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40 Law Enforcement Technology July 2014 www.officer.com LEADERSHIP E ven before you become a chief or sheriff, you will have to attend the dreaded community meeting. It is our nemesis, and many careers have taken a nose dive due to a faulty public meeting performance. I don't care how well you can delegate others, sooner or later you have to attend. There is a tactical science in preparing for and surviving these things. I have been going since the days of community policing and still do. There are no boiler plate directions to get you through this, but I will offer you some lessons learned. Wear your uniform. I was taught that if you've messed up, go "dress up and 'fess up." Not that we mess up all of the time and have to face the fire, but this old saying has some solid points. As a young lieutenant I was conduct- ing a community meeting when a few folks came up to me asking where the chief was. In this case the new chief was in a business suit, as many chiefs and sheriffs wear one daily. One gentleman stated he could not tell the chief from an insurance salesman. This made me How to survive a community meeting B Y W I L L I A M L . H A R V E Y Every chief and sheriff has to attend them, but do you know how to survive one? robot technology solutions Circle 67 on Reader Service Card LET_40-42_CommunityMeetings0714.indd 40 6/25/14 12:03 PM