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.
