Few people would disagree with the statement that policing has changed dramatically over the last five years. There has been a considerable change in how we police, both good and bad, and in citizens’ expectations, both good and bad. There has also been a significant shift in the expectations of police chiefs and in the hiring process. But, despite these changes and challenges, if you are still interested in pursuing your dream of leading a team of men and women dedicated to serving their community, then I have one thing to say to you. Read on! Let’s discuss a few items of interest before I get into the meat of it. Recruitment and Retention Challenge Across the nation, law enforcement agencies are struggling to recruit and retain quality staff. Eligible officers are retiring. Others are exiting law enforcement stage left for a safer and less stressful career in the private sector. Recruitment numbers are down, and their qualifications are lacking. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) convened a one-day seminar titled “Best Practices & Innovations in Police Recruitment and Retention.” Over 200 police leaders from the country came together to discuss this critical topic. Although this conference focused on entry-level…

I know what you are thinking. What in the world is he talking about? I’m not crazy.  A City government decided to split the responsibilities of the Police Chief between two people and give them two different titles. The Decision The Mayor and Chief Administrator of the City of Albuquerque recently announced after an exhaustive search, that they appointed Harold Medina to serve as the Police Chief.  Chief Medina currently serves as the Interim Chief.  However, their announcement didn’t stop there. They also appointed another candidate, Sylvester Stanley, to a newly created Superintendent of Police Reform position. Click here to read an article about these appointments. Some people were disappointed that an internal candidate, Medina, was selected. But, at the same time, other people were cautiously optimistic that the new position can create more accountability within the Albuquerque Police Department. Duties & Responsibilities If you have two Police Chiefs, how do you divide up their duties? Here is what Albuquerque did. Chief Medina will be responsible for fighting crime, the recruitment of officers, and building morale.  On the other hand, Superintendent Stanley will be responsible for the Police Academy, Internal Affairs, and will work with the Department of Justice on…