15 - Appointment of Richard Salter as Chief of PoliceItem No. 15
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
SUBJECT: Chief of Police
Appointment of Richard W. Salter Jr.
City Charter Section 23
DATE: February 8, 2021
The Chief of Police position has been vacant since June 2020. It became the task of the City
Manager to seek out and select an appropriate candidate to fill this position. A copy of the Job
Description is found below. The City Manager, by approval of the City Council on October 12,
2020, entered in to an agreement with the Texas Police Chief Association (TPCA) to assist him in
coordinating a search process. Working with the TPCA, the City Manager examined over thirty
applications. A series of interview rounds were conducted which consisted of:
1. Round 1 — Written Essays
2. Round 2 — In -Person Interview with visiting Chief of Police Panel
3. Round 3 — Zoom Interview
4. Round 4 — Community Panel Interview — In -Person w- Finalists — Consisted of Community
input element
The experience, knowledge, and counsel by the TPCA Representative, visiting Chiefs of Police,
Community Panel and Community Input was most valuable to the City Manager as he worked to
make his decision on who to appoint.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
I am pleased to present to you Richard W. Salter Jr. as my selection for Chief of Police. Mr. Salter
is the recently retired Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Omaha Office for the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA). I am very impressed with this individual, both in his
experience as well as his character. He possesses the right combination of potential, experience,
attitude, energy, professionalism and civility that I want to see as the leader of the Police
Department. Mr. Salter brings over 34 years of experience working in local and federal law
enforcement with increasingly challenging positions ranging from field work to high level and
complex management. He holds an impressive array of education and training credentials that
have helped prepare him to take on the challenges of leading the Paris Police Department as its
new Chief of Police.
Pursuant to the Paris City Charter, Section 23, "Neither the council nor any of its members shall
direct the City Manager or any of his subordinates in the appointment or removal of any city
employee; provided, however, that the a.,aointment oepartmentm heads shall be subject to the
approval oj"the council." Therefore, the job offer to Richard Salter is contingent upon the approval
of the City Council.
Furthermore, pursuant Texas Local Government Code 143.013(a)(1), "Unless elected, each
department head is: appointed by the municipality's chief executive and confirmed b�,F the
munici, ality ggygrnin ,, bod." Therefore, as a Department Head over a Civil Service
Department, the job offer to Mr. Salter is contingent upon the approval of the City Council.
A copy of his resume is available upon request.
If his appointment is approved by the City Council, Mr. Salter will transition from his current
location in Nebraska and take the office in mid-April 2021. Exact date TBD.
BUDGET:
Given his years of experience and credentials, Richard Salter will be given a starting salary of
Grade 60, Step 6, which is $106,153.00. This is a salaried position.
OPTIONS:
A resolution has been presented to you tonight to appoint the City Manager's selection of Richard
W. Salter Jr. as the Chief of Police.
1. Approve the resolution as presented.
2. Request edits to the resolution as presented.
3. Request additional information regarding Richard Salter or the process.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Resolution to appoint Richard W. Salter Jr. as the Chief of Police.
JOB DESCRIPTION
POLICE CHIEF
General Statement of Duties
Under the general supervision of the City Manager, this position is responsible for the overall
management of the Police Department, which includes but is not limited to, developing policies
and procedures, developing and implementing short-term and long-term department goals,
creating and managing the budget, prioritization of needs, and allocation of resources. This
position interacts regularly with other City departments, other public agencies, other
emergency service agencies, community groups, news media and the general public.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Directs, plans, supervises, oversees, implements and organizes the financial
management, operations, work flow and maintenance of the Police Department for the
enforcement of Texas law, applicable Federal statues, and City ordinances, prevention
and investigation of crimes, protection of life and property, municipal police work,
dispatching, record keeping, and animal control.
• Develops and implements goals, priorities, policies, objectives, standards and procedures
relating to the Police Department, including regularly reviewing Standard Operation
Procedures (SOPS).
• Directs ongoing research into modern and new municipal law enforcement, crime
prevention, community safety, and investigation methods, technologies and trends and
recommends implementation of programs and equipment to help the Police Department
achieve its objectives more efficiently.
• Responds to major emergency incident scenes and takes command when appropriate.
• Analyzes future personnel staffing needs and develops short and long-term plans to meet
those needs with emphasis on retention.
• Selects, promotes, motivates, evaluates, trains, and disciplines Police Department
personnel consistent with applicable laws, civil service and the City's Personnel Policies
and Procedures.
• Supervises and monitors staff performance, ensuring that they are in compliance with
City and department policies, procedures, ordinances and resolutions.
• Develops and maintains an efficient complaint tracking system for the Police Department,
investigating issues, and responds to concerns.
• Advises City Manager and Department Heads of Police Department issues and solutions
to address issues.
• Works with the Fire Chief, EMS Director, and other City and non -City Emergency
Management Staff in addressing matters of public safety.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with colleagues within the City
Departments, peers in other emergency service agencies, minority and other community
groups.
• Coordinates additional and other assigned activities with other departments and outside
agencies and provides highly responsible and administrative support to the City Manager.
• Develops realistic and fiscally sound budget requests based on program need and
monitors budget expenditures to ensure they remain within budget allocation.
• Works with and attends City Council and other Board and Committee Meetings as
needed.
• Member of and attends conferences and workshops of the Texas Police Chiefs Association
and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
• Oversees the proper procurement of all purchases pursuant to applicable City and State
laws.
• Maintains a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
• Supervises both sworn and civilian personnel including the Assistant Police Chief,
Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Officers, Animal Control, Dispatch and Office/Support
Staff.
Qualifications
• Education and/or Experience — A minimum of a bachelor's degree in criminal justice,
public administration, or related field, with a master's degree preferred. Must have a
minimum of ten (10) years' experience in law enforcement with progressively responsible
experience in a variety of police functions and at least five (5) years of law enforcement
command experience as an Assistant Chief, Captain or higher rank is preferred. An
equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for some of the
above.
• Computer Skills — Microsoft Internet Explorer and other internet-based search engines;
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Word processing
software; Microsoft Powerpoint; and Laserfiche document storage and retrieval
software.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
• Minimum of a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Advanced Peace Officer Proficiency
Certification, Masters Preferred.
• Valid Class "C" Texas driver's license.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of modern law enforcement, crime prevention and investigative methods,
practices and procedures;
• Knowledge of administrative practices as it relates to Police Departments;
• Knowledge of NIMS/ICS principles, concepts, and policies;
• Knowledge of Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Rules and Regulations, as well as
local, state and federal rules and regulations;
• Knowledge of Civil Service Law;
• Ability to effectively communicate with subordinates, disseminate information and take
charge of situations which arise in the course of duty;
• Ability to lead, direct, delegate and distribute personnel;
• Ability to be self -motivated and willingness to take responsibility for the actions of
subordinates;
• Knowledge of employment practices, including recruitment, selection, retention and
evaluation of staff;
• Knowledge of human resource issues, budgeting, research, and evaluation techniques;
• Ability to direct, coordinate and review the work of operation divisions/departments;
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and ability to effectively communicate
on a daily basis with administrative, elected and appointed officials and the public with
courtesy, professionalism, civility and tact;
• Ability to plan for municipal needs;
• Knowledge and ability to prepare and interpret complicated reports and standards;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials,
employees, citizens, vendors and contractors;
• Knowledge of intergovernmental relations and ability to understand and work with State
and Federal Regulations, Departments, and Personnel;
• Ability to maintain composure and decision making skills under stress;
• Ability to maintain professionalism and civility in all interactions.
Physical Demands
• Physical ability to lift 20 pounds;
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time;
• Sensory demands typically require speaking, hearing, touching and seeing;
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard
or other office equipment;
• Requires occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching and pushing or pulling drawers
to retrieve files;
• Must have visual acuity to endure eye strain of working on a computer for extended
periods of time;
• Must be able to hear;
• Mobility required to inspect work of staff;
• Physical mobility needed for moving around a worksite for the purpose of monitoring
quality of work.
• Must be able to meet firearms qualification standards based on Department and ROLE
requirements.
Work Environment
• Employee works in an office setting but must occasionally go out into the field to respond
to complaints or inspect work of staff;
• Must interact with upset citizens on occasion;
• Office climate is moderate; however in the field work temperatures can range from
extreme hot to extreme cold;
• During, but not limited to, law enforcement incidents, employee may be required to work
outdoors, in law enforcement scenes, around siren noise, flashing lights, and moving
vehicles, and walking on uneven or slippery surfaces;
• The position may require working around chemicals, blood and other potential hazardous
exposures;
• The position may require working in hazardous, dangerous, and/or stressful situations.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS,
TEXAS, APPROVING RICHARD W. SALTER JR. AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE AS
RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY MANAGER IN CONFORMANCE WITH
SECTION 23 OF THE CITY CHARTER; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, Chapter 23 of the City Charter provides that the appointment of department
heads by the City Manager is subject to the approval of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended for appointment to the office of Chief of
Police, Richard W. Salter Jr.; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to approve the City Manager's appointment of
Richard W. Salter Jr. as the Chief of Police for the City of Paris; and,
WHEREAS, Texas Local Government Code 143.013(a)(1) requires that the Chief of Police
appointment as a department head over a civil service department be confirmed by the City
Council;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things
approved.
Section 2. That Richard W. Salter Jr., shall be and is hereby approved as the Chief of Police of
the City of Paris, on the recommendation of the City Manager, and as a consequence of said approval
to serve as Chief of Police, said approval to be in conformance with Section 23 of the City Charter,
and the aforesaid Richard W. Salter Jr. shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to perform any
and all responsibilities and obligations incident to the office of Chief of Police.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be effective from and after its date of passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED on this 8th day of February, 2021, by the City Council of the City of
Paris, in regular session, following notice and publication as required by law.
Steven J. Clifford, M.D., Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney