#68 - From Chief to City Hall Part 2 | Jim Devlin’s Next Chapter

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jim Devlin, we pick up with his transition from Police Chief to Assistant City Manager and what that move has taught him about leadership, succession planning, relationships, and service beyond the badge. Jim talks about the natural progression from leading a department to helping lead an organization, the importance of collaboration across city departments, and why relationship building remains one of the most transferable skills in local government. He also shares thoughts on mental health and wellness in city management, the value of professional development through the Texas City Management Institute, and the importance of regional partnerships in serving communities well. The episode closes with Jim’s advice for emerging public servants: know yourself, build relationships, stay humble, strive for excellence, and remember that people may forget the programs and projects, but they will remember how you treated them. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome Back to Part 2 00:57 - Moving from Police Chief to Assistant City Manager 06:17 - Skills That Transfer from Police Leadership to City Management 11:55 - Leadership, Wellness, and Taking Care of Yourself 12:45 - Mental Health in Public Safety and City Administration 16:53 - Burnout, Pressure, and Secondhand Smoke in City Leadership 19:43 - Texas City Management Institute 24:43 - Borrowing Good Ideas and Making Them Fit Your Community 25:51 - Hewitt, Waco, and the Real Central Texas 32:33 - Regional Partnerships and Shared Services 35:15 - Advice for Emerging Public Servants 38:05 - Is a Career in Public Service Worth It? 39:43 - Closing Thoughts Connect with Jim Devlin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-devlin-cpm-15886570/ The views and opinions expressed on The Clear Voice do not necessarily reflect those of Clear Career Professionals. The discussion of any company, product, or service is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement. Connect With Clear Career Professionals Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States. Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders. In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership. Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes.  Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro