Police Commander

Salary : $174,275.91 - $211,834.39 Annually
Location : Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-009
Department: Public Safety
Division: Police
Opening Date: 11/07/2026
Closing Date: 12/18/2026 11:59 AM Pacific

Description
The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is recruiting for:

Police Commander

Annual Salary: $174,275.91 - $211,834.39 DOE plus excellent benefits

Apply by December 18, 2026
Definition
Under guidance by the Director of Public Safety, to direct, manage, supervise, and coordinate the activities and operations of both the Administrative and Operations Divisions within the Police Department; assist the Director with planning and research, budget preparation and oversight, personnel issues and supervision; coordinate assigned activities with other City departments and other divisions, outside agencies and the general public; and provide highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the Director of Public Safety.

Supervision Exercised
Exercises direct supervision over supervisory, professional, technical and clerical staff.
Examples of Duties
Examples of Important and Essential Duties
Essential duties and responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Functions as a member of the city management team participating in city-wide policy development, team building, administrative planning, risk management and safety and loss prevention; interacts directly with the City Administrator and other Department Directors, members of the City Council and other city department staff, commissions, boards, and committees.
• 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.
• Performs personnel functions including preparing and writing performance evaluations, counsels employees and administers discipline as appropriate.
• Participates, performs and administers various personnel functions including any one or more of the following: recruitment, testing, selection, background investigations, probationary evaluations, administrative investigations, conducting or reviewing internal affairs investigations, providing employee counseling, makes recommendations relative to discipline; implements disciplinary and termination procedures; assists Human Resources Department with writing and interpreting Memorandums of Understanding and other personnel related functions.
• Administers department training programs, systems, scheduling, and related documentation are in place and in compliance with department policy and practices. Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local law requirements; including California Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) training mandates and regulations; Oversees in-service training programs and communicates legal, regulatory, court decisions, and societal changes that affect the work of the department.
• Interprets laws, codes, policies, procedures and work standards for the department; reviews the work of departmental personnel to ensure compliance with Department values, expectations of behavior and performance standards; works with employees to correct deficiencies and develops performance improvement programs as needed.
• Directs, coordinates and reviews work practices, policies, procedures, and plans for the operations of the police department; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns work activities and projects; monitors crime trends and work flow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures for all department work units including patrol, traffic, parking, police services (911 dispatch, records, and property/evidence), reserves, and volunteers.
• Identifies internal and external opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
• Participates in the development and administration of the assigned budget; forecasts additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; directs the monitoring of and approves expenditures; recommends adjustments as necessary.
• Coordinates assigned services and activities with those of other divisions, bureaus, city departments and outside agencies and organizations; develops cooperative working relationships and mutual aid agreements with other local public safety representatives; and, may oversee and coordinate the work of multi-agency task forces or committees.
• Attends, facilitates and maintains public relations and cooperative working relationships with public and private organizations, business, educational, news media, and community groups and the general public; attends and speaks at various community functions and meetings.
• Attends and participates in community organizations and professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of law enforcement. Develops, reviews, amends, and monitors contracts including but not limited to: animal control, jail booking fees, automated data information systems, and other vendor contracts or maintenance agreements.
• Works with City Attorney to ensure contracts and other work related to public safety conform to legal considerations.
• Provides staff assistance to the Police Chief; prepares and presents staff reports to City Council and other appropriate forums; prepares other necessary correspondence including memorandums, letters, commendations, and other written correspondence; directs and maintains department files and records.
• Conducts internal investigations of citizen and employee complaints as assigned; mediates conflicts between Department personnel and citizens.
• Assumes immediate command of police activities in the event of an emergency; responds to major crime and accident scenes; supervises investigation, interview and interrogations in the field; personally conducts highly complex or sensitive investigations.
• Oversees the use and care of equipment. Identifies, researches, and acquires costs relating to equipment acquisitions and makes appropriate recommendations.
• Maintains and prepares various records and reports.
• Responds to and resolves difficult inquiries and complaints.
• Serves as the Chief of Police upon the request or absence of the Chief of Police.

Other Job Related Duties
Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Related and Essential Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a comprehensive law enforcement program.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of law enforcement program development and administration.
• Law enforcement theory, principles and practices and their application to a wide variety of services and programs.
• Pertinent Federal, State and local laws and ordinances, particularly with reference to apprehension, arrest, search and seizure, evidence, public records act, records maintenance, and traffic control.
• Modern investigative methods including interviewing and interrogation techniques.
• Principles and practices of community-oriented policing to include problem solving strategies that incorporate building partnerships, defining problems, and developing solutions that can be monitored and measured for success.
• Team Building including how to motivate, develop and retain skilled personnel to work in a positive, healthy, and pleasant work environment.
• Technical and administrative phases of crime prevention and law enforcement including investigation and identification, patrol, traffic control, records management, and care and custody of property.
• Recent court decisions and how they affect department and division operations.
• Functions and objectives of Federal, State, and other local law enforcement agencies.
• Use of firearms and other modern police equipment.
• First aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) principles, practices and techniques.
• Self-defense tactics including weaponless defense.
• Principles of budget preparation and control.
• California driving regulations and motor vehicle operations.
• Principles of leadership, followership, supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment.
• Principles and procedures of records keeping and reporting.
• Safe driving principles and practices.
• Use of firearms and other modern police equipment

Skill to:

• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment.
• Operate firearms and other modern police equipment.
• Operate a motor vehicle safely.

Ability to:

• Maintain physical condition to safely and effectively perform the duties and responsibilities of a peace officer including field work during night shifts.
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating equipment and vehicles.
• Exercise sound judgment and rational thinking under stressful conditions.
• Provide senior and upper management leadership and direction in the decision making process.
• Plan, organize, delegate, and coordinate the works of others.
• Manage and coordinate the work of supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical personnel.
• Select, supervise, train, evaluate and reward staff.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Identify and respond to sensitive community and organizational issues, concerns, and needs.
• Develop long-range strategic plans for the department
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively, and determine proper course of action.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Communicate effectively in English both verbally and in written format.
• Communicate with others to assimilate, understand, and provide information.
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Conceive, propose, implement, and maintain sound fiscal procedures and records.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergencies.
• Obtain information through interviews and interrogation.
• Gather, assemble, analyze, evaluate and use facts and evidence.
• Meet and deal with the public tactfully and effectively.
• Prepare and maintain accurate and complete records.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course and scope of work related duties.
• Perform duties on a regular and consistent basis.
• Apply information systems technology to the police function.

Typical Qualifications
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. Typical ways would be:

• Education: A Bachelor of Science or Arts Degree from an accredited 4-year college; or an Associates of Arts Degree and graduation from the California Commission on P.O.S.T. Supervisory Leadership Institute, or Command College, or completion of the FBI National Academy.
• Experience: Four years of responsible law enforcement experience including two years of experience at or above the level of Sergeant.
• License or Certificate: A Bachelor of Science 4-year college degree; or an Associate of Arts college degree with a POST Supervisory Certificate and Possession of a POST Advanced Certificate. And Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license and Certification in First Aid and CPR.

Special Requirements:
Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

• Ability to work in a standard office environment with some ability to sit, stand, walk, run, kneel,crouch, stoop, squat, crawl, twist, climb, and lift 100 lbs. May have to sit at a desk or at meeting for long periods of time; Intermittently twist to reach equipment in a work area; have sufficient coordination and dexterity to operate modern office equipment such as computers, printers, telephones, two-way radios, and calculators;
• Ability to speak clearly and understandably; communicate through written means,
• May be exposed to cold, heat, noise, outdoors, vibration, confining work space, chemicals, explosive materials, mechanical hazards, and electrical hazards;
• Have dexterity and agility sufficient to care for firearms; Have hearing and vision necessary to perform all police service duties;
• Work extended or flexible hours in order to attend meetings; work under pressure to complete a variety of written reports within specific and sometimes short deadlines; present staff reports, budgetary, and other public information before Council and the public;
• Establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with department and staff, administrators, trustees, parents, students, and the public;
• Interpret a variety of legal codes and regulations, and accurately communicate same to the public;
• Operate a motor vehicle between the Carmel-by-the Police Department and other city facilities and public meeting places or sites in and outside the city limits;
• Perform all duties listed on the job description except those determined to be incidental;
• Schedule is 5 days/8 hour workweek but must remain availability for shift work including night shifts, on-call, and stand-by.
• Must have own transportation to and from work.

Supplemental Information
HOW TO APPLY <