NCJ Number
170687
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1997) Pages: 88-91,93,95
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A study was conducted to identify the leadership competencies perceived as essential for police practitioners in an environment that focuses on community participation, engagement, and problem solving.
Abstract
The research design for this project was qualitative, using the Delphi technique. The Delphi technique is a method of collecting and organizing expert knowledge and opinion on a subject in an effort to produce a group consensus. The convergence of group consensus is achieved through a series of three or more questionnaires that deal with a variety of questions on a single subject. An initial list of 30 leadership competencies was identified through a review of the literature on community policing and leadership. Thirty-two additional leadership competencies were volunteered by panel members. The study showed that the ability to communicate, identify problems, think critically, and engage in team building and group problem solving are highly rated leadership competencies associated with the police officer in a community policing environment. Implications of these findings are drawn for police education and training, as well as police recruitment efforts. 10 notes