Promoting Ethical and Effective Leadership

for Law Enforcement & Public Safety Organizations

Luke Sapolu

University of San Diego

LEPS 599 Integrative Capstone

 Promoting ethical and effective leadership for law enforcement and public safety

organizations is the foundation for continuous improvement and imperative to develop and

maintain trust with members of the community. Those who hold law enforcement leadership

positions understand the importance addressing concerns within the public effectively and

ethically. To accomplish this, continuous transparency with the public is absolutely necessary.

This will help to maintain trust and make determinations of how to handle controversial issues.

Tackling issues within an organization is also important. In many cases, this entails balancing

behavioral issues and diffusing conflict within an organization.

Currently, there has been many controversial issues between law enforcement and

community members. Although many incidents are uncontrollable, there are always ways to

improve and attempt to prevent future incidents. In my first paper FBI Director Comey Speech, I

highlight the important elements within his speech pertaining to organizational improvement and

addressing controversial issues. In my second paper Maintaining Transparency, I highlight the

importance of remaining transparent when those controversial issues arise. My third paper

Changing difficult behaviors, I summarize strategies to minimize difficult behaviors within an

organization.

On February 22, 2015, Former FBI Director James Comey spoke about the relationship

between law enforcement and the citizen’s in the community, specifically citizen’s of color.

Comey addressed the controversial issues that have led to this disconnect and how these issues

must be acknowledged to start the improvement process. In many cases, perception is reality.

Along with acknowledging these issues, community policing is essential to building relationships
and improving the perception of law enforcement of those we swore to protect. This speech has

helped me to realize and view the perspectives of community members and minorities.

Maintaining transparency is the first step to promoting ethical leadership. I believe it is an

expectation of those we serve and allows the community to hold law enforcement agencies

accountable. This assignment has outlined effective ways to address the media and the

community when controversial issues occur. Being prepared and predicting questions that may

be asked will help to maintain credibility while being unprepared can show untruthfulness,

having a negative effect on law enforcement. While it is important to remain transparent it is just

as important to protect the integrity of the investigation, making this topic important for law

enforcement leaders.

Effective leadership can only be possible when that leader has the ability to resolve

issues, change the behavior of themselves and the adversary you’re required to work with, and

choose the best method to doing so. Process awareness, constructive feedback, shared

responsibility, and support for change are discussed in my report Changing Difficult Behaviors.

My paper highlights the importance of self analyzing behavior to improve those around you.

This will help reduce tension, build moral, and improve organizational effectiveness.

In order for leaders to be promote ethical and effective leadership within law enforcement

agencies they must keep trust with members of the community while continuing to improve

those relationships. Leaders must also maintain transparency to allow for accountability and have

the ability to work well, effective, and efficiently with those within the organization.