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Finding and cultivating great police leaders is all we do.

We are a premier, boutique-style, national search firm focused solely on recruiting top police executives for our clients.

Our team includes former police chiefs who have more than 60 years of combined public sector leadership and recruiting experience.

Our extensive national network of police leaders helps us to identify highly qualified candidates. This network includes our affiliation with associations that seek to advance police executives from traditionally underrepresented groups.

Public Sector Search & Consulting believes the police executive search process should be inclusive and transparent. In every project, we provide our clients with many options and a framework to incorporate stakeholders (the community, clergy, employee, and advocacy groups) into their search.

Boutique-Style Approach, Personalized Service

We’re different from other recruiting firms because we offer a more personalized approach.

At PSSC, we purposefully limit the number of searches we undertake to ensure each client receives outstanding customer service. Our recruiter is your sole point of contact and will lead the search from start to finish. We have fewer management layers and open and direct communications, which helps us streamline your search.

Our leadership team includes seasoned professionals—industry experts with the ideal blend of public- and private-sector experience.

Gary Peterson

President/CEO – Chief of Police (Ret.) See More

Trish Peterson

Executive Vice President – Operations See More

Mark Helms

Senior Consultant – Chief of Police (Ret.) See More

Justin Doll

Senior Consultant – Chief of Police (Ret.) See More

Kenton Buckner

Senior Consultant – Chief of Police (Ret.) See More

Our track record speaks for itself.

We have conducted national police chief searches for cities, towns, universities, and community colleges. Our recruiters have led the following searches over the past several years:

2025
  • Florida State University – Deputy Chief
  • Alamo Colleges District
  • Anaheim, CA
  • Amarillo, TX
  • Gig Harbor, WA
  • University of Oklahoma
  • Lancaster, PA
  • Whitehall, OH – Deputy Chief
  • George Washington U.
  • Dallas, TX
  • Denver RTD
  • Dallas, TX – Fire Chief
  • LA Metro
  • Fresno, CA
  • Miami Township, OH
  • Edgewater, CO
2024
  • Des Moines, IA
  • Aurora, CO
  • Los Rios CCD, CA
  • Baltimore City Schools, MD
  • Spokane, WA
  • Boise, ID
  • Oklahoma City, OK
  • San Jose, CA
  • Pinole, CA
  • Overland Park, KS
  • Eloy, AZ
  • LaVista, NE
  • Seattle, WA
  • Univ. of Texas System – Director
  • University of Pittsburgh – Deputy Chief
  • Cal Poly Pomona – Lieutenant
2023
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Killeen, TX
  • CSU, San Bernardino
  • St. Joseph, MO
  • Cal Poly Pomona – Lieutenant
  • Ithaca, NY
  • University at Buffalo, NY
  • Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
  • Columbia, MO
  • Chicago, IL
  • Wheat Ridge, CO – Division Chief
  • Louisville, KY
  • Steamboat Springs, CO
  • Seattle, WA – Deputy Chief
  • Seattle, WA – Asst. Chief
  • Bellevue, WA – Assistant Chie
2022
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Aurora, CO
  • Wichita, KS
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Seattle, WA
  • Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY)
  • Irving, TX
  • Shaker Heights, OH
  • Edgewater, CO
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Cal State University, Fullerton
  • Cal Poly Pomona
  • Laramie, WY
  • Western Washington University
  • Lakewood, WA
  • Rochester, NY
2021
  • Bellevue, WA
    Assistant Chief
  • Northglenn, CO
    Deputy Chief
  • Tiburon, CA
  • Opa-Locka, FL
  • San Jose, CA
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Pensacola, FL
  • Lancaster, PA
  • Lacey, WA
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Northern Illinois University
  • Steamboat Springs, CO
  • Lansing, MI
  • Albuquerque, NM – Deputy Chief
2020
  • Dallas, TX
  • Nashville, TN
  • Beacon, NY
  • Wheat Ridge, CO
  • Boulder, CO
  • Thornton, CO
  • Sonoma State University, CA
  • Mott Community College, MI
  • Long Beach, NY
2019
  • Yakima, WA
  • Redmond, WA
  • Payson, AZ
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • Wheat Ridge, CO
2018
  • Seattle, WA
  • Seaside, CA
  • Albany, NY
  • Syracuse, NY
  • University at Buffalo (SUNY)
  • Rohnert Park, CA
    Director of Public Safety
2017
  • Sacramento, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • UCLA
  • Fairfield, CA
  • UC Davis
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Dallas, TX
  • Los Rios Community College, CA
2016
  • UC San Francisco
  • Shafter, CA
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