Assistant Chief of Police

Salary: $61,416.94 - $107,936.44 Annually
Location : 38 - LAUDERDALE COUNTY, MS
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: 0372 - MH-EAST MS STATE HOSPITAL
Opening Date: 11/02/2026
Closing Date: 11/6/2026 11:59 PM Central
About the Position: The Assistant Chief of Police provides senior-level operational and administrative leadership for East Mississippi State Hospital's Public Safety Department under the general direction of the Chief of Police. Functioning within the Law Enforcement Officer Manager classification, this position is responsible for managing sworn and civilian personnel, directing daily law enforcement operations, supporting staffing and workforce management, overseeing investigations and report quality, and ensuring departmental activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, EMSH policies, and established law enforcement procedures. The Assistant Chief supports the Chief of Police in maintaining effective public safety operations across EMSH campuses, including officer readiness, training, scheduling, investigations, emergency response, court preparation, performance management, and accountability.
What you'll need to be Successful: To be successful in this position, the Assistant Chief of Police must demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, professionalism, and the ability to manage complex law enforcement operations and personnel across the Main Campus, Newton Campus, BASAC, and the Nursing Home Division, including Reginald P. White Nursing Facility and James T. Champion Nursing Facility. The employee must be able to support the Chief of Police in directing departmental activities, supervise and develop subordinate leaders, maintain consistent operational standards across locations, ensure investigations and reports are handled appropriately, and promote officer readiness and accountability. Success also requires strong communication skills, command presence, dependability, technical law enforcement knowledge, and the ability to make timely, defensible decisions in support of safe and secure EMSH operations.The employee must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to manage and review the work of sworn and civilian law enforcement personnel and must maintain all required certifications, training, and qualifications applicable to the position.
Preferred Qualifications: Typically requires possession of a State of Mississippi Law Enforcement Professional Certification, and 7-9 years of experience in law enforcement. Hiring agency PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Progressively responsible supervisory or command-level law enforcement experience is preferred. Experience managing multiple shifts, supervisors, investigations, staffing, training, performance management, emergency response, and departmental operations is strongly preferred. Experience in healthcare, behavioral health, institutional law enforcement, campus police, or another complex public-safety environment is also preferred.

No available description
Health/Prescription InsuranceEligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits

Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance

All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances

Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts

Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.

Paid Personal Leave and Sick LeaveFull-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave

In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays

Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs

The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at http://www.pers.state.ms.us
Deferred Compensation

State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union

All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training

The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities

Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders

Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01

How many years of experience do you have in law enforcement?

• No experience
• 1 year of experience
• 2 years of experience
• 3 years of experience
• 4 years of experience
• 5 years of experience
• 6 years of experience
• 7 years of experience
• 8 years of experience
• 9 years of experience
• 10 years of experience
• More than 10 years

02

Do you possess a State of Mississippi Law Enforcement Professional Certification?

• Yes
• No

Required Question