Many times, I am often asked—what can I do to prepare myself to become a chief of police? There are several standards within the industry, such as completing your college degrees now. Have you attended a finishing school such the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course, the FBI National Academy, or Northwestern academies. Few agencies have the staffing depth and budget to allow you to attend. Additionally, many states have executive leadership courses offered by state and local academies, but in many times, you must be a chief before you can enroll. There are other ways you can prepare yourself and sharpen your resume.
Departmental Assignments—There are some assignments within a police organization that can give you preparation to become a chief. Can someone stay in patrol their entire career and become a chief ? Yes, it is possible, but there are assignments that will offer you particular insights that will prepare you to be a leader. There are the usual ones – Investigations, Professional Standards and Training. All three offer outstanding on-the-job training. Investigations offers you to work sensitive cases. You will interact with the leadership, for your results are important to the public’s view of the agency. Every chief will have personal contact with you over the pressures and views from the public. This can offer you great understanding of the worth of citizen perception.
Internal Affairs or Professional Standards—These can be critical to your knowledge. Working in internal affairs (I.A.) will increase your understanding of police conduct and service delivery as a boss. Sometimes, this office may include accreditation, which again is a bonus for your future. It is important you understand the development and application of rules, regulations and standards.
Become a Training Instructor at the local Academy and do not forget the citizen's police academy! Developing your presentation skills now will give you a leg up with public presentation skills that you will need. As a chief, you will go before governmental bodies and other organizations nearly every week. Public speaking is probably one of the most difficult things that any police officer will ever encounter, most will avoid it. Your time behind the podium in the classroom can help you. This can also help with your media interview skills.
Budgetary Training—One of the things that you must be able to show is that you can be the steward of a budget, and you can care for the financial well-being of an organization over a span of time. If you are not in the budget office, maybe you can do the following things, manage a grant or manage your special unit with its own organizational budget. If not, maybe you can be a financial manager of a private organization or a philanthropic organization, whereby you are showing the stewardship and responsibilities of managing others’ money.
Human resources experience is also paramount. If you are working in a union environment, have you ever served as a union steward or have you ever worked on a contract negotiations team. This will show that you understand the employment environment of which you may be overseeing. If you're in a non-union environment, one might work closely with your human resources and pick up a sort of training over benefits, grievances and the employee packages that help govern the lives of the employees.
Job description—Many times a candidate is asked – have you ever been a chief before? Does not seem to be a fair question, but most agencies want a track record, not wanting to take a chance on a first timer. Review your job description closely before you answer. Oftentimes there is an oversight or lack of understanding of what your experience may be. If you are from a larger agency, you may have managed a special or independent unit. This may exhibit how you can govern staff and its mission. Personally, it has always been an unfair question – have been a chief before? How can you become a chief and if you have never had an opportunity. Therefore, it is imperative that you a define past in a managerial experience.
What are the other things that you can do to hone your skill sets that would give you insights of what an executive office would offer. Here's just a list of things that I would recommend that you invest time in that may give you valuable insights.
Community outreaches—Attend community meetings and neighborhood watch meetings where you can interact with the citizens and gauge their expectations of law enforcement delivery. Teach in a community police Academy. The general populace does not really understand police service operations or delivery. You must hone your skills to reach all facets of those you serve. Have you tried to explain police service to a small group of citizens as well a large civic group? These varieties of forums may help you understand all your service population or customer base with their needs.
Special event management—This is another way to understand police delivery and management. Every agency must manage parades, community events, fairs and the like. This not only stresses law enforcement staffing but also puts public safety on full display with the community. Experience in event management allows you to work with the organizations that are not only organizing and delivering this event but also allows you more insights into what the community needs may be.
Public Meetings—Attend or watch (if broadcasted) to observe how department heads must face their councils or boards. Try to understand the process of budget presentations and how each bureau must champion their budget requests, that is one to pay close attention to. This is often an arena where all your skills are needed.
The spectrum of skills that a chief must possess are painted with a wide brush. If you get the job, on the job training is not always best. A mayor or council may only give you a couple of faux pas and you will be replaced. You will only perform to the level that you have prepared for. Most times, you do not have time to read a book, white paper or call in a consultant; you have got to act. Finally, adopt the ideal of servant leadership; in a nutshell, you develop people. Being a chief is like that of a coach. You arrive with your program, and you develop your team with your style of police service delivery. And as a coach, you are hired to be fired if you do not deliver, it’s a tough business but a rewarding one. Good luck.
William L. Harvey | Chief
William L. "Bill" Harvey is a U.S. Army Military Police Corps veteran. He has a BA in criminology from St. Leo University and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville (103rd AOC). Harvey served for over 23 years with the Savannah (GA) Police Department in field operations, investigations and completed his career as the director of training. Served as the chief of police of the Lebanon City Police Dept (PA) for over seven years and then ten years as Chief of Police for the Ephrata Police Dept (PA). In retirement he continues to publish for professional periodicals and train.
