Council adopts updated police chief job description, opens national recruitment

The Rathdrum City Council adopted an updated police chief job description and authorized staff to post the position on appropriate job platforms. Councilors revised the draft during discussion to clarify the experience and management expectations: the final description requires a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration or a related field (or an equivalent professional program such as an FBI command course) and a minimum of 10 years of progressive law enforcement experience including at least five years in a command/managerial role (examples cited: lieutenant/GS-11 or above, or an equivalent federal management rank).

Council directed staff to post the vacancy through the state job portal, the Idaho Chiefs of Police site, the POST academy listings, and a paid statewide government job posting for four weeks. Staff said postings would also be placed on the City of Rathdrum website and distributed to partner agencies. The mayor will nominate finalists and return to the council for appointment once recruitment and a selection panel are complete.

Council members discussed balancing the desire for broader candidate pools (including federal or out-of-state candidates) with the need for local policing experience and administrative capability. Staff said they would accept applications from candidates with equivalent federal ranks and would evaluate management experience and educational credentials during screening.

Staff expects to begin advertising immediately; council asked staff to return with a proposed interview and selection calendar once applications have been received.