Effective communication is critical for law enforcement agencies to build trust, improve leadership, and combat misinformation. In this episode, we are joined by Chief Chris Cook to discuss some best practices for strategic communication, including keeping employees informed first, giving meaningful feedback, and holding in-person briefings. Plus, we discuss why frontline supervisors play a crucial role in addressing rumors and misinformation. Tune in for actionable strategies to enhance communication and leadership in law enforcement.

Connect with Chief Cook

The Art of Strategic Communication by Chief Chris Cook

In this episode, we are joined by Chief John Cullison of the Celina Police Department to discuss his remarkable efforts in transforming organizational culture.

Key Takeaways:

• Strong Leadership and Direction: Leadership sets the tone, with clear vision and intentionality serving as the foundation for meaningful change. Passion alone isn’t enough—it needs direction to align with the agency’s goals.

• Building Trust and Positivity: Trust and positivity are cultivated through transparency, intentional communication, and treating one another with respect, both internally and with the community.

• Good Order and Discipline: Establishing clear expectations and fostering a disciplined, value-driven environment are essential for maintaining order and accountability.

• Value Alignment: Aligning the department’s core values with those of the city creates cohesion and ensures everyone is moving toward a shared vision.

• Commander’s Intent: Repetition of key messages through consistent behavior and communication reinforces expectations and cultural values over time.

• Emotional Intelligence: Hiring and developing individuals who fit the department’s cultural needs includes assessing and teaching emotional intelligence as a critical skill.

• Community Engagement: Actively participating in community events and being present fosters strong ties and mutual respect.

• Bold Leadership and Momentum: Leaders must be bold and persistent, ensuring the momentum for change continues even as challenges arise.

Connect with Chief Cullison:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-cullison-6ab8a8197

Reference:

Bouton, K. (2022, February 24). Recruiting for cultural fit. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/07/recruiting-for-cultural-fit

Resources:

Leading Change by John Kotter https://a.co/d/5yxdvqO

In this episode of the Chief's Catalyst Podcast, Aidan discusses hiring individuals that are a good organizational/cultural fit. Additionally, he discussing traits of high performers and the value they add to an organization.

Sources:

Bouton, K. (2022, February 24). Recruiting for cultural fit. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/07/recruiting-for-cultural-fit

Castrillon, C. (2022, June 28). 5 proven habits of high performers. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2022/01/19/5-proven-habits-of-high-performers/

Keller, S. (2017, November 24). Attracting and retaining the right talent. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/attracting-and-retaining-the-right-talent

This episode will give a short overview of some considerations to make prior to starting a technology implementation and some helpful steps to take along the way.

This episode focuses on strategic implications for public safety when considering the implementation of AI technologies. Research for this episode was conducted as a part of the Center for Strategic Thinking and Education in Public Safety and contains discussion on the benefits of AI, risks, and potential mitigation strategies.

References

Aggarwal, C. C., SpringerLink (Online service), & Springer Nature - Springer Mathematics and Statistics eBooks English International (2023). Neural Networks and Deep Learning: A Textbook (2nd ed. 2023.). S.l.: Springer International Publishing. 

Axon. (2024). Protect life in real time: Rtccs and the axon ecosystem. Protect Life. https://www.axon.com/news/about/protect-life-in-real-time 

Bostrom, D. N. (2002). Existential Risks: Analyzing Human Extinction Scenarios and Related Hazards. Journal of Evolution and Technology, 9. https://jetpress.org/volume9/risks.html 

Exec. Order No. 14110. (2023). https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/ 

Goodfellow, I., Bengio, Y., & Courville, A. (2016). Deep Learning. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. 

Google. (2020, December 23). AlphaGo. Google DeepMind. https://deepmind.google/technologies/alphago/ 

Gupta, N., & Mangla, R. (2020). Artificial Intelligence Basics: A Self-Teaching Introduction. Mercury Learning & Information. 

Haenlein, M., & Kaplan, A. (2019, August 1). A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: On the Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence. California Management Review, 61(4), 5 - 14. 

Manning, C. (2020). Artificial Intelligence Definitions. Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. https://hai.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/AI-Definitions-HAI.pdf 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2023) Risk Management Framework AI 100-01. US Department of Commerce. https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ai/NIST.AI.100-1.pdf 

Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA). (2024) Homeland Threat Assessment 2024. Department of Homeland Security. www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2023-09/23_0913_ia_23-333-ia_u_homeland-threat-assessment-2024_508C_V6_13Sep23.pdf 

OpenAI. (2024). Privacy policy. https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy 

PBS (Firm). (2019). In the Age of AI (Internet materials). PBS. 

PERF. (2023). STAFFING 2023. Police Executive Research Forum. https://www.policeforum.org/staffing2023 

HB2060, 2023-2024, 88th Legislature. (TX. 2023). https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB2060/id/2819574/Texas-2023-HB2060-Enrolled.html 

Rigano, C. (2019b). Using Artificial Intelligence To Address Criminal Justice Needs. NIJ Journal, (280). https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/252038.pdf 

Rotolo, D., Hicks, D., & Martin, B. R. (2015). What is an emerging technology? Research Policy, 44(10), 1827–1843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.06.006 

Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. (2023). National Artificial Intelligence Research and development ... National Science and Technology Council. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/National-Artificial-Intelligence-Research-and-Development-Strategic-Plan-2023-Update.pdf 

Smythe, C. (2024, January 29). City sued over multiple erroneous flock LPR camera-based stops. IPVM. https://ipvm.com/reports/flock-lpr-city-sued?code=lfgsdfasd543453 

Yeung, D., Khan, I., Kalra, N., & Osoba, O. A. (2021). Identifying Systemic Bias in the Acquisition of Machine Learning Decision Aids for Law Enforcement Applications. RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA862-1.html 

This episode discusses evidence-based leadership practices for public safety leaders implementing strategic and technological changes within a multigenerational workforce. This research was conducted as a capstone project for part of the FBI's Center for Strategic Thinking and Education in Public Safety (C-STEPS). References are listed below:

Batts, A. W., Smoot, S. M., & Scrivner, E. (2014, April 1). POLICE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES IN A CHANGING WORLD. Journal of Current Issues In Crime, Law & Law Enforcement, 7(2), 139 - 156. 

Decoster, S., Stouten, J., Camps, J., & Tripp, T. M. (2014). The role of employees’ OCB and leaders’ hindrance stress in the emergence of self-serving leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(4), 647–659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2014.02.005Links to an external site. 

Kehr, H. M., Graff, D., & Bakaç, C. (2022). Followers’ motives as moderators of the effects of transformational leadership behaviors on follower outcomes and leaders’ influence. Journal of Business and Psychology, 38(4), 865–886. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-022-09826-y 

Lowell, V. L., & Morris, J. (2019, July 1). Leading Changes to Professional Training in the Multigenerational Office: Generational Attitudes and Preferences toward Learning and Technology. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 32(2), 111 - 135. 

Lundmark, R., Richter, A., & Tafvelin, S. (2021). Consequences of managers’ laissez-faire leadership during organizational restructuring. Journal of Change Management, 22(1), 40–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2021.1951811 

Mirza, M. S. (2018, December 1). Is Your Organization's Strategic Focus Aligned With The Demands Of The Digital Age? Ensuring relevancy & congruency in leadership. Leadership Excellence, 35(12), 32 - 37. 

Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and Practice (9th ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). 

Notgrass, D. (2014). The relationship between followers’ perceived quality of relationship and preferred leadership style. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 35(7), 605–621. 

Santos, R. B., & Santos, R. G. (2012). The role of leadership in implementing a police organizational model for crime reduction and accountability. Policing, 6(4), 344–353. https://doi.org/10.1093/police/pas029 

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023a, September 6). Civilian labor force, by age, sex, race, and ethnicity. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/civilian-labor-force-summary.htm 

Yuwono, H., Kurniawan, M. D., Syamsudin, N., Eliyana, A., Saputra, D. E. E., Emur, A. P., & Jalil, N. I. A. (2023, December 15). Do psychological capital and transformational leadership make differences in organizational citizenship behavior?. PLoS ONE, 18(12), 1 - 20. 

In this episode, we are joined by CNA Analyst Amanda Bruner in a discussion on open data access, data cleaning, and the vital role an analyst can play supporting the department.

Resources:

Crime Analyst In Residence Program: https://crimeanalystinresidence.com/

Stratified Policing Book: https://www.amazon.com/Stratified-Policing-Organizational-Proactive-Accountability/dp/1538126567

This episode will focus on one aspect of the role of the Crime Analyst, their responsibility as the Master of Data, and how they can benefit agency leadership.

Episode 2 focuses on understanding law enforcement data and where it comes from.

This inaugural episode of the Chief's Catalyst is focused on understanding how law enforcement (public sector) leaders can leverage lessons learned from the private sector by using agency metrics to articulate crime reduction/enforcement efforts.