Deputy Chief of Police - Bartow, Florida

Are you an ethical, steady, and community-focused law enforcement professional ready to take on a senior leadership role? If so, apply to be the City of Bartow’s next Deputy Chief of Police.

 We’re seeking an exceptional Deputy Chief of Police who is:

• Experienced in overseeing complex police operations
• Skilled at building collaborative, high-performing teams
• Committed to strengthening community trust and public safety

Bartow is a city of roughly 22,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Polk County. Located at the crossroads of US-98, State Route 60, and US-17, Bartow is less than an hour from both Tampa and Orlando International Airports and the Port of Tampa. Bartow operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The five-member City Commission elected serves as the policymaking body, while the City Manager directs daily operations. Reporting directly to the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief of Police provides senior administrative and operational support. The role oversees the Patrol, Investigations, and Support Services divisions and ensures efficient, disciplined, and accountable performance. The Deputy Chief assists in strategic planning, budgeting, and interagency coordination, and represents the Department in the Chief’s absence.

The City of Bartow is seeking a principled, service-oriented Deputy Chief of Police who will lead with integrity, vision, and accountability. The ideal candidate will be decisive yet approachable, committed to building trust, transparency, and confidence in the Department’s effectiveness. They will be an advocate for community policing and innovative problem solving, using data-driven strategies, technology, and social media to strengthen operations and enhance engagement. A strong background

in investigations, contemporary law enforcement practices, and interagency collaboration is important, along with the ability to represent the Department positively in public and with the media.

The successful candidate will be a team builder who inspires enthusiasm, unity, and a shared sense of purpose across sworn and civilian staff. Experience recruiting, hiring, retaining, and mentoring officers is strongly desired, as is a demonstrated commitment to developing future leaders through succession planning. The next Deputy Chief should bring experience working with accredited agencies, a progressive collective bargaining background, and the ability to maintain constructive union- management relationships. A track record of success in diverse social and economic environments is highly valued. Active involvement in state and national law enforcement organizations, along with bilingual skills, will be considered a plus.

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, criminology, public administration, or related field
• At least 10 years of law enforcement experience, holding the rank of Police Captain or higher
• Possess or have the ability to obtain certification as a Law Enforcement Officer from the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
• Valid Florida driver’s license

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master’s degree
• Completion of advanced leadership programs (FBI National Academy, SMIP, Northwestern Command, Louisville AOC, etc.)
• Experience in accredited agencies
• Strong background in tactical operations, investigations, labor relations, succession planning, and community-policing programs

The City of Bartow offers a competitive starting salary of $107,548.78 - $141,066.46 based upon qualifications and experience, coupled with an array of municipal benefits.

Candidates are encouraged to apply ASAP as the posting period for this position will close upon attainment of a quality applicant pool. Please apply online at:  https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment/bartow-florida-deputy-chief-of-police/

For more information on this position, contact:

Doug Thomas, Executive Vice President

DouglasThomas@GovernmentResource.com

863-860-9314

• 

• Strategic Government Resources