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core, about building relationships, develop- ing others, and accomplishing organizational objectives. Without the help of competent, energetic, and committed followers, it is dif- ficult and, in some cases, impossible to get things done. In the end, good leaders realize that effective leadership is less about ego and more about others and the organization. This is why the best law enforcement leaders con- sistently place the needs of the organization and the development of others above their own interests. Closing Understanding, recognizing, and guard- ing against each of these myths is an im- portant step to becoming a better leader. However, good leadership requires more than simply avoiding popular myths. There is simply no way around it—good leadership is hard work. The best law enforcement lead- ers work diligently to earn trust, develop in- fluence, connect with others, mentor future leaders, act as role models, and add value to their organizations, while continuing to learn, grow, and demonstrate accountability for their actions. Today, more than ever, of- ficers, organizations, and communities need good leaders. Fortunately, leadership can be learned and leaders can learn to increase their Ten Leadership Myths Debunked continued from page 18 cent of the 38 people arrested were on some form of supervised early release. Six of the sub- jects had stolen property in their possession from other thefts. Fourteen of the subjects had warrants out for their arrest. (Martinez 2013) These numbers demonstrate that RPD’s arrests not only solved the current crime, but likely prevented numerous others by taking recidi- vists who drive crime rates up off the streets. Innovative projects such as the GPS trackers have been solid force multipliers for RPD and will most certainly serve as an example for other police agencies. At a time when many police agencies have been forced to cutback on proactive measures such as po- lice surveillances, RPD has figured out a way to conduct 24/7 surveillance at a cost of $1 a day. As other agencies search for new and innovative ways to protect the community and preserve the quality of life at a time when more and more prisoners are being released early due to the mandates of prison realign- ment, the use of the GPS tracking device sys- tem will no doubt spread throughout the law enforcement community. The residents of Redlands can be assured that RPD is on the cutting edge of providing innovative policing to their community. RPD While You’re Away continued from page 11
influence. The challenges facing today’s law enforcement organizations are too important to leave to chance. To meet today’s challenges head on, every officer must accept the chal- lenge of being the best leader possible, while law enforcement agencies must continue to invest in and to develop the next generation of leaders. Notes: 1 Robert Hogan, Gordon, J. Curphy, and Joyce Hogan, “What We Know about Personality: Leadership and Effectiveness,” American Psychologist 49, no. 6 (1994): 493–504. 2 Gary A. Yukl and Rubina Mahsud, “Why Flexible and Adaptive Leadership Is Essential,” Consulting Psychology Journal : Practice and Research 62, no. 2 (2010): 81–93. 3 David L. Bradford and Allan R. Cohen, Influence With- out Authority (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2005). 4 James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2012). 5 For a discussion of the “Great Man” theory, see Ralph M. Stogdill, Handbook of Leadership: A Survey of Theory and Research (New York: The Free Press, 1974). 6 John C. Maxwell, The Five Levels 5 Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential (New York: Center Street, 2011). 7 Ronald Heifetz, Leadership Without Easy Answers (Cam- bridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1994), 251. 8 James MacGregor Burns, Leadership (New York: Harper & Row, 1979). 9 Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don’t (New York: HarperCol- lins, 2001). is creating a paradigm shift in how modern policing practices can address emerging crime trends. The results speak for themselves: 68 arrests of career criminals in 34 months. In- novative uses of GPS technology has allowed RPD to implement a new community polic- ing program that will help residents protect their homes “While You’re Away.” About the Author: Travis Martinez is currently a police lieutenant with the Redlands Police Department (RPD) overseeing the Special Operations Bureau comprised of Investigations, Narcotics, MET, Air Support, Forensics, Crime Analysis, Animal Control, Community Policing, GPS Tracking, and Property/Evidence. During of the fiscal crisis of 2011 when RPD experienced a 22% decrease in the number of sworn personnel and the property crime rate was increasing, Lt. Martinez sought an innovative and afford- able strategy to address crime trends occurring in the Red- lands community. Utilizing existing GPS technology al- ready implemented by financial institutions to protect their assets, Lt. Martinez began deploying the same GPS technol- ogy to apprehend those that were driving up the crime rates in Redlands. Experiencing immediate results with arrests for crimes such as vehicle burglary, armed robbery, and commercial burglary, Lt. Martinez focused his California Command College project on how GPS technology could be used to address all crime trends and wrote an article on the Redlands program that was published in the January 2014 edition of the Police Chief Magazine. The facilitators of Command College selected Lt. Martinez’s project to be presented at the Command College graduation attended by several law enforcement executives from across California.
10 S. Alexander Haslam, Stephen D. Reicher, and Mi- chael J. Platow, The New Psychology of Leadership: Identity, Influence, and Power (New York: Psychology Press, 2011). 11 Bernard M. Bass, Bass & Stogdill’s Handbook of Lead- ership: Theory, Research, & Managerial Applications (New York: Free Press, 2008). 12 David L. Bradford and Allan R. Cohen, Power Up: Transforming Organizations Through Shared Leadership (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 1998). 13 Jack Welch, Winning (New York: HarperCollins, 2005). 14 John C. Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leader- ship: Follow Them and People Will Follow You (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1998). 15 Stephen J. Zaccaro, Roseanne R. Foti, and David A. Kenny, “Self-Monitoring and Trait-Based Variance in Leadership: An Investigation of Leader Flexibility across Multiple Group Situations,” Journal of Applied Psychology 76, no. 2 (1991): 308–315. 16 John C. Maxwell, How Successful People Lead: Taking Your Influence to the Next Level (New York: Center Street, 2013). About the Author: Brian D. Fitch , PhD, is a lieutenant and a 32-year veteran of the Los Angeles County, California, Sheriff’s Department. Dr. Fitch holds faculty positions at California State University, Long Beach, and Southwestern University School of Law. He possesses a master’s degree in communication studies and a doctorate in human develop- ment. He can be reached for comments at bdfitch@lasd.org Reprinted from The Police Chief 81 (August 2014 - online only). Copyright held by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc., 44 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. Further reproduction without express permission from IACP is strictly prohibited. Lt. Martinez holds a Masters Degree in Public Adminis- tration from California State University San Bernardino and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administra- tion from the University of Redlands. He has presented at several conferences throughout the nation on how to address crime trends utilizing GPS tracking devices and taught POST approved classes on the topic in California, Colorado, Montana, and Minnesota. In addition, he has conducted webinars on the subject through LA HIDTA. He oversaw the implementation of the GPS tracking pro- gram at the Redlands Police Department which has led to the apprehension of 129 suspects for various types of crimes including robbery, bike theft, vehicle burglary, resi- dential burglary, commercial burglary, metal theft, wire theft, and laptop theft. As a result of the program, RPD has recovered nearly $200,000 in stolen property includ- ing two recent cases where detectives were able to locate over $75,000 in stolen property taken from 11 different residential burglaries in the Inland Empire. Lt. Martinez created the “While You’re Away Program” in which Red- lands citizens can pick up a laptop that has a GPS tracking device embedded in it and place it on their kitchen table to help provide the resident with 24/7 electronic stake-out protection while the resident is away on vacation. The program was recently highlighted in the February 2014 COPS Community Policing E-Newsletter and is now be- ing replicated by other police departments throughout the United States. Throughout his career he has received nu- merous awards most recently being named the 2012 City of Redlands Safety Manager of the Year.
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