There is a continuing debate about whether an internal or external candidate is the best choice for police chief.  The truth is it depends, a lot, on the dynamics of the particular job being applied for. I was an internal candidate for police chief at the Marietta Police Department and did not get the job.  Just two years later, I was an external candidate for the police chief job at the Dunwoody Police Department and got the job. Of course, all candidates for the Dunwoody job were external candidates since it was a brand-new police department! Let’s examine the top six advantages of being an inside candidate for police chief. 1. Well Established Relationships The effectiveness of any police chief is predicated in part on having a good relationship with the community, department staff and the elected officials. An internal candidate typically has worked at the department for many years and built positive relationships with those three groups. Internal candidates answer thousands of calls for service, attend countless community meetings and participate in hundreds of citywide events all of which contribute toward that positive relationship. Similarly, having your fellow officers back over time and being there for each other through…

Recently, I was listening to the radio when a wonderful song by MercyMe titled, “Dear Younger Me” came on.  The lyrics are beautiful.   The song highlights how our lives and the choices we make would be different today if we could speak to our younger self. When I heard this song, I couldn’t help but think back to when I first started my career in law enforcement on October 15, 1981. Given the opportunity, what would I tell my younger self? #1. Put Family First The first and most important thing I would tell my younger self would be to put my family first.  No question about it. No one warned me of the dangers of getting too wrapped up in the job of a police officer, while ignoring my family. I spent a lot of time and energy climbing the corporate ladder, so to speak, and neglected my family.  I worked long hours, volunteered for special assignments and never said no.  I was rewarded by getting the assignments I wanted and being promoted, all at the expense of my family. When I speak to new hires today, I take the time to tell them how important it is for…

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Regan signed legislation declaring the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to honor his legacy of fighting for civil rights. The holiday happens to actually fall on his birthday this year. This holiday was celebrated for the first time in 1986. Day of Service In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act designating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday as a national day of service. All across our nation, thousands of volunteers donate their time in service to scores of worthy causes. This holiday has now become a “day on, not a day off.”   For police officers, every day is a “day on” in service to the communities we have been sworn to protect. The majority of people who become a police officer do so because of a strong desire to help others. It is almost ingrained in a police officer’s DNA.   In 1955, the Los Angeles Police Academy adopted the motto, “To Protect and to Serve” for their recruits. On November 4, 1963, the Los Angeles Police Department adopted this as their official motto.   Other police departments…