“Police misconduct” is always a favorite topic of the media, and who can blame them? Exposing the dark side of those who are supposed to serve and protect makes for fascinating reading and viewing by the general public. And let’s face it; there is no shortage of fodder when it comes to our own bad behavior. Cops make mistakes, just like ...

We all know the type in policing. The guy or gal who is never happy. They manage to find fault with the administration, the public, and even fellow crime fighters. It’s an “Us vs. Them” world in their eyes. In a nutshell, this frowny-faced person is a downer and could be crowned the king or queen of morale busting. They practice ...

It's Not About You. Regardless of whether you are pursuing the chief of police position for an agency of 15, 150, or 1500, the over-arching theme is the same.  Yes, you should be quite proud that you are in the final three, and yes attaining the chief of police position will be the icing on the cake for your police career; ...

Prayer is the theme in concluding this article on uncertainty and chaos in the law enforcement profession. As I indicated previously, I’ve been intrigued by [gate] the comments in our social networking and online writing communities that refer to prayer by asking us to do so on behalf of deceased officers, families, and friends as well as those who live in ...

Allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct and excessive force have been the staple of sensational headlines and are made of the stuff that can be career ending even when proven untrue. While this article and writer absolutely condemn any kind of unethical or illegal sexually based conduct or excessive force by professional law enforcement personnel, some false claim situations do occur. Even ...

1. Search Every Room We were serving a search warrant with tribal police on a residence on Indian Land. The house wasn’t too big and we had a CI’s sketch of the interior. I’ve never liked relying on the word of a strung out informant but the boss had faith in it. For some reason, because two agencies were involved, they ...

As you progress through your first few years as a patrol officer, what supervisors and other officers think of you - and say about you - will play a large part in determining your success. Professionally, these years are where you will call the most attention to yourself and establish your reputation. You will feel pressure to simply blend in with ...

OK, you're testing for captain; expect the gloves to come off.  You are not a novice; you have elevated yourself from officer to sergeant to lieutenant.  The basics of oral boards are familiar to you; you have been through those challenges and have succeeded.  So how can they increase the difficulty for a captain-level candidate? They can make the questions more ...

2010 was a bad year for cops. 2011 hasn’t started out well either. I recently came across a startling anti-police blog that exclaimed, “2010 was the year of the riot and 2011 is set to be the year of the insurrection.” I’m not going to choke you with statistics because so much is already out there on the assaults and killings ...

Every television channel has an old, new or syndicated police drama airing sometime, somewhere. The public has a certain romance with law enforcement and why shouldn’t they? Hollywood and their rating systems have cashed in on white toothy smiles, good looking actors and actresses, witty dialogue, fancy suits, and the ability to efficiently wrap up the most difficult crimes in fifty ...

There was a time when an eager officer longing for more training opportunities could blame the training request denial on not being one of the “golden children” of the administration in power. With the advent of the economic downturn and a new era for law enforcement budgeting, denials have become the norm, rather than the exception. Training for law enforcers has ...

Rarely is there a bigger distraction in a police organization than when there is a change at the top. That distraction begins when the rumors start to fly that the current chief is leaving and continues through the early weeks of the new chief’s tenure. The reason for the distraction is simple: uncertainty. Fewer and fewer are the days when the ...

I still clearly recall the telephone call: I was recuperating at home from shoulder surgery that had taken place a few weeks earlier.  Because I was a captain at the time and responsible for a police district, my surgeon told me to stay out of work until I could safely handle my field and administrative responsibilities.  In the few weeks ...

As people of faith, we often wonder what we can do for others, especially for those in need. Ultimately, we seek help when things are out of our control and we can’t fix it. Is it a sign of powerlessness when we say, “We must pray for one another”? Spiritual leaders say that to do so is to acknowledge that we ...

The value system police managers create for themselves and those they oversee sets the stage for their eventual success or failure, so there are certain principles that must exist for the first line supervisor to excel. Most of us yearn for useful tips and frequently look for motivation from inspired writings with exhilarating new ideas. Leadership books have countless pages filled ...

As you are seeking to ascend to the number two position in your agency, much of what you learned about oral boards in prior promotion processes will not apply.  Yes, competency will still be a factor, but trust and working relationships will be very powerful forces, as well.  So, while it is still important that you know your stuff, be prepared ...

Congratulations, captain.  Your promotion will move you from mid-manager to manager.  You will wield more authority, supervise more people, and be closer to the top of the organizational chain than ever before.  Ideally, you are about to set yourself on a path of multiple successes.  How you start will be critical in determining how you succeed. Whether it is an advertisement ...

h4. Description Sometimes referred to as Senior Officer, Master Officer, or Officer I, this is a senior officer whose primary job function is to respond to 911 calls for police service. This officer acts as the senior officer on the shift and calls the shots in the absence of the corporal or sergeant. h4. Testing Requirements None. Promotions to Officer First ...

(Dedicated to all of my teachers… To all who instructed me in my career... and to all who have instructed Peace Keepers... and to those who currently instruct Peace Keepers.) The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with the educational process. He argued, "What's a student going to learn ...

You're leaving the service and are faced with the daunting task of developing your resume. Your military career is filled with accomplishments, but even the most decorated veteran needs to figure out how to effectively communicate and sell those successes in civilian terms. Follow these tips to draft a high-impact resume that shows how your military experience is transferable to a ...