Graduates' perceptions of a 21st century law enforcement leadership training program.

摘要

There is little research into whether law enforcement leadership programs will reverse the negative issues facing the profession, or if graduates from such programs perceive the training as having a positive impact on these issues. This phenomenological case-study research explored the relationship between a Midwestern leadership training program geared specifically towards law enforcement personnel and graduates' perceptions of the training as to how it addressed the concerns of public trust and leadership development as related to the President's Task Force for 21st Century Policing.;This case study developed several themes through the issuance of questionnaires to graduates from a Midwestern leadership training course in-which a pool of 20 candidates were selected for a semi-structured interview. The response rate for the questionnaires was 65%, and the response rate to be considered for the interview was 42%. The findings of the interviews indicated that 85% of the graduates perceive their leadership training as having a positive and having a direct link to the skills needed by law enforcement leaders to counteract negative public perception and to re-build public trust. Additionally, the results showed that 90% of the interviewees responded favorably to the addition of leadership training as a requirement for all levels of law enforcement to rebuild trust with the public. Finally, the study found that 85% of the interviewees also agreed that additional criminal justice related educational and leadership training is needed for career opportunities, as well as a requirement for maintaining a leadership position within a law enforcement agency.