoma 

Zip Code
73501 

Phone Number
580-581-3392 

Contact Job Title:
Employee Development Coordinator 

First Name
Angela 

Last Name
Milligan 

Email Address
angela.milligan@lawtonok.gov

Listing Expiration Date:
03/02/2026