NCJ Number
221857
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 75 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2008 Pages: 38,39,41
Date Published
January 2008
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article presents proven principles for how a police chief can have a long, secure tenure as chief.
Abstract
First, police chiefs should be honest with elected officials. The quality of the relationship between elected officials and police executives is critical to the success and tenure of chiefs. This relationship is undermined by a chief's deception and failure to provide truthful information and honest opinions in communications with elected officials. Second, they should seek continual personal and professional development. In order to address ever-changing and complex problems facing policing, police chiefs must continually update themselves on the nature of these problems and technologies and programs that have been developed to address them. Third, police chiefs must be strongly invested in service to the community, which includes always seeking new forums for positive community interaction. Fourth, police chiefs should stay close to their officers. This requires developing ways to identify officer needs and respond to them in effective and sensitive ways. Fifth, they should manage by walking around. This means the chief should make a special effort to leave his/her office and visit various departmental units, observe operations, and speak directly with police officers of all ranks, as well as civilian personnel. Other advice is to be a role model, develop a 5-year plan, maximize communication opportunities, wear the uniform, create a professional and ethical climate, be nice to fellow department heads, have a professional and contemporary policy manual, develop personnel, think strategically, and always do more than expected.