>>Leadership Sets the Course, But Culture is at the Helm

Abstract

There is intense scrutiny from the media, both traditional and social, with little if any understanding of the nuances required to effectively manage agencies. The constant negative critique of the profession over the past few years has cast a heavy fog of cynicism among today's applicant pool, exasperating an already critical challenge in recruiting and retention. Less staffing, the natural retirement wave, faster paths to promotion, officers exiting the profession, and the complicated and often mixed messages of expectations from communities and politicians continually fatigue line officers and support personnel as well as police executives. This article explores the nexus of culture in recruiting, training, retention, and leadership. Generational differences are explored, and an action blueprint is provided for chiefs and administrators to build the necessary trust to leverage agency culture for better agency outcomes.