re imagination of police leadership

04/09/231

Re – Imagination of Police Re – Imagination of Police LeadershipLeadership

Roy E. Alston, PhDSergeantDallas Police Department

04/09/232

Question… Question…

What thoughts come to mind when you think of the topic of this presentation?

04/09/233

Question… Question…

What thoughts come to mind when you think of

The Police Organization?

Police Leadership?

04/09/234

So, who are we… So, who are we…

The traditional model of policing is structured as a top down, para-military organization. Oftentimes, the system is autocratic and closed. Police agencies historically have featured a centralized authority, hierarchical decision-making structure , a high degree of division of labor and specialization with formalization and standardization.

04/09/235

And what are we offering… And what are we offering…

The dominant form of policing today continues to view police officers as automatons. Despite the awareness that they exercise broad discretion, they are held to strict accountability in their daily work. Police officers are often treated impersonally and kept in the dark about procedural matters. Officers quickly learn to conform to expectation – that non-thinking compliance is valued.

04/09/236

So, what do you think?So, what do you think?

Is this an accurate depiction of law enforcement?

04/09/237

What should we do?What should we do?

04/09/238


Law enforcement, as a whole, could do a better job of adapting practices from the military, business, higher education, and other sources when it comes to leadership, management, training, technology adaptation, and policy development and implementation.

- Mark Stainbrook, LT LA PD LTC USArmy,Fullbright

Fellow

04/09/239


04/09/2310


In order to meet a changing social mandate, police organizations must examine their values, beliefs, and operating systems to determine where changes are needed.

- Joe Hamilton, Major Kansas City PD

04/09/2311


04/09/2312

Specifically…Specifically…

Re – Imagine Police Leadership by reinventing the police supervisor!

04/09/2313

Why?Why?

Police supervisors/manager/administrators reared in the command/professional era (mid 1980s) of policing were/are resistant to change and reluctant to release control they have worked their entire career to achieve.

- Richard L. Cashdollar Captain, Retired USCG

Executive Director of Public Safety, Mobile, Alabama

04/09/2314

And who did they teach this to?And who did they teach this to?

Police supervisors/managers/administratorsreared in the late 1990’s.

04/09/2315

And who did they teaching this to?And who did they teaching this to?

Emerging Police supervisors and managers.

04/09/2316

Why start with police supervisors?Why start with police supervisors?

The first line supervisor is perhaps the most important part of any agency’s leadership team. The link between management and the line officer. They are the perpetuators of police organizational culture.

- Ben Click, Retired, Chief of Police, Dallas PD

04/09/2317

……and how do we go about this?and how do we go about this?

04/09/2318

……and how do we go about this?and how do we go about this?

We teach police supervisors how to Challenge police officersPush career developmentBe technically savvyGet officer inputSupport fair and ethical promotional

systemsPublicly acknowledge performance

04/09/2319

……and how do we go about this?and how do we go about this?We teach police supervisors how to

Ensure officers are familiar with career paths

Encourage officers to pursue the career path of their choice

Be forthrightRecognize the strengths and talents of

individual officersInfluence human behavior

04/09/2320

In short…In short…

We teach police supervisors how to lead before they become supervisors.

04/09/2321

Every officer a Leader!Every officer a Leader!

- Center for Creative Leadership

04/09/2322

04/09/2323

Leader development is a career long process

Organizations need a leadership system Leader development should be sequential

and progressiveCore leadership practices vary based on

organizational level Leader development is a leadership role

and responsibilitySenior leaders must create and maintain a

culture supportive of leadership development

04/09/2324

Leader development means change in beliefs, values, attitudes, knowledge and skills

Complete leader development process includes: – Formal education and training – In-Service

Collective Individual

– Learning through experience on the job Self-development (reading, reflection and

peer interaction)

04/09/2325

Questions…Questions…

04/09/2326

Thank You!Thank You!

Roy E. Alston, PhDSergeant of Police

Dallas Police Department214.578.9426

re imagination of police leadership

Documents