Leadership in a Police Organization - Research Paper Example

Leadership in a Police Organization In the U.S. Army, leadership is said to have four factors: a leader, a situation, communication and followers. (U.S. Army, 1983) Since every situation is different, a leader must know himself well enough to act appropriately and say the proper things. By doing so, he sets an example to his followers and encourages obedience. As the chief of police in the given scenario, I will initiate a dialogue between the two groups of officers. By opening the lines of communication, I hope to build a deep sense of trust among the members of the organization.

(Urguhart, J., 2005) By calling the attention of the harassing officers, I will also show that I do not condone the improper behavior and hope that my subordinates will adopt my example. Because the people in a police organization depend on each other, at times, even for their lives, there is a strong bond of loyalty tying one to the other which discourages them from speaking about each other’s misconducts. The whistleblowers broke this bond. As their leader, I will publicly applaud their courage to stick to their principles and go against the norm.

By doing so, I am subconsciously sending a message to the harassing officers that upholding the law should start amongst those enforcing it. Hopefully, this loyalty to principle will end the harassment and encourage the rest to behave appropriately. (Mullen, A., 2000) It is difficult to be a new leader in an environment such as a police organization. The relationship among its members is bound by a certain sense of devotion that can sometimes cause one to act unethically. However, it is a trait of a good leader to be able to assess the situation and take appropriate action which would serve as an inspiration to his followers.

ReferencesMullen, Ann. (November 2000). Breaking the Blue Code. Retrieved from http://www2.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=869Urguhart, J. (2005). Creating a Trusting Work Environment. Retrieved from http://www.leader-values.com/Content/detail.asp?ContentDetailID=918 U.S. Army. (October 1983). Military Leadership (FM 22-100). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.