THE COMMUNITY

Florence, a town steeped in history, is strategically nestled along the Gila River. As the sixth oldest non-Native American town in Arizona, it holds a unique place in the state’s historical narrative. Serving as the county seat of Pinal County, it enjoys a central location between the bustling Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. The town’s connectivity is further enhanced by the three major transportation corridors of Highway 79, Highway 287, and Hunt Highway, setting it apart from similar communities within the state.

Florence cherishes its past and takes immense pride in its history. The historic downtown’s designation as a National Historic District is a testament to this. Our Town is unwavering in its dedication to striking a balance between preserving our rich history and preparing for the future. This steadfast commitment ensures that an authentic sense of place is maintained while new growth and revitalization are actively encouraged. You can rest assured that Florence’s unique charm and character will always be preserved.

Florence is a thriving hub of education, with three public schools, including two K-8 schools and a public high school. The American Leadership Academy offers a K-6 program and a newly opened charter high school, further enriching the town’s educational landscape. The town is also in close proximity to the main campus of Central Arizona College and Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus. For those seeking higher education, the main campuses of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona are just a short drive away in Tempe and Tucson. This robust educational system instills a sense of optimism about the town’s future.

Florence is home to the McFarland State Historic Park, which houses the first Pinal County Courthouse. Additional local attractions include the Pinal County Historical Museum, the Florence Aero Molder Park, the Charles Whitlow Rodeo Grounds, a quaint historic downtown, and the final resting place of Charles D, Poston, the father of Arizona, at the summit of Poston Butte.

The Gila River, a striking landmark that runs through historic Florence, is a testament to the town’s natural beauty. The river, which once served as the northern border of Mexico, is just one of the many outdoor attractions in and around Florence. Poston Butte, Box Canyon, Martinez Canyon, the old Silverbell Mine, the Coke ovens, and many other sites offer endless opportunities for hiking, exploration, and scenic views.

The surrounding Sonoran Desert is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts, offering endless exploration opportunities on ATV or by horse. Additional recreational opportunities include the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Lost Dutchman State Park, Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Tom Mix Monument, the Superstition Mountain Wilderness area, and the Peralta Trail. Florence holds several exciting yearly events, including the Home Tour of Historic Florence in February, the Road to Country Thunder and Country Thunder USA music festival held in April, and the world’s oldest children’s (ages 5 to 18) rodeo, the Junior Parada, held every Thanksgiving weekend. Travel 45 minutes to Phoenix or Tucson to discover a major metropolitan area’s culture, recreation, and entertainment.

Florence has a steadily increasing population of 23,894. After approving our General Plan in 2022, the Town’s planning area now totals 196 square miles. The Town’s municipal limits account for 62.79 square miles, ensuring Florence has the potential for future growth. The median household income is $74,025, and the median housing cost as of July 2024 was $355,000. The major employers in Florence include Pinal County, the Town of Florence, Florence Unified School District, Safeway, Florence Hospital at Anthem, and the nine correctional facilities. Florence has approximately 7,000 jobs, which increases our population daily. Seasonally, Florence is home to many who call the town their winter home.

COMMUNITY VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The 2022 Town of Florence General Plan’s community vision statement: the Town of Florence will successfully capitalize on its prime location, rich history and culture, diverse neighborhoods, small-town feel, family-friendly parks, and natural Sonoran Desert setting to maintain a safe community with a variety of amenities and economic environment that is sustainable, desirable, and respected. Florence will carefully blend the old with the new to maintain its position as the heart and core of Pinal County.

To help us guide the Town’s growth, development, maturity, and enrichment toward the next ten to twenty year planning horizon, seven broad Community Goals were created to serve as the foundation for the Town’s decision-making. The goals are meant to be aspirational but attainable through the Town’s policies. The Community Goals are as follows:

GOAL 1. Attract new development and promote redevelopment.
GOAL 2. Improve local and regional connectivity.
GOAL 3. Grow new businesses and encourage job creation.
GOAL 4. Celebrate community values, aesthetics, and heritage.
GOAL 5. Enhance the quality of life and general well-being of our residents.
GOAL 6. Align new development and growth with available or accessible water resources.
GOAL 7. Provide safe, sustainable, and attractive public infrastructure.

GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATION

The Town of Florence is a council-manager-governed municipality. The Town Council is the policy-making body, and the appointed Town Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Town’s services. The mayor and a six-person Town Council are elected to four-year terms. The Town Council appoints the Town Manager, Town Attorney, Town Magistrate, and Town Clerk. The Town Manager is responsible for hiring and overseeing department directors and employees.

Florence is a full-service town and provides an array of public services, including police, fire, public works (HURF, engineering, fleet, cemetery, facility maintenance, streets, water, and wastewater operations), community services (parks & recreation, library, and senior center), economic development, and community development (planning, zoning, building, permitting, building inspections, and code enforcement). The Town of Florence Strategic Plan provides a critical road map for the Town and staff as development activities in and around the Town consistently increase yearly.

Florence employs one hundred and eighty-five full-time equivalent employees. A police department of forty-five, a public works department of thirty-five, a fire department of thirty-one, a community services department of twenty-one, and an administrative staff of thirty-six. During the summer, the town adds seasonal part-time employees to provide recreational opportunities to the youth of our community.

ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Florence Police Department adopts the philosophy of 21st Century Community Policing which
focuses on six pillars:

• Building Trust and Legitimacy
• Policy and Oversight
• Technology and Social Media
• Community Policing and Crime Reduction        
• Training and Education
• Officer Wellness and Safety

The implementation of these pillars ensures the department is connected to the community and the community has buy-in to its processes. The Florence Police Department’s Vision Statement is: A forefront leader in policing focused on innovation and excellence in service, this along with its mission statement “Serving You with Respect, Compassion and Trust” intertwined with core values of Transparency, Respect, Unity, Selflessness and Teamwork (TRUST) build the foundation of this team.

Comprised of 31 sworn officers and 16 professional staff members this police department working in sections such as Police Operations, Criminal Investigations, 911 Communications, Property and Evidence, Records. Code Enforcement and administration is set for optimal service to the community. Our executive team consists of the Chief of Police, Commander of Operations, Commander of Support Services, four (4) Patrol Sergeants and the Communications Supervisor.

Department personnel can be seen walking around town connecting with citizens and business creating partnerships that prosper in this Town being noted as one of the safest communities in the State of Arizona. The department became Arizona Law Enforcement Association Program (ALEAP) accredited in 2021 and was lauded for its involvement in establishing a food bank that serviced the Town of Florence and surrounding communities. The department is set for reaccreditation in 2025.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Working under the supervision of the Town Manager, the Police Chief is ultimately responsible for every facet of Police operations in the Town of Florence. Our new Chief will ensure that the department is adequately staffed, equipped, trained, and disciplined for crime detection, prevention, and suppression. The new Police Chief is responsible for enforcing all town, state, and federal laws within our jurisdiction. The Chief will also guarantee conformance to all applicable town, state, and federal rules, regulations and enforcing procedures.
Essential responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Establish priorities and develop comprehensive short and long-range plans to ensure the effective delivery of quality services to the public.
• Preparing the department’s annual budget and monitoring expenditures throughout the year.
• Developing and implementing department rules, regulations, procedures, and work methods.
• Communicating with the Town Manager regarding departmental concerns, problems, and related issues.
• Addressing concerns and representing the organization to various stakeholders in a positive light, including civic organizations, neighborhood groups, business groups, the media, and residents.
• Collaboration with other municipal, state, and federal agencies to accomplish system objectives defined in criminal justice.
• Prepares reports, presentations, and departmental correspondence.
• Attending professional meetings and conventions to maintain and enhance knowledge concerning new technology and developments within the field.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The Town of Florence seeks a dedicated and visionary Police Chief to lead our department into a future of innovation and unwavering integrity. This critical role demands a seasoned leader with a servant-leadership style and extensive experience across various facets of law enforcement, including patrol, investigations, administration, training, and community engagement. Our next leader must possess a solid commitment to transparency and effectively communicate in both spoken and written form.

Our new Chief will have hands-on operational experience and a successful history of implementing data-driven crime reduction strategies and developing diverse training programs. Familiarity with the principals and best practices of personnel management, including supervision, training, and performance evaluation, is essential, as is budget preparation and administration expertise.

The Town’s next Police Chief will be proficient in managing the complexities of law enforcement and deeply dedicated to community policing. The chief will demonstrate a history of engaging with diverse community groups and fostering solid and cooperative relationships. The ideal candidate must be approachable, an attentive listener, an articulate communicator, posses an open mind and willingness to learn and adapt to complex situations. A strong background in community work developing relationships, is a must for this position.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

The following are our minimum requirements for the position:
Bachelor’s degree in political science, criminal justice, public administration, or a related field is required; a master’s degree is preferred; and ten (10) years of full-time experience in law enforcement in progressively responsible managerial sworn officer, and at least five (5) of which must have been at the full supervisory or command level.

Required Certificates, Licenses:

• FBI National Academy graduate Northwest Command School graduate or equivalent training.
• Must qualify for certification by AZPOST within six months.
• Must have and maintain a valid Arizona Driver’s License.

Preferred:

• Graduation from FBI National Academy or similar police training at command level experience as Deputy Chief or Police Chief.
• Masters Degree preferred.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The Town of Florence offers a competitive salary for this position, which will depend on experience and qualifications. The full salary range for this position is $124,572 to $186,858. Our organization’s comprehensive benefits package. Follow this link https://www.florenceaz.gov/human-resources/ to review the town benefits on the insurance description tab at the bottom of the page .

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please apply online at https://www.florenceaz.gov/jobs/
This position will remain open until filled with a First review of
applications: October 31, 2024
For more information on this position, contact:
Catherine Wilson, Human Resources Director
Catherine.wilson@florenceaz.gov 520-868-7545

The Town of Florence, AZ, is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists will be subject to a comprehensive background check