Leadership: Implement Training Program Prior To Promotion

Law enforcement agencies and their officers are being looked at through a microscope these days because of the professionalism as leaders while doing their duty. Externally, supervisors are being blamed for not supervising their officers out in the field, which is pointing out officer’s mistakes by citizens and the media. Law enforcement agencies and the upper chain of command need to be more aggressive when it comes to leadership training. The problem being seen by executives and officers is that officers are getting training after they are being promoted to the next rank. This does no good for officers to have no leadership skills prior to being promoted. Agencies would be setting up officers for failure in their career if they continue to allow this to happen in the future. Finding a department’s identity is crucial, not only for the department but for the image that they want the public to view. Individual growth is something that every officer strives for in a career in law enforcement. They can identify their role in their departments and can see what type of leader they are as a person. A team mindset is what a chief of a department strives for in his organization. Working together for a common goal is important. In the state of Texas, it is not be required to have leadership training, but officers need to develop these specific skills. Limited budget and limited time maybe the cause of lack of training, but if one looks in the right places, one will be able to find the leadership programs that are needed for the future generation of leaders