Developing effective police leaders: Design and evaluation of leadership development programs for police

• In Event: Police Leadership: Assessments, Education, and Training

Abstract

Leadership is crucial to the success of organizations. Historically, police organizations have emphasized the use of authoritarian types of administration. However, given recent advancements in police practice, there has been an increased emphasis on developing leaders that are able to promote a culture of team collaboration, innovation and problem-solving (Baker, 2011, Schafer & Martinelli, 2007). Police leadership development programs have sought to adapt to these changing demands of policing however the effectiveness of programs and the transferability of learning remains largely unknown. Based on a sample of Australian police officers that completed an internal, organizationally-administered leadership development program, this research identifies those critical process factors (including macro organisational level and micro, program level factors) that are associated with positive leadership development program outcomes. The research provides the foundation on which an evidence-based framework that can be used by police organizations to develop and evaluate leadership programs is derived.

Authors

• Jonathan Lavin, Queensland Police Service

• Jacqueline Drew, Griffith University

• Shane Doyle, Griffith University