Meet John Bruce

Candidate for Klickitat County Sheriff

John Bruce

Resume

Education

Master of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 1994
BA, Sociology, magna cum laude, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 1992

Work Experience

Richland Police Department, Richland, WA June 2019 – January 2022

Chief of Police, Director of Benton County Emergency Services

Led department of 68 sworn personnel and 77 civilians with a $23 million budget in growing community of over 60,560 people.
Managed daily departmental operations, including resource planning, staffing, development, promotions, budgeting and forecasting.
Presented updates and strategic topics to city management, council, community/business groups, city staff, volunteers, conferences, news outlets, and legislators.
Partnered to build strong working relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and elected officials.
Implemented new software for document management and policy management.
Implemented new policy manual.
Worked with outside consultants to steer strategic planning process for regional communications center.
Assisted with planning and execution of Continuity of Operations for the City during the pandemic.
Coordinated Incident Command System training for City of Richland executive staff.

Frisco Police Department, Frisco, TX May 1996 to June 2019

Chief of Police February 2013 to June 2019

Led department of 215 sworn personnel and 115 civilians with a $44 million budget in fast-growing community of over 185,000 people with a large entertainment, retail and restaurant population.
Managed daily departmental operations, including resource planning, staffing, development, promotions, budgeting and forecasting.
Presented updates and strategic topics to city management, council, community/business groups, city staff, volunteers, conferences, and news outlets.
Testified before Texas Legislature on numerous topics.
Defined a new five-year-goals approach based on a “service, learning and leading” framework and 21st Century Policing Blueprint that changed the culture and focus across the organization.
Based on the Dallas 2016 tragedy, successfully negotiated with city manager on a mid-year budget adjustment to purchase heavy armor plates, helmets and rifles.
Partnered to build strong working relationships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and elected officials.
- Partnered with five large-city police chiefs to develop a state-certified regional academy in 2017.
- Actively participated in North Texas Major Cities Chiefs and federal agencies networking group.
- Partnered with community members and organizations to solve neighborhood problems and ensure public safety.
- Developed concept and implemented “Your Community, Your Commitment” initiative in 2018.
Partnered with the police association to redesign the annual award program and staff promotion ceremonies, bolstering engagement and increasing morale, participation and retention.
Empowered team to develop “Top Ten” program to address high-frequency criminals.

Interim Chief of Police October 2012 to January 2013

Completed review of departmental operations and planning.
Partnered with division heads to begin annual budget process.
Managed accreditation process

Assistant Chief of Police December 2003 to September 2012

Assisted chief of police with administration, development and direction of police personnel.
Oversaw four direct reports, including managing performance, hiring and career development.
Managed budgeting, policy/procedure development, administrative duties and overall department operations.
In partnership with command staff, served on team overseeing construction of new police facility. Led design and buildout of building security.
Developed and improved the five-year strategic plan.
Managed accreditation process and served in interim role as accreditation manager to establish the initial on-site for CALEA accreditation. Hired and trained a new accreditation manager.
Directed “Burglary of Vehicle 25%/25%” initiative that significantly reduced vehicle burglary to less than 70 per month for a community of 250,000 vehicles.

Captain of Police February 1998 to December 2003

As one of two captains, assisted chief of police with administration, development and direction of police personnel.
Managed budgeting, policy and procedure development and administrative duties, deploying forecasting tools for budgeting and personnel requests.
Oversaw services bureau from 1998 to 2002, including communications, community services, investigations and technology.
In 2002, transferred to oversee operations bureau, including communications, traffic and technology.
Implemented a three-city, 800 MHz, trunked radio system that enabled Frisco to have independent capability with cities of Allen and Plano and reduced costs.
Installed and implemented a major upgrade to the records management system.
- Enabled first-ever mobile data computers in Frisco PD and fire vehicles.
- Partnered with Texas DPS to become certified NIBRS compliant since 1998.

Detective Sergeant May 1996 to February 1998

Oversaw investigations division, including case assignment/preparation, warrant service and court testimony.
Developed property room policy and organized and inventoried property room.
Developed methods and procedures guidebook for building and filing criminal cases.
Co-developed and supervised the city’s first special operations tactical unit.

Allen Police Department, Allen, TX June 1986 to May 1996

Patrol Officer

Served as detective for six years and training officer for one year.
Helped create patrol-based crime prevention unit and part-time bicycle patrol unit.

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), United States, Mexico December 2008 to Present

Assessor/Team Leader

Evaluate public safety management policies, procedures, practices and activities to ensure compliance.
Prepare reports highlighting agency practices and compliance with standards.

Professional Development

Certified, Executive Certification, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center, 2020
Certified, Middle Management Certification, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center, 2020
Completed Equivalency Academy, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center, 2019
Graduate, Senior Management Institute for Police, PERF, 2017
Completed, Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, FBI-LEEDA, 2012
Completed, Leadership in Police Organizations, IACP, 2011
Completed, FBI National Academy, Session 216, FBI National Academy Associates, Inc.,2004
Completed, Leadership Command College, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, 1998
Certified, Master Peace Officer, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, 1996
Completed, School of Police Supervision, Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute, 1996

Professional/Board Memberships

Executive Partner, Support, Advocacy, and Resource Center (SARC), Richland, WA 2019-2022
Co-Chair, Tri-Cities Coalition Against Trafficking, Richland, WA 2019-2022
West Coast Regional Chair, international Association of Chiefs of Police Midsize Agencies Division, 2019-2022
Executive Partner, Children’s Advocacy Center for Denton County, Lewisville, TX, 2018 to 2019
Past Chairman (one-year rotation), Advisory Board Member, North Texas Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, Dallas, TX, 2015 to 2019
Executive Partner, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Plano, TX, 2013 to 2019
Advisory Board Member, Law Enforcement Academy, Collin College, McKinney, TX, 2013 to 2019
Executive Advisory Board Member, North Central Texas Fusion Center, McKinney, TX, 2013 to 2019
Member, Texas Police Chiefs Association, 2013 to 2019
Member, North Texas Police Chiefs Association, 2013 to 2019
Member, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Washington, DC, 2013 to present
Member, FBI – Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA), 2012 to present
Lifetime Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police, 1999 to present
Lifetime Member, Leadership Command College Alumni Association, Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, 1998 to present
Member, Texas Police Association, Austin, TX, 1998 to 2019
Former Scout Master, Crew Advisor and Merit Badge Counselor, Boy Scouts of America, 2007 to 2017
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, 1979

Community Involvement

Community Grace Brethern Church, Goldendale, Washington 2023 to present
- Elder
- Youth Leader
- Awana Game Director