Description

The City of Anton is seeking a highly qualified and experienced Police Chief to lead and oversee the operations of the department. As the Police Chief, you will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, and management to ensure the safety and security of our community. This role requires a visionary leader with a commitment to community engagement, law enforcement excellence, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities of a Texas municipality.

The selected candidate must reside within a 12-mile radius of the City limits of the City of Anton.

Benefits Package Includes:

• 100% employer-paid health insurance through the City of Anton
• Flexible scheduling/hours based on departmental and City need
• Professional career enhancement and training opportunities provided by the City
• Additional resident utility benefits for employees residing within the City of Anton, including:
  • Free water service up to 50,000 gallons per month
  • Free sewer service
  • Free trash service 

Key Responsibilities:
  1. Leadership and Strategy:

• Develop and implement strategic plans, policies, and procedures to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the police department.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior among department personnel.
• Provide strong and visionary leadership to inspire and motivate department members.

  2. Community Engagement:

• Build and maintain positive relationships with community leaders, organizations, and residents.
• Promote community-oriented policing strategies to enhance trust and collaboration between the police department and the community it serves.

  3. Public Safety:

• Oversee the enforcement of laws, ordinances, and regulations within the city and the Anton Independent School District, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents and visitors.
• Develop and implement crime prevention initiatives to reduce crime rates and enhance public safety.

  4. Budget Management:

• Manage the department's budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and resource allocation to meet operational needs.

  5. Personnel Management:

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise department personnel, fostering professional growth and development.
• Promote diversity and inclusion within the department and ensure fair and unbiased treatment of all individuals.

  6. Training, Reporting, and Professional Development:

• Stay informed regarding emerging trends, best practices, and changes in law enforcement.
• Ensure department compliance with applicable reporting requirements, including the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). On-the-job training for NIBRS reporting will be provided.
• Participate in professional development and leadership enhancement opportunities provided through the City.

  7. Emergency Response:

• Coordinate and respond effectively to emergency situations and crises within the community.
• Collaborate with other local agencies to ensure a coordinated response to emergencies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or a related field
• Minimum of 5-10 years of law enforcement experience, including supervisory or command-level experience.
• Must be eligible for and maintain Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certification.
• If not already completed, must complete the initial training program for new chiefs provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute no later than the second anniversary of appointment. Must complete at least 40 hours of continuing education for chiefs during each 24-month training unit as required by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute.
• Strong leadership and management skills with a track record of effective personnel and resource management.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to community policing and community engagement.
• Ability to work collaboratively with local government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents to regional@spag.org.

1. Resume/CV

2. Cover Letter

3. List of Professional References

4. Copies of all current law enforcement certifications, including TCOLE certifications

Applications will be accepted until June 10, 2026. The City of Anton is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

The City of Anton is an amazing community, and we are looking for a dedicated Police Chief who shares our commitment to safety, transparency, and community partnership. If you are a dynamic leader with a passion for law enforcement and community service, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Requirements

Basic Peace Officer Requirements

In order for an individual to enroll in any basic licensing course the provider must have on file documentation, acceptable to the Commission, that the individual meets eligibility for licensure.

(b) The commission shall issue a license to an applicant who meets the following standards:

(1) minimum age requirement:

(A) for peace officers and public security officers, is 21 years of age; or 18 years of age if the applicant has received:

(i) an associate's degree; or 60 semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university; or

(ii) has received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least two years of active service;

(B) for jailers and telecommunicators is 18 years of age;

(2) minimum educational requirements:

(A) has passed a general educational development (GED) test indicating high school graduation level;

(B) holds a high school diploma; or

(C) for enrollment purposes in a basic peace officer academy only, has an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service;

(3) is fingerprinted and is subjected to a search of local, state and U.S. national records and fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record;

(4) has never been on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order;

(5) is not currently charged with any criminal offense for which conviction would be a bar to licensure;

(6) has never been convicted of an offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years;

(7) has never been convicted or placed on community supervision in any court of an offense involving family violence as defined under Chapter 71, Texas Family Code;

(8) for peace officers, is not prohibited by state or federal law from operating a motor vehicle;

(9) for peace officers, is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition;

(10) has been subjected to a background investigation completed by the enrolling or appointing entity into the applicant's personal history. A background investigation shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(A) An enrolling entity shall:

(i) require completion of the Commission-approved personal history statement; and

(ii) verify that the applicant meets each individual requirement for licensure under this rule based on the personal history statement and any other information known to the enrolling entity; and

(iii) contact all previous enrolling entities.

(B) In addition to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, a law enforcement agency or law enforcement agency academy shall:

(i) require completion of the Commission-approved personal history statement; and

(ii) meet all requirements enacted in Occupations Code 1701.451, including submission to the Commission of a form confirming all requirements have been met. An in-person review of personnel records is acceptable in lieu of making the personnel records available electronically if a hiring agency and a previous employing law enforcement agency mutually agree to the in-person review.

(11) examined by a physician, selected by the appointing or employing agency, who is licensed by the Texas Medical Board. The physician must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of license sought and appointment to be made. The appointee must be declared by that professional, on a form prescribed by the commission, within 180 days before the date of appointment by the agency to be:

(A) physically sound and free from any defect which may adversely affect the performance of duty appropriate to the type of license sought;

(B) show no trace of drug dependency or illegal drug use after a blood test or other medical test; and

(C) for the purpose of meeting the requirements for initial licensure, an individual's satisfactory medical exam that is conducted as a requirement of a basic licensing course may remain valid for
180 days from the individual's date of graduation from that academy, if accepted by the appointing agency;

(12) examined by a psychologist, selected by the appointing, employing agency, or the academy, who is licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. This examination may also be conducted by a psychiatrist licensed by the Texas Medical Board. The psychologist or psychiatrist must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of license sought. The individual must be declared by that professional, on a form prescribed by the commission, to be in satisfactory psychological and emotional health to serve as the type of officer for which the license is sought. The examination must be conducted pursuant to professionally recognized standards and methods. The examination process must consist of a review of a job description for the position sought; review of any personal history statements; review of any background documents; at least two instruments, one which measures personality traits and one which measures psychopathology; and a face to face interview conducted after the instruments have been scored. The appointee must be declared by that professional, on a form prescribed by the commission, within 180 days before the date of the appointment by the agency;
Police chiefs: individuals appointed as "chief" or "police chief" of a police department shall complete:

(A) For an individual appointed to that individual's first position as chief, the initial training program for new chiefs provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute, not later than the second anniversary of that individual's appointment or election as chief; and

(B) At least 40 hours of continuing education for chiefs each 24-month unit, as provided by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute.