Challenging The Law Enforcement Organization

The book, Challenging the Law Enforcement Organization: Proactive Leadership Strategies (updated edition, October 1, 2022), is an E-book that is a summary of many of my presentations. Among the topics discussed are chapters on the impact of living and policing an unskilled and violent society, why law enforcement managers fail to successfully impact their agencies, and chapters on self-management, communication, motivation, and being more effective in our personal lives. Many of these latter “strategy” chapters have examples of proactive techniques used by law enforcement managers as well as “action items” to apply the principles examined in each chapter.

Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail looks carefully at just that issue. Constant negative headlines call into question the ability of U.S. law enforcement to manage itself effectively in a democratic, diverse society. By analyzing a variety of cases, the author shows how crises occur regularly along common structural and cultural fault lines in police agencies at every level of government. The exploration of what handicaps the law enforcement agency goes far beyond "bureaucratic bungling" to examine deep-seated structural and cultural elements of organization. Symptoms such as institutional racism, sexual harassment, and racial profiling are seen as outgrowths of structural-cultural characteristics in law enforcement organizations whose power is often independent of larger social forces. Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail provides tools for spotting malignant individuals, highlighting perverse incentives, isolating and neutralizing deviant cultures, recognizing policy inertia, and confronting bankrupt philosophies. By helping current and future law enforcement personnel better understand the "lay of the land," this book provides a pragmatic guide for dealing with crises, preventing their recurrence, and restoring the legitimacy of the police in the communities they serve. This book is an excellent addition to any class on police organization and management, criminal justice policy, or police-community relations. "Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail is a must read for any law enforcement executive trying to understand the dynamics of organizational structures and systems. As any experienced police official will attest, when organizational structures collapse or systems fail the results can be devastating.... This text contains stories of some of the most egregious system failure within American law enforcement. From the Philadelphia Police Department''s assault on MOVE, to the New York Police Department''s Michael Dowd corruption scandal, to the massive failure of the FBI Lab, the book highlights how things go wrong. Aspiring law enforcement executives would do well to read this book and learn from the mistakes of others." -- Chief John F. Timoney, Miami Police Department "[O''Hara''s] book is a rare find. It addresses current and, no doubt, future issues and challenges faced by law enforcement in a very pragmatic, balanced, and impartial fashion. The author goes beyond simply finding a human culprit as the cause of organizational malfunctions and makes a strong case that the very nature of law enforcement organizations makes some problems inevitable. The treatment of organizational remedies for whatever ails law enforcement is equally insightful. The author avoids unnecessary details and his down to earth writing style allows the reader to focus on what matters most. This is one of the few books on the subject matter of law enforcement management and organizations that is bound to have an impact beyond the semester in which it is read." -- Harald Otto Schweizer, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Criminology, California State University-Fresno "This excellent book examines pathologies in law enforcement organizations using contemporary cases, as well as classic cases whose implications for police management remain fresh today. Whether writing about law enforcement/intelligence failures before and after 9/11, racial profiling, renegade officers who dishonor the badge or failed police operations where communications, oversight and supervision broke down, this book is full of sharp insights about how police agencies can work better. This book should be required reading so that present and future law enforcement managers can better understand and address organizational dysfunctions before they erupt into critical incidents." --Michael C. Walker, Police Director, City of Paterson (New Jersey) Police and Assistant Professor, Passaic County Community College "A must reading for anyone who wants a window into the multiple sources of law enforcement organizational failures. O''Hara''s volume is an insightful and important contribution to the field." -- Eli B. Silverman, Professor Emeritus, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Author of NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing "In each chapter, the defects in the law enforcement organizations begin to emerge with shocking clarity.... O''Hara uses these examples to provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to change the structural, behavioral and technical errors of the past. ...especially useful in any criminal justice course that discusses police and police behaviors. The book is meant for everyone, but those who are already in law enforcement or planning to be should keep this book in mind. It is filled with many situations from which one can learn valuable lessons, and it is replete with suggestions that should be taken to heart." -- ACJS Today "More than a dozen case studies from the 1980s to the present examine many topics, from 9/11-related law enforcement failures to racial profiling, rogue cops who dishonor the badge, and failures of the FBI Lab. These case studies capture the reader''s attention and help to clearly delineate the multiple sources of police agency organizational failures. O''Hara not only points out the problems and issues that confront law enforcement organizations, but suggests remedies as well. He writes in a clear, concise manner, and anyone involved in law enforcement management would be well advised to read this book. Undergraduate and graduate students and interested general readers should also find this book a worthwhile read. Summing Up: Highly recommended." -- CHOICE Magazine

Terrorism threats and increased school and workplace violence have always generated headlines, but in recent years, the response to these events has received heightened media scrutiny. Critical Incident Management: A Complete Resource Guide, Second Edition provides evidence-based, tested, and proven methodologies applicable to a host of scenarios that may be encountered in the public and private sector. Filled with tactical direction designed to prevent, contain, manage, and resolve emergencies and critical incidents efficiently and effectively, this volume explores: The phases of a critical incident response and tasks that must be implemented to stabilize the scene Leadership style and techniques required to manage a critical incident successfully The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) Guidelines for responding to hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction incidents Critical incident stress management for responders Maintaining continuity of business and delivery of products or services in the face of a crisis Roles of high-level personnel in setting policy and direction for the response and recovery efforts Augmented by Seven Critical TasksTM that have been the industry standard for emergency management and response, the book guides readers through every aspect of a critical incident: from taking initial scene command, to managing resources, to resolution, and finally to recovery and mitigation from the incident. The authors’ company, BowMac Educational Services, Inc., presently conducts five courses certified by the Department of Homeland Security. These hands-on "Simulation Based" Courses will prepare your personnel to handle any unexpected scenario. For additional information contact: 585-624-9500 or [email protected].

A veteran police chief's hard-won lessons on leading yourself, leading others, and leading an organization. Essential Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line is just that &– lessons learned the old-fashioned way through trial and error, studying, hard work, and experience while on our nation's front lines to serve and protect. Dean Crisp spent decades leading people where a single misstep could cost a life. Faced with the daily challenges of a police chief, Dean threw himself into learning all he could about effective leadership and applying those lessons in his departments. He shares those hard-won lessons in this book. Dean lays the book out into three key sections that build on each other to help you become a better leader: Leading Yourself, Leading Others, Leading the Organization. Dean's approach to leadership is built on his concept of Diamond Leadership, a four-point method that creates a self-perpetuating synergy for positive change. Dean has taught this method in elite conferences to countless rising leaders, and now he brings it to you. "I think that all leaders want to be really good at leading and most seek ways to improve. Some are even willing to go to extraordinary lengths to become the best. I am hoping this book will inspire others to be their best and to constantly strive to get better, to shoot for the stars, to get outside their comfort zones, and to push themselves to become remarkable." &–Dean Crisp Built on the success of Dean's debut leadership book, Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line, this new release features a revised approach to the curriculum, expanded information, and a streamlined formula to develop the leader within you. Essential Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line uses personal anecdotes to drive home the human element of leadership and will connect with you at any point on your journey to becoming a significant leader. "My motive and intent in writing this book is simple: I want to provide the reader with leadership lessons and experiences which I hope will help you, the reader, to become a better leader and, more importantly, a better person." &–Dean Crisp

This book provides readers with a comprehensive view of the often obscure world of policing, with in-depth coverage of today's major topics. It explores the methods and issues, personality and problems, and attitudes and beliefs of those persons who enforce federal, state, and local laws. Chapter topics include the rights of police officers, women and minorities in policing, private policing, unionization, contract and consolidated policing, civilianization, accreditation, higher education, and stress. A " real-world" focus gives insight to one of the most difficult and challenging occupations in America. Career overviews highlight information on the various fields of police work for those considering making it their future. Given their prominence and authority in our society, " consumers" of police services will also find this a provocative read.

There is good evidence that the police can control crime hot spots without simply displacing crime problems to other places. Police officers should strive to use problem-oriented policing and situational crime prevention techniques to address the place dynamics, situations, and characteristics.

To one extent or another, dealing with the news media is a fact of life for every American law enforcement leader. However, news organizations, although a pain at times, can aid law enforcement in a number of ways. This text avoids theory and the intangible and concentrates on the practicalities by exploring past troubled times and focuses on what cops and reporters have to offer each other. The “news” is defined and broken down into some of its technical, component parts. The secrets for establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with reporters are revealed, including the absolute necessity for credibility on the part of the law enforcement leader. Common sense policies and procedures concerning relations with the news media, and the importance of an effective Public Information Officer (PIO) is explored. The following topics are featured: newspaper journalism; the all-seeing eye called television; a look at what radio has to offer; Internet news; and what the Net can provide the police officer in twenty-first century America. The law enforcement officer will learn how to give an effective interview, produce news releases that will be used by the media, the art of leading a successful news conference, and the dirty tricks used by the occasional, unscrupulous journalist. Solid advice for overcoming this media misbehavior is given, which will prepare the leader for dealing with the media challenges found at the scene of a major crime, disaster, or other high-profile incident. Instructions for the responses required to recover from an episode of bad news is included, aiding the leader in how to inform the public of all good news that the agency generates. Each chapter concludes with a summary of vital points to remember, and a glossary of terms appears at the end of the text. A new chapter has been added on the topic of “fake news.” Law enforcement leaders need to understand what this phenomenon is and how to protect themselves from its negative effects. This how-to-do-it book is a troubleshooting guide that will enable the law enforcement leader to undertake any challenging media situation that is encountered.