For immediate release: 6/23/2016

Contact:  Janine Kava | janine.kava@dcjs.ny.gov | (518) 457-8906
                 Press Office | New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

 

Leadership Training Course graduates 36 law enforcement officers
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services partners with state’s Association of Chiefs of Police to offer training at no cost to 28 agencies

Three dozen police officers and sheriffs’ deputies from agencies across the state recently completed a three-week course designed to develop leaders at all levels of a law enforcement organization. Sponsored by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services in partnership with the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, the training is rooted in the idea that every officer, regardless of rank, is a leader and that agencies must foster a culture of leadership at all levels of responsibility.

The Leadership in Police Organization training, which concluded last week, was attended by 36 officers from 19 local police departments and seven sheriff’s offices, in addition to the New York State Police and State University of New York Police.

Developed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the training is based on a behavioral science approach toward leading within an organization. The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and state Chiefs’ Association partnered to offer the training at no cost to agencies.

DCJS Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Green said, “A core mission of DCJS is to provide appropriate and relevant training to police departments throughout the state. This course has demonstrated its value, not only in developing individual leaders, but through establishing a greater capacity for leadership throughout an agency. Strong leadership at all ranks of an agency also will help foster trust between officers and the communities they serve. This investment will pay dividends to those agencies and communities for years to come.”

Added Chiefs’ Association Executive Director Margaret Ryan, “NYSACOP is proud to work with the Division of Criminal Justice Services to bring the Leadership in Police Organizations to New York State. The training teaches that leadership is not necessarily about rank or position, but certain traits revolving around inspiration, bringing change, shaping adaptation, promoting unity and leading in an equitable fashion. These skills and strengths are necessary for leaders in law enforcement for the enhancement and betterment of our profession. One of our basic tenants is education: to gather, disseminate, and promote useful and necessary information to the law enforcement agencies across the state. Our ultimate aim and purpose is to develop a more efficient and effective law enforcement and criminal justice system.”

The training was the second part of a program first offered last fall. At that time, ranking executives completed the curriculum and committed to sending officers from their agencies to the three-week course, which was offered once a week for three consecutive months.  

The training covered a variety of topics, including leadership, supervision and accountability; recruiting, hiring and promotion; and outreach to diverse communities. The training also focused on fair and impartial policing, exploring the social science behind human bias, its implications for policing and outline how agencies can develop a comprehensive program for fair and impartial policing.

Officers from the following agencies completed the training, which was hosted by the Broome County Law Enforcement Academy:

• 19 Police Departments: Baldwinsville, Poughkeepsie (city), Guilderland, Glenville, Ilion,  Ithaca, Johnson City, Kent, Kingston, Lackawanna, Newburgh (city), Owego, Rockville Centre, Rosendale, Saratoga Springs, Scotia, Seneca Falls, Southampton, and Utica.

• Seven Sheriffs’ Offices: Cattaraugus, Jefferson, Monroe, Oneida, Saratoga, Ulster and Steuben counties

• Two state agencies: The New York State Police and the State University of New York Police

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (www.criminaljustice.ny.gov) is a multi-function criminal justice support agency with a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the state’s DNA databank, in partnership with the New York State Police; funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state’s Sex Offender Registry.