Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First-Line Leader, Fourth Edition

• NCJ Number: 227348
• Author(s): Gerald W. Garner
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 355 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Overview Text; Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This fourth edition provides more real-life examples of police leadership and adds a chapter that helps a first-line police supervisor plan his career future, as the book continues to guide veteran, novice and would-be police supervisors in performing leadership duties with "common sense," i.e., the use of life experiences, good judgment, prudence, and logical decisionmaking.

Abstract

The first two chapters examine the meaning of supervision and explain what an officer must know and do in making the change from front-line officer to first-line supervisor. Chapter 3 discusses the ethics and professional responsibilities of supervision, and chapter 4 describes the key features of leadership. Chapter 5 explores the police supervisor's tasks as an educator and trainer, and chapter 6 addresses the supervisor's role as an evaluator of employee performance. Chapter 7 considers the supervisor's role as a disciplinarian in correcting poor performance and/or misconduct; and chapter 8 focuses on the supervisor's duties as a planner in areas of policing that range from special operations to personnel deployment and personal goal-setting. Chapter 9 follows with an overview of the importance of communication, offering suggestions for improving skills in both oral and written communication. Barriers to effective communication are identified. Chapter 10 instructs supervisors in being an effective counselor in guiding subordinates through the problemsolving process with subordinates who are experiencing a variety of difficulties. Chapters 11, 12, and 13 guide the police supervisor in managing human and material resources, processing complaints and grievances, and dealing with some special problems such as surviving in the police organization while being an ethical leader. Supervisory tasks covered in the remaining four chapters include the supervisor's pivotal role in community policing, being an on-scene spokesperson to the media, relations with the community, and personal career planning. Chapter summaries and "points to remember," as well as a subject index