The City of Harrisonburg (pop. approximately 56,879). Located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley and one of the fastest-growing cities in Virginia, the City is a thriving, multicultural university city and is home to James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University. The Harrisonburg Police Department protects the constitutional rights of all members of our community and further partners with stakeholders and others to solve problems, reduce crime, and improve the quality of life for residents, visitors, students, and community members.
The Harrisonburg Police Department is searching for a dynamic and forward-thinking Deputy Chief of Police to join the Command Staff, which is currently made up of a Special Operations Captain, Patrol Operations Captain, Criminal Investigations Division Captain, and Chief of Police. This is an exempt, full-time position with benefits and a full salary range of $108,076 - $162,115 annually (anticipated hiring range of $108,076 - $121,576 annually). An exact salary will be dependent upon the selected candidate's qualifications/experience and in compliance with City policy. Find out more information related to this position and the City by viewing the recruitment brochure.
The candidate selected for this position will report to the Chief of Police. The Deputy Chief of Police is responsible for directing staff, policy development, program planning, fiscal management, and operational and strategic oversight of the department. The Deputy Chief will be a supportive leader and mentor who will motivate and develop others through relationship building and demonstrate a commitment to the ongoing health and wellness of department members. The successful candidate is a natural collaborator, a leader who will seek out opportunities to improve and enhance the department through partnership with community stakeholders and community members. The ideal Deputy Chief is well-versed in policing methods and trends and intentionally introduces emerging technologies and methodologies to support the current and future needs of the department.
A detailed list of essential functions and the ideal candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is available in the class specification.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Valid driver's license.
- Bachelor’s degree with coursework in criminal justice, police administration, or related field and extensive (6+ years) experience in a command level (Lieutenant or greater) position of law enforcement. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be used to meet this requirement.
- Completion of the FBI National Academy, the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC), or an equivalent education program is preferred but not required for consideration.
- Current possession of or the ability to obtain the Peace Officer’s Standards & Training (POST) in the Commonwealth of Virginia within six (6) months of hire date.
- Click here to view the physical requirements of this position.
The selected candidate for this position will be subject to the following screenings and must receive satisfactory results:
- DMV driving record review;
- Criminal background investigation, including fingerprinting and VCIN;
- Credit check;
- Industry-specific physical exam;
- Social media review; and
- Drug screen.
Application Requirements: In order to be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following:
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City of Harrisonburg online application;
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Cover letter attachment;
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Resume attachment; and
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3 professional references.
Applicants unable to attach documents via the online application should email the missing documentation to employment@harrisonburgva.gov in order to be further considered. All required fields on the online employment application must be completed, including your education history and work experience. Incomplete applications and applications with verification(s) of no prior education and/or work history will not be considered. Resumes will serve as supplemental information only.
Anticipated First Review Date: No Sooner Than November 10, 2026. Due to the amount of information requested from candidates, please allow a minimum of 10 business days from the anticipated first review date to receive a status update.
Process Milestones requiring Finalist Availability (subject to change):
- November 13 and 16: Virtual Screenings (approximately 30 minutes); Finalists will Attend Only One of these Dates.
- December 15 and 16: On-Site Interviews; Finalists will Attend Both of these Dates.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or veteran status.
The City of Harrisonburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Harrisonburg, Virginia is an independent city located in the central Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Harrisonburg is located right along Interstate 81 and is only two hours away from both Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Harrisonburg is recognized as the county seat for Rockingham County.
The City of Harrisonburg operates under a council-manager form of government which combines elected officials in the form of a governing body with an appointed local government manager. The City Manager then oversees the delivery of public services through the city departments. Each city department then has a role in how services are provided to the citizens.
Use the links below to learn more about the city departments, city government, and the City of Harrisonburg.