THE CITY OF CHAMPAIGN, ILLIINOIS IS SEEKING A 

CHIEF OF POLICE 

Are you seeking an exciting new career opportunity where you can make a real difference in shaping the future of a growing, urban community and positively impact the lives of others?  The City of Champaign is looking for an experienced and community-engaged professional to exercise proven leadership for our Police Department.  

A wonderfully diverse and growing community of approximately 90,000 residents, Champaign offers big city opportunities with Midwestern values and affordability. The City is home to the University of Illinois, which attracts the very brightest scholars and scientists from around the world and is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Illinois. With an abundance of arts and cultural opportunities, beautiful parks and trails, nightlife activities in a vibrant Downtown, world-class educational opportunities, Big 10 sporting events, and a low cost of living, Champaign offers the best of urban life in a friendly, smaller city. The City of Champaign has a tradition of innovation and excellence. We are fiscally responsible, customer-oriented, and highly respected as a municipal leader not only in the State of Illinois, but across the country. 

Champaign operates under the Council-Manager form of government.  Reporting to the City Manager, the Chief of Police will lead a team of 157 FTEs, including 124 sworn officers and 27 civilians, supported by an annual budget of $18 million. In 2020, the Department responded to 53,737 emergency and non-emergency calls for service. The new Police Chief will be expected to proactively engage and collaborate with the public, Police Department staff, the City Council, and other City Departments; coordinate with other law enforcement agencies; and promote transparent and open communications with the public and the media. The Department is comprised of two divisions, Operations, and Operational Support and Professional Standards. The Champaign Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency and a detailed summary of all functional areas of responsibility, future priorities, desired attributes and required experience and qualifications can all be found in the recruitment brochure. 

Minimum qualifications for the position include ten years of progressive experience as a certified police officer at the municipal, State, or Federal level, and at least three years of experience at the rank of Lieutenant/Commander, or above. Prospective candidates must also possess experience working in a multi-racial, multi-cultural, and urban community environment.  Residency in the Champaign City limits, a valid state-issued driver’s license with a safe driving record, and certification from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, or the ability to complete all three within six months of appointment is required. The selected candidate must also complete any additional State required training and pass a post-offer criminal history record check and drug screening. The salary range is $139,229 - $187,962 with the starting salary depending on the individual’s qualifications. A generous employee benefits package, including a dedicated vehicle for the Police Chief to use while conducting official City business. 

This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply no later than Wednesday, November 24, 2021 by submitting a cover letter and resume online at  https://bakertilly.recruitmenthome.com/postings/3135. For more information, please contact Art Davis: [email protected], or at 816.868.7042. More information about this outstanding community can be found on the City’s website at https://champaignil.gov/.

Confidentiality: The City of Champaign will use its best efforts to keep a candidate’s expressed interest and application for the position confidential and to protect the candidate's personal and private information in compliance with all State and federal law. Under the Illinois' Freedom of Information Act, a candidate's expressed interest and application for the position will remain confidential unless they are named one of the candidates selected for final on-site interviews - at which point the finalist will be notified prior to the release of information to the public. 

The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.