Police Captain

The City of San Ramon seeks a Police Captain who embodies the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and public service. The Police Captain is a key member of the department’s command staff and plays a critical role in guiding organizational operations, personnel development, and long-term strategic direction. The ideal candidate is a collaborative and experienced law enforcement professional who demonstrates strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively within a team-oriented organization.

This position requires a leader who values mentorship and takes an active role in coaching and developing personnel. The successful candidate is skilled at building positive working relationships, supporting staff development, and fostering a professional, respectful, and accountable work environment.Through consistent leadership and clear expectations, the Captain promotes a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement among both sworn officers and professional staff.

The Police Captain provides oversight of departmental training programs and plays an integral role in the development, review, and implementation of departmental policies. This work ensures compliance with legal and POST standards, supports best practices, and reflects the evolving needs of the community. The position requires thoughtful analysis, sound judgment, and a commitment to maintaining policies and training that support safe, effective, and constitutional policing.

Collaboration is essential to the success of this role. The Police Captain works closely with members of the department’s leadership team and staff across City departments to support organizational goals and maintain strong working relationships. The Captain must also work effectively with the Police Officers Association, and external agencies. The ability to communicate clearly, build trust, and collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders is critical.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a forward-thinking mindset and a genuine desire to help advance the department’s long-term goals. This leader recognizes the importance of strategic thinking, innovation, and adaptability, and is committed to helping the organization grow and evolve in a way that best serves the community both now and in years ahead.

Definition
Under the general direction, plans, schedules, organizes, supervises, reviews and evaluates the activities of the Police Department through subordinate levels of supervision; trains sworn staff and provides for their professional development; develops and implements departmental operational programs; provides administrative and budgetary support to the Police Chief and acts for the Chief on a relief or as assigned basis; performs related work as required.

Supervision Received and Exercised
Receives general direction from the Police Chief. Exercises general direction and supervision over supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative support staff through subordinate levels of supervision.

Class Characteristics
This is a management classification responsible for planning patrol, public service and investigative functions or administrative support activities, including assisting the Chief in formulating policy, developing goals and objectives and administering the department’s budget. Incumbents may respond to calls for service, however, the primary responsibilities are managerial, including the coordination of activities with those of other City departments and law enforcement agencies. This class is distinguished from the Police Chief in that the latter has overall management responsibility for all public safety programs, functions, and activities, and for developing, implementing, and interpreting public policy.

Typical Duties
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plans, schedules, organizes, assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of sworn and non-sworn staff; ensures coverage of staff for all shifts and assignments; provides for the training of staff in work procedures and for their professional development.
• Oversees the provision of such functions as investigations, property and evidence, dispatching, vehicle abatement and the reserve and cadet programs.
• Oversees and coordinates special programs and projects, such as SWAT and cadet activities, the alternative sentencing program, the firearms range and the City’s Emergency Response program.
• Recommends selection, disciplinary and other personnel decisions; counsels employees and administers discipline as required.
• Interprets laws, codes, policies and procedures to staff; ensures legality and consistency of application.
• Assists with the development of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the department; assists with development and administration of the budget; prepares and reviews grant requests and assists in the administration of grant funds.
• Oversees sworn personnel selection procedures, including conducting interviews and background investigations.
• Develops cooperative working relationships and mutual aide agreements with representatives of other local public safety departments. Works closely with public and private groups and individuals to explain or coordinate proposed programs; responds to citizen concerns or inquiries regarding police services; responds to inquiries from the media.
• Coordinates the work of the division and the department with that of other City departments, outside agencies, citizen groups, the courts and the media.
• Monitors legal, regulatory, technological and societal changes and court decisions that may affect the work of the department; recommends equipment acquisition, training programs and procedural changes to ensure retention of qualified staff and the provision of services to the community in an effective, efficient and economical manner.
• Investigates and resolves problems with requests for services or complaints regarding police functions.
• Prepares a variety of correspondence, reports, procedures and other written materials.
• Maintains and directs the maintenance of departmental files.
• Responds to emergency or unusual situations; performs the full range of patrol, investigative and related duties of an officer and assumes a command role as appropriate; may oversee and coordinate the work of multi-agency task forces or committees.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with the community, including specific targeted groups, such as the elderly or school-age youth.
• Provides and coordinates mutual aide to other law enforcement agencies in accordance with departmental policy.
• Acts for the Police Chief on a relief or as-assigned basis.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:
Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and project management; principles and practices of budget development and administration; principles and practices of employee supervision, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures; organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned functional area; functions, services, and funding sources of a full-service municipal police department; contract management practices in a public agency setting; applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility; practices of researching municipal police services issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports; general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area; recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to public works operations and maintenance; record keeping principles and procedures; modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work; English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation; techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations; and techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:
Recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient services; administer complex and technical operations, maintenance, and related programs in an independent and cooperative manner; plan, organize, assign, review, and evaluate the work of staff; train staff in work procedures; evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods; research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques; prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials; analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner; interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations; conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports; effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations and in meetings with individuals; establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems; operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs; organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines; make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines; use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing; use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines; and establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in criminal justice, police science, public administration or a related field. A Master’s degree is highly desirable.


AND

Experience
Three (3) years of supervisory experience in the police service, equivalent to the level of Sergeant or above, including one (1) year of experience in police management, equivalent to the rank of Lieutenant or above at the time of appointment.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possess and maintain a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment.
• Possess and maintain a Supervisory Certificate issued by the California State Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).
• Completion of the P.O.S.T. Management Course, or a law enforcement related equivalent by the time of appointment.
• Possession and maintenance of firearms qualification.

Other Qualifications:

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law.Additional InformationPhysical Demands
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; maintain P.O.S.T. physical standards, including mobility, physical strength, and stamina to respond to emergency situations and apprehend suspects; vision to maintain firearms qualification and to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone or radio. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking on uneven terrain, climbing and descending structures to access crime scene, and to identify problems or hazards. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate police services equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects necessary to perform job functions.

Environmental Elements
Employees work indoors and outdoors, and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. The principal duties of this class are performed in a police station environment with exposure to criminal offenders, mentally ill individuals, and persons potentially infected with communicable diseases.

Working Conditions
Must be willing to pass a detailed background investigation. Must be willing to work extended shifts or be called back in emergency situations and work with exposure to difficult circumstances, including exposure to dangerous situations.

FLSA: EXEMPT
EFFECTIVE: MAY 2023

Resumes cannot be substituted for a completed application.

Interested individuals must complete an online application and include a comprehensive resume. The most qualified applicants, as determined by screening of applications, will be invited to participate in an interview process that may consist of both written and oral portions.Oral boards are tentatively scheduled for late April 2026.

The City of San Ramon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, or disability. In accordance with Federal law, the City of San Ramon will only hire individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States. As a condition of employment, you will be required to present proof of your identity and employment eligibility. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact Human Resources at (925) 973-2508 or hr@sanramon.ca.gov.

Information contained herein, including the recruitment process, is subject to change without notice.