Police Leadership (From Police Human Relations, P 297-316, 1981, George Henderson, ed. - See NCJ-75046)

• NCJ Number: 75059
• Author(s): G Henderson
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 20 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This discussion of police leadership identifies the need for leadership, group dynamics, and the social sciences as key components of leadership studies, delineates characteristics of leaders, and identifies knowledge of group functioning as the key to good leadership.

Abstract

In the past half century, the study of police leadership has assumed critical importance because the rapid growth in the size and complexity of police organizations renders inadequate traditional police leader selection and training. Throughout history, leaders and philosophers have described leadership as resulting from a range of factors, including accidents to the desire for power. Moreover, the type of leader depends on how leaders are chosen. Three types of leaders and the processes they come from are discussed: charismatic, emergent, and elected. Characteristics of police leaders in particular fall into two categories: moral qualities allowing them to establish proper relationships and emotional climate with their subordinates, and problemsolving qualities. Moreover, police leadership cannot be understood apart from the leader-subordinate relationship. Police leaders must understand the significance of the group to its members and characteristics of the police group, such as its great solidarity. Effective police leadership will help officers identify with the group as well as the leader, encouraging that sense of belonging that leads to good police performance. Similarly, police leaders must be aware of all that influences the group, such as goals, informal norms, and patterns of interaction, as well as external factors. Police leadership style may be either autocratic or democratic; the autocratic style results in more hostility and lower morale but also higher quality work. Autocratic leadership is best in crises, while a democratic style is useful in guiding a group toward commitment to their mission. Constraints on police leadership are also covered. Thirty-six references are included.