JOB
The City of Sandy is seeking a Police Chief for this picturesque community of 13,500 tucked in the foothills of Oregon's rugged Cascade Mountains 27 miles east of Portland, Oregon. Sandy is known for its scenic beauty, small-town feel, and ideal location between Portland and the Mount Hood National Forest. The City of Sandy operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a biennial budget of $127.6 million and a team of 83 FTEs.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Sandy Police Department (SPD) is a progressive department whose mission is for all citizens and visitors to feel safe in the city. SPD works a "Modified Pitman" schedule allowing for mental health and fitness activities on shift as well as every other weekend off for all patrol officers. Specialty positions include School Resource Officer, Traffic Officer, and Detective.
The Sandy community overwhelmingly supports the police department with a significant focus on community directed policing strategies utilizing resources. While officers experience all types of calls for police service during directed work time, they also have freedom to identify and work on solving problems such as livability issues or traffic enforcement in their self-directed work time.
With a 2023 budget of $8.4 million and a staffing of 20 FTEs, SPD serves the City’s population of 13,500 residents and an outlying service area of approximately 45,000 people. The City’s prime location along the Mount Hood Scenic Byway brings approximately 40,000 unique vehicles traveling daily on Highway 26. In 2023, SPD had 12,537 calls for service.
WHY APPLY
This is a unique opportunity to lead a police department in a growing community with a small town feel just outside the Portland metro area. All department members are considered leaders, foster a team approach, and encourage creative problem-solving within city government and the community. City leaders are committed to maintaining Sandy’s distinctive character. If you are looking for a friendly and supportive community, a stable and cooperative city council, and a great quality of life—this may be the right opportunity.