Leadership

Every police officer is a leader. The second you pin on the badge, the public looks to you for help. They don’t care how long you have been sworn, they just want and expect your help. How effective of a leader you are is determined by many factors. It is up to you to always be learning and seeking self-improvement to increase your ability to lead.

Leadership is a learned skill. These leadership traits are a guide for self-improvement. The three cornerstones of Leadership are Authority or the legitimate power, Responsibility or the obligation to act, and Accountability which is answering for ones actions. Police officers have all three of these cornerstones of leadership. Every police officer has the authority of the office, the responsibility to act, and the accountability of their actions, therefor are leaders in our community.

Leadership can be broken down into 14 traits. The leadership traits are Justice, Judgment, Dependability, Initiative, Decisiveness, Tact, Integrity, Enthusiasm, Bearing, Unselfishness, Courage, Knowledge, Loyalty, and Endurance.

Justice: I have never met a person, police officer or marine, who did not mind being dealt with firmly, as long as it was fair. A just person gives consideration to each side of a situation and bases rewards or punishments on merit.

I believe in being honest with yourself about why you make a particular decision. I also believe in avoiding favoritism. I try to be fair at all times and treat all things and people in an equal manner.

Judgment: The public looks up to police officers to make the right kind of judgment calls. When I get a new recruit to train, I tell them that the second they take the oath of office and pin on the badge, they are automatically a leader and they must utilize good judgment. Police officers expect the same from their leaders. And they watch their leader’s actions in the field and administratively. While in the field, police officers may only have about 60% of the information to make a decision. People lie and are not always forth coming with the truth. It is detrimental to the morale of the officers to second guess them when an administrator has the benefit of hindsight 20/20 information. Of course that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from our mistakes through constructive review. It just can’t be punitive.

Former Orlando Police Chief, Mike McCoy, taught me not make rash decisions when dealing with anyone I am supervising. He said that it helps to wait and to think about things clearly, calmly, and in an orderly fashion. You can improve your judgment if you avoid making rash decisions. Approach problems with a common sense attitude.

Dependability: In my mind, dependability is the most important leadership trait because it is the basis upon which all other leadership traits are built. It also is the basis for good solid teamwork. Dependability means that you can be relied upon to perform your duties properly. It means that you can be trusted to complete a job. It is the willing and voluntary support of the policies and orders of the department. Dependability also means consistently putting forth your best effort in an attempt to achieve the highest standards of performance.

I have been teaching police recruits to form the habit of being where they are supposed to be on time, not making excuses, and by carrying out every task to the best of your ability regardless of whether you like it or agree with it.

Police officers rely on each other to the point that they will put themselves in harm’s way to protect each other. They do this even if they don’t particularly like the other officer. They know that the other officer will do the same for them.

Initiative: Taking action even though you haven't been told has been a challenge in this Department’s culture. It has been often met with criticism from the management that believes in the philosophy of micro-management. The willingness and ability to meet new and unexpected situations with prompt action must be bread back into our officer’s psyche. Officers willing to use resourcefulness to get something done without the normal material or methods being available, must be rewarded and not crushed. An officer cannot have someone constantly looking over their shoulder, telling them what to do. An officer’s self-reliance will strengthen the Department as a whole and promote confidence, safety, and will be a huge benefit to the citizens of this community.

A true leader will give officers a task with general instructions and leave it to the officer to figure out the way they want to accomplish the task. If the officers are trained correctly and have practiced good judgment, the leader will trust the officers to complete the task. Officers want to take on the responsibility of a challenge and will use their initiative to accomplish it. I have taught new officers to be aware of things that need to be done and then to do them without having to be told.

Decisiveness: This means that you are able to make good decisions without delay. Obtaining all the facts and weight them against each other. By acting calmly and quickly, you should arrive at a sound decision. You announce your decisions in a clear, firm, professional manner.

I have told new officers to practice being positive in their actions instead of acting half-heartedly or changing their minds on an issue. Often they have to strike while the iron is hot, such as when they have a situation with exigent circumstances. They need to be able to think on their feet and adjust to changing circumstances. The worst decision in the world is to do nothing. This applies to the field and administratively. When officers go to their command with a problem or an idea, the command should not sit on their hands and allow a problem get absorbed into a black hole.

Tact: The ability to deal with people in a manner that will maintain good relations and avoid problems. It means that you are polite, calm, and firm. Officers should treat others as they would like to be treated.

People don’t always agree with one another. However, if both parties approach a disagreement with tact and common respect, at least there is a framework to tackle a problem. You have to give respect to receive respect.

Integrity: This means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. You put honesty, sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else. Integrity is doing what you are supposed to be doing and acting the way you are supposed to, even when someone is not looking. Without integrity, you are lost in this this profession.

Officers and the Department’s leadership should be absolutely honest and truthful at all times. They should stand up for what is right, even if it pisses someone off. Never underestimate a person who is willing to keep coming, and is morally right. Officers should also keep in mind that they themselves could be wrong about an issue and should have the integrity to admit that they are wrong rather that blame others.

Enthusiasm: A sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of your duties. If you are enthusiastic, optimistic, and willing to accept the challenges, this will transcend to the people you supervise and will make day to day duties easier to accomplish. Enthusiasm spreads like wildfire. Take advantage of it.

Most of us come into law enforcement with a lot of enthusiasm. But that enthusiasm came be easily turn to cynicism if an officer is met with constant stresses from their command. Allowing officers to approach law enforcement in the way holds their interest, is a good way to keep officers enthusiastic. One officer may love working traffic, while another may like working dope, and another may want to catch burglars. What is right and what is wrong? Don’t destroy an officer’s enthusiasm for the job by imposing your own will.

Bearing: Bearing is giving the appearance of a leader. Bearing is the way you conduct and carry yourself. Your manner should reflect alertness, competence, confidence, and control. For police officers, this is often referred to as officer presence. It is important that the public maintains their trust in our Department. Our bearing is the first thing that effect the way that we a perceived. Our leadership should also hold good bearing. If a supervisor is not holding their emotions at bay during a critical incident, junior officers will feed off of that emotion and will bring on a downward spiral of control of that incident.

Unselfishness: A true leader will put their troops before themselves and their career. You should avoid making yourself comfortable at the expense of others. Be considerate of others. Give credit to those who are deserving. Avoid using your position or rank for personal gain, safety, or pleasure at the expensive of others. It is equally important that we as police officers give back to the community. This fosters the trust between the Police Department and the citizens. People have to know that you care before they will trust you.

Courage: Courage is what allows you to remain calm while recognizing fear. Moral courage means having the inner strength to stand up for what is right and to accept blame when something is your fault. Physical courage means that you can continue to function effectively when there is physical danger present.

You can begin to control fear by practicing self-discipline and calmness. If you fear doing certain things required in your daily life, force yourself to do them until you can control your reaction.

Knowledge: Knowledge is something an officer should always be obtaining. You never will know everything and the second you stop learning, is when you have failed yourself. Knowledge is understanding the science and the art behind a subject. Your knowledge should be broad, and in addition to knowing your job, you should know the Department’s policies and the laws, legal updates, and keep up with current events. Increase your knowledge by remaining alert. Listen, observe, and find out about things you don't understand. Study intelligence and current trends in law enforcement.

Loyalty: Loyalty means that you are devoted to your country, the city, the department, the citizens, and to your seniors, peers, and subordinates. You owe unwavering loyalty up and down the chain of command, to seniors, subordinates, and peers. This does not mean blind loyalty. If your loyalty is balanced, cases where you have to stand up for what is right, will become clear. Loyalty works both ways. Not only should your subordinates be loyal to you, you should be loyal to them and take care of them.

Endurance: Endurance is the mental and physical stamina that is measured by your ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship. This job has its ups and downs. Enduring times of hardship as well as being gracious during the good times will reflect your character as a true leader. Do not throw a fit the first time you are disappointed in your career. Pushing through the times when you are exhausted during a shift and remaining alert is a good sign of endurance.

 

Leadership must be first learned, then earned.