Here are the leadership textbooks
you should use to prepare for your promotion in a police
or sheriff's department. Police promotion exams with up to 500+ questions, from over
100 great textbooks, are now available. There are also other resources
listed YOU need to
develop YOUR law enforcement leadership skills!
What are the best textbooks to study TODAY for YOUR
police leadership exam?
"I have not ever written, and will never write, a single
promotional exam question on the topic of leadership from a book
written by someone who has not experienced the unique
responsibility for the outcome of their decision during a law
enforcement
life and death incident."
- Lt. Paul Patti (ret)
Yes, leadership can be learned, and developed. There are some
persons more able to lead than others are - but no aspect of
leadership knowledge and skill is out of reach for the modern law
enforcement supervisor, manager and administrator if they are
willing to develop the knowledge and skills needed.
There is
an immense volume of
information on leadership. However I am going to focus on Police and
Law Enforcement Leadership "almost" exclusively.
Why? Well, those
trendy touchy-feely leadership books written for the business
market, in my humble opinion, most are no match for the leadership
titles written by lifelong, dedicated law enforcement professionals
who have lived the life, talked the talk, and walked the walk. I
have read many of them, as well as all the police leadership titles
below.
"What about the U.S. Military leadership books?" you
ask.
Great question. Our missions are similar. Many law
enforcement leaders have had distinguished military careers. They
know all about life-and-death decisions under stress, and they
certainly stand
accountable for those leadership decisions.
Still - very few
can translate into law enforcement leadership use. We should not be writing our
exams from their army field combat, S.E.A.L. or submarine leadership
textbooks, and they should not be writing their military leadership
exams from our civilian law enforcement leadership textbooks. We are
on the same ocean, but not in the same boat. Steers differently. So
for the most part - No.
My BEST piece of advice on this page? Simple -
if you are heading to a supervisory or management promotion of any
type - buy and read all of these police leadership books - NOW.
These my favorite
ones (not in any order);
Challenging
the Law Enforcement Organization - Proactive Leadership Strategies by
Jack Enter, Ph.D.
From me; Great book. Well written, no jargon. Short enough but not too short.
You should read it, then put it down for a month or two, then read
it again. From the publisher; Among the topics discussed are
chapters on the impact of living and policing an unskilled and
violent society, why law enforcement managers fail to successfully
impact their agencies, and chapters on self-management,
communication, motivation, and being more effective in our personal
lives. Many of these latter “strategy” chapters have examples of
proactive techniques used by law enforcement managers as well as
“action items” to apply the principles examined in each chapter.
Visit us for the
Challenging the Law Enforcement Organization exam, test questions,
study guide and flashcards.
Effective
Police Leadership - Moving Beyond Management, by Thomas E.
Baker. From me; A very important leadership book I
have used often to write a
police
leadership exam. From the publisher; In this much-anticipated
5th Edition, Tom Baker
expands on the revolutionary leadership insights that made his first
two editions so popular. This enhanced and expanded version explores
even more strategies that help agencies, administrators and officers
leverage crime data more efficiently and effectively. From
explaining what a leader must be, do & know, to plans for putting
expert-level leadership skills to work immediately, Effective Police
Leadership is gold for law enforcement leaders. Great leaders aren't
born, they're made...and this book makes them! Visit us for the
Effective Police Leadership exam, test questions, study guide and
flashcards.
Leading
Cops in Turbulent Times by
Capt (ret) George Saadeh.
From me; Excellent new leadership and management title.
Well-researched timely perspective on police leadership. Now being
used in police sergeant, lieutenant, captain and upper management
exams. From the publisher; Leading Cops in Turbulent Times is a
clear roadmap to building high-performing organizations and teams
for current or aspiring public safety leaders. Whether you're a
police sergeant, lieutenant, captain or even Chief or Sheriff, this
book will help you build or improve the hard and soft skills that
are essential to great leadership. It is replete with practical,
common-sense advice and examples from historical figures and
contemporary leaders that will crystalize in your mind how to build
or improve your leadership skills.
Visit us for the
Leading Cops
in Turbulent Times exam, test questions, study guide and flashcards.
Fixing
Broken Windows - Kelling and Coles. From me; This is an in-depth
and comprehensive textbook that details the 1990s experience of
police agencies around the nation implementing "order maintenance"
as a focus in order to cut back crime. There has been a resurgence
of interest in the Order Maintenance / Broken Windos / Crime
Reduction topics and this textbook has started to be used in
promotion exams.
Police
Leadership and Administration: A 21st-Century Strategic Approach
- Walsh and Vito First Edition 2018 - Police Leadership and
Administration trains police leaders and managers to search for
strategic solutions, rather than relying on old formulas and
scientific management principles. It shows how to tailor responses
to the unique problems and issues that law enforcement professionals
are likely to face in the complex field of police leadership,
providing a foundation with which to adapt to an ever-changing
criminal justice climate. This book is essential for
forward-thinking police leadership courses in colleges and
professional training programs. This textbook is an excellent
candidate for police promotion exams for the rank of lieutenant,
captain and higher management and executive posiitons. Visit us for the
posted 380+ question exam for
Police
Leadership and Administration: A 21st-Century Strategic Approach.
Leadership
and Management in Police Organizations - Giblin 1E From Me:
Excellent new title with an emphasis on applying classic studies of
leadership and police management to the new organizational problems
law enforcement faces today. From the publisher; Built on a
foundation of nearly 1,200 references, Leadership and Management in
Police Organizations is a highly readable text that shows how
organizational theory and behavior can be applied to improve the
operations, leadership, and management of law enforcement. Author
Matthew J. Giblin emphasizes leadership and management as separate
skills in successful police supervisors and executives, illustrating
to students how the two skills combine to improve individual and
organizational efficacy in policing. Readers will come away with a
stronger understanding of why organizational decisions matter and
the impact research can have on police departments. Visit us for the
Leadership and Management in Police Organizations - Giblin 1E exam,
test questions, study guide and flashcards.
Leadership,
Ethics, and Policing: Challenges for the 21st Century - Patrick
J. Ortmeier and Edwin Meese III. From me; A classic often-cited and
used textbook in law enforcement promotion. From the publisher; From
street cop to chief, this guide develops a wide-range of ethical
leadership skills applicable to all police ranks. Moving beyond
incident-driven techniques, the book embraces problem-oriented,
intelligence-led policing and integrates both ethics and leadership
concepts. This edition includes two new chapters to address today’s
environment–one on Homeland Security and one on strategic policing.
New case studies, examples and applications appear throughout the
text and help officers develop essential ethical leadership
competencies. For courses in Police Leadership, Administration,
Management, Ethics and Supervision. Visit us for the
Leadership, Ethics, and Policing exam, test questions, study guide
and flashcards.
Police
Leadership - Organizational and Managerial Decision Making Process -
Maria R. Haberfeld, Ph.D. From me; An excellent work that is
under-rated and under-utilized. From the publisher; Police organizations
are much more accountable to their publics than ever before. Police
Leadership: Organizational and Managerial Decision Making
Process examines why and how decisions are made and what can be done
to direct current and future law enforcement leaders to rethink and
adjust their decision making processes to keep up with the demands
of our constantly changing society. The text discusses how police
organizations function and respond based on the type of leadership
and driving policies present in police organizations, and provides
ideas about the best ways of dealing with the challenges and
organizational problems that police agencies face every day. Visit
us for the
Police Leadership exam, test questions, study guide and flashcards.
Rising
Through The Ranks - Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law
Enforcement. From
the Author and Publisher: Effective leadership is a journey, not a
destination. Rising through the Ranks will be the starting point in
that journey for thousands of men and women in law enforcement.
Telling real stories of leadership and courage from police
departments and investigative agencies, former DEA Leadership Fellow
and Pittsfield, Massachusetts Police Chief Mike Wynn is the perfect
author. As the only book of its kind, Rising through the Ranks will
prepare effective leaders from local police officers to federal
agents. From me: This is a short but very descriptive and
hard-hitting book on leadership and courage in the face of
adversity. Very good choice for promotion "through the ranks" from
corporal through captain.
Rising
Through the Ranks promotion exam, test questions, study guide and
flashcards.
Police
Administration - A Leadership Approach - Ortmeier, Davis. From
me; A comprehensive work on management, with some focus on
leadership. Definitely worth your reading time, especially for
captain and higher ranks. From
the publisher; Police Administration: A Leadership Approach was
written to support the need for a text that addresses supervision
and management as well as ethics, leadership, and the principles of
policing that form the foundation for efficient, effective, and
lawful administration of the modern police service. Unlike other
texts, this book blends theory with practice. It presents a
foundation for the administration and management of a police agency
in a logical, flexible, and understandable step-by step process.
Visit us for the
Police Administration - A Leadership Approach exam, test questions,
study guide and flashcards.
Paradoxes
of Leadership in Police Management - Douglas Perez and Michael
Barkhurst. From me; This book is a little out of the mainstream of
police leadership titles, but that's what makes it so interesting.
The book is centered on the concept that every leadership action or
decision will likely have negative unintended consequences, and each
decision does in fact create often hidden "paradoxes." This book
helps spot and act on those paradoxes. I found it a very good read
and worthy of police promotion exams. From the publisher;
This book helps current police leaders, and would-be leaders, as
they strive to effectively direct a group of unique and powerful
individuals: police officers. The work day of a police officer is
replete with paradox, making the job of leading police difficult and
potentially frustrating. This book provides real life examples based
on a theoretical framework. This book discusses the police officer's
experience including the multiple, conflicting, and sometimes vague
nature of police functions and goals; the creation of mission
statements; organizational structures; teaching communication skills
to young officers; coaching and mentoring police officers; and the
complicated job of assessing the job done by law enforcement. The
book also deals with the development of police ethics, comparative
accountability mechanisms, and alternative modes of discipline,
expanding these discussions into a three-tiered view of police
leadership (the roles of sergeant, middle manager, and chief). Visit
us for the
Paradoxes of Leadership in Police Management exam, test questions,
study guide and flashcards.
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topics.
Send me written exam, oral board and assessment center questions you have faced
- one of the column features is that I will research and comment
on written exam or assessment center questions you have heard,
answered or encountered and that you are unsure or curious
about. We will be glad to give you our expert opinion on
questions you have seen asked on exams and exercises. Send your
questions to me directly -
Paul@PoliceCareer.com.
Case
Law Pro is
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upcoming exams and assessment center exercises!
CaseLawPro
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updated and tested - ready for the next round of promotion exams
and assessments!
Police Leadership Questions that
typically appear in Sgt. and Lt. promotion exams
Open door policies A always work B seldom work C never
work [simple leadership question, about 60% get it wrong]
What is the usual response to the problem employees? A to
avoid their complaints give them the easiest, choicest
assignments B give them no tasks assignments C ignore them
Most of us fail ultimately because leadership A requires the
positive participation of too many people. B is anathema
within any organizational culture. C is contrary to human
nature and rare in the law enforcement culture. D all of the
above [not the answer]
Leadership may be the hardest thing to do in human experience.
If you fail to believe that, A you have taken the first steps
toward true leadership. B you will always fail as a leader.
[simple leadership question, about 80% get it wrong]
Sign
up for our police promotion newsletters. You will be able to
take free promotion exams online to try out our system, and also receive
information on police oral boards, in-basket and assessment center
topics.