During Extra Duty Solutions’ first annual Leadership Summit, two distinguished speakers from the law enforcement community provided their insight on leadership.
Below are some of the most valuable takeaways from their presentations.
Chief John Letteney
Thomasville, GA Police Department, Vice President, IACP
- Your words and actions are your staff’s policies and procedures. So consistently set an example of fairness and credibility. And above all, respect each person’s viewpoint.
- Recognize your staff every time you can for their achievements by sending them handwritten thank you notes, birthday cards, certificates, etc. Such personal touches demonstrate how much you care about your team personally and professionally. When your team knows you really care, they are more likely to share your vision. A culture of caring will also inspire your officers to treat their colleagues and the public in a similar manner.
- Be honest with your staff about the good and the bad. Admitting one’s mistakes and then learning from them allows for better assessment and continuous growth. It also makes it far more likely that your team will meet obstacles head on, rather than avoid them.
- Set and communicate your expectations regularly with your staff, then hold yourself and your team accountable. By doing so, you’re more likely to meet or exceed organizational goals.
Chief Raymond Hayduka
South Brunswick, NJ Police Department
- Off-duty assignments improve public safety by being a force multiplier, increase an officer’s pay, and lessen the impact on on-duty officers, by allowing them to focus on pro-active policing. Municipalities also benefit by earning administrative fees.
- Off-duty assignments also have drawbacks, such as officer fatigue, dependency on the extra income, claims of favoritism, risk or insurance liability, and corruption. Your department can mitigate such drawbacks by implementing administration systems and platforms that promote fairness and transparency.
- Failing to train and properly supervise off-duty officers can lead to Monell claims (policies or procedures that violate federally protected rights). Accreditation through CALEA should address these issues.
- Law enforcement agencies should develop an off-duty employment policy that clearly describes payment terms, work hours, prohibited locations, eligibility, and standards.
