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L aw enforcement veterans will tell you that you should always be thinking about what you want to do next. Do you aspire to advance in public safety? Or, do you intend to retire and start another career? Knowing your goals will help you to make the right decisions to get the education and experience you need to reach those goals. Refine your leadership experience Tim Hardiman, a 23-year veteran of the NYPD who retired as an inspector serv- ing as the commanding officer of the 47th precinct in the Bronx, recommends officers request assignments that have leadership components. Opportunities are everywhere, and can present themselves when you least expect it...so it's important to always be prepared, said Scott Roberts. Roberts has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years, starting as a corrections officer in Connecticut. He eventually transferred to a probation agency in Georgia, where he worked directly with police officers to locate wanted fugitives. This experience inspired him to go to the academy to become a sworn officer. After graduating, he worked as a police officer for several city and county agen- cies in Georgia. In one agency, Roberts rose to the rank of captain, making him second-in-command and then, due to sudden staffing changes, found himself in the role of interim chief. "When I went to work that day I did not think I would leave as the one in charge, but sometimes that's how it happens. So you always need to be learning and improv- ing your skills," he said. "You never know when the window of opportunity will open—sometimes you find it, other times it finds you!" While his role as chief was intention- ally short-term, the experience gave Roberts a taste of what it was like to hold a command position and he knew he wanted more. "That experience was my drive to go back to school because I wanted to work my way through the ranks and have the education to go with it so I could get back to that command position, and hopefully be chief again one day," he said. While not everyone will get this kind of opportunity, it is important for officers to seize every available chance to display leadership qualities. Volunteering for roles shows ambition and dem- onstrates to superiors that you want additional responsibility. One can also learn from the experience. Good lead- ers take responsibility for decisions and recognize that mistakes are often the best learning opportunities. It is also important to document these experiences. Take notes (either mentally or physically) about each lead- ership role. This exercise can help you consciously reflect on the experience and look at it from a wider perspective. It can help you learn from the experience and make adjustments. Just as impor- tant, this can also help you present the situation and lessons when it comes time to apply for that promotion. If you have given your leadership experience some deliberate thought and reflection, it will show through during your interview. Remember that teamwork is key Never forget the adage: A leader is only as good as his (or her) team. Like it or not, your career success often depends on how well you work with others. Beyond just career success, though, the reality is that your life and the lives of your fellow officers depend on the exis- tence of strong teams. As a law enforce- ment leader, it is very important for you to communicate and demonstrate the importance of team work. Dr. James Reilly knows firsthand what it's like to have to depend on a teammate in life-threatening situations. He spent 13 years as an astronaut for NASA and ventured into space on three missions, completing five space walks. During these space missions—characteristically last- ing about two weeks—all the astronauts worked 16-hour days, completing many tasks where any level of failure could lead to death. Currently, Reilly is associate vice president at American Public University System (APUS) and has spent the last year traveling the country giving presenta- tions to groups of law enforcement agen- cies about how to build strong teams. "A high level of trust must exist among team members, which can some- times be easy and sometimes difficult," he said. You don't necessarily have to like members of your team, he said, but you have to respect them...realize that respect cannot be demanded, it must be earned. Whether you are a seasoned leader or an aspiring one, take every opportunity to establish yourself as a team player and as someone who deserves respect from others at every level. Consider it part of your leadership responsibilities to foster and nurture a sense of teamwork among those you lead. For many people, leadership is not a natural trait, but that doesn't mean you can't be an excellent leader. It just means you need to put more work into your personal leadership development, which often means pursuing further training and/or formal education. Consider a formal degree Advancing in your career also involves formal training and education. Learning does not end with a single degree it can be very beneficial for police officers to adopt the attitude of a lifelong learner. If you already have an advanced degree, you may not want to earn a full second degree, but there are still many ways to demonstrate that you are staying abreast of new theories, laws, technology, and other developments in law enforce- ment, as well as keeping your research and writing skills sharp. For LEOs without a formal degree: While there have always been edu- SPECIAL REPORT: CAREER DEVELOPMENT 15 www.officer.com May 2014 Law Enforcement Technology Good leaders take responsibility for decisions and recognize that mistakes are often the best learning opportunities. LET_14-16_LEVet0514.indd 15 4/18/14 3:28 PM