Description
THE OPPORTUNITY
The City of Folsom, CA invites a dynamic and forward-thinking law enforcement professional to serve as its next Chief of Police – a rare opportunity to lead a high-performing department in a city known for its strong community partnerships and exceptional quality of life. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader with a deep commitment to mentoring personnel, enhancing organizational culture, and fostering leadership at every level. In this role, the successful candidate will not only guide internal development and strategic initiatives but also serve as a trusted public safety partner by engaging with residents, businesses, and civic leaders to ensure Folsom remains one of California’s safest and most vibrant communities.
ABOUT FOLSOM
Folsom is a dynamic and vibrant city of approximately 92,000 residents, nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada just 20 miles east of Sacramento. Known for its affluent, family-oriented neighborhoods, Folsom offers a suburban feel with tree-lined streets, top-performing schools, and a strong sense of civic pride. The city’s ideal location provides easy access to many major metropolitan areas, such as Sacramento – California's State Capital, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the California Coast. The city has been named the best place to raise a family in California, ranked as one of the safest cities in the U.S., listed as one of the most livable small cities in California, noted as one of the best places in California to find a job, and has two schools that were selected as best high schools in the country. In short, Folsom offers a harmonious blend of historic richness and contemporary living, making it a compelling city for families, professionals, and anyone seeking quality, safety, and community engagement.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Folsom Police Department prides itself on building proactive community partnerships and providing a high level of service to the community. The Chief of Police is responsible for executive leadership of the Police Department and is assisted by two commanders: one overseeing the Operations Bureau and the other overseeing the Administration Bureau. The Operations Bureau is made up of Patrol and Neighborhood Services Divisions, while the Administration Bureau is comprised of Investigations and Administration Divisions. Also reporting directly to the Chief are the Professional Standards sergeant and an administrative assistant. The adopted Police Department 25/26 budget is approximately $26.9 million through which it employs 119.5 staff members.
THE POSITION
Reporting to the City Manager, the Chief of Police is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and reviewing all functions and activities of the Police Department. The Chief coordinates assigned activities with other City departments, officials, outside agencies, and the public; fosters cooperative working relationships among City departments and with intergovernmental, regulatory agencies, and various public and private groups; provides highly responsible and complex professional assistance to the City Manager in their areas of expertise; directs, oversees, and participates in the development of the department’s work plan; maintains and fosters positive community relations; supervises and participates in the development and administration of the Police Department budget; and develops, plans, and implements department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
The ideal candidate will be a strong leader who is comfortable making difficult decisions, along with the ability to explain and execute those decisions internally; have a creative approach to problem solving and an adaptable style; be a strong and honest communicator who leads from the front; bring vision and an insatiable desire to continually improve the organization and a commitment to mentoring and staff development; and have demonstrated expertise and innovative approaches to recruitment strategies.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for the Chief of Police is $190,000 to $289,087, with placement in the range dependent on qualifications. The City of Folsom offers an excellent executive benefit package including a CalPERS safety retirement of 3% @50 or 2% @ 50 depending on hire date status for Classic members and 2.7% @ 57 for PEPRA members. A deferred compensation plan with City contributing 6.5% of the employee’s gross salary, with no employee contribution required to participate. In addition, the employer and employee both contribute 6.2% to Social Security and 1.45% to Medicare.
For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure at mosaicpublic.com/careers.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Interested candidates should submit a comprehensive résumé and compelling cover letter no later than Friday, August 29, 2025, at:
mosaicpublic.com/careers
This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality until such a time as finalists have been identified. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:
Chief Bryan Noblett (ret.) | bryan@mosaicpublic.com | (916) 550-4100
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job is qualifying. The most attractive candidates will possess the following:
Education: A Bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice, Criminology, Criminal Justice, Police Science, Public or Business Administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. A Master’s degree is highly desirable.
Experience: Eight (8) years of broad and progressively responsible experience in local police work at the supervisory level including five (5) years in an administrative capacity.
Training, Certification, License Requirements:
POST Management Certificate, or ability to obtain this certificate within one year of appointment for out of state candidates. A POST Executive Certificate is highly desirable.
Completion of the FBI National Academy, the Senior Management Institute for Police, the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, the Executive Leadership Institute at Drucker, or a closely comparable nationally recognized advanced leadership training class.
The ability to obtain a California Class C driver’s license.
