Page 24 - November 2019 FOP

CPD’s lack of leadership development is root of many problems
Much has been written about the leadership of the Chicago Police Department (CPD),
as well as that of our mayor, governor and president of the United States. But what is
a leader, and what is leadership?
Is a leader based on a position? Does the CPD promote leaders or supervisors?
Is leadership important for the CPD?
Since the CPD is a paramilitary organization
with a rank structure, I will attempt to answer these questions by comparing the CPD with the U.S. Army. First, we must define leadership.
Webster’s Dictionary defines leadership as the capacity to lead, the act or instance of leading, and “...to guide on a way especially by going in advance; to direct the operations, activity, or performance of.”
According to Dwight D. Eisenhower, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”
The Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 6-22, Army Leader- ship, states: “Leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.”
Meanwhile, Webster defines a supervisor as one that directs or oversees a person, group, department, organization or oper-
ation specifically.
Yes, supervisors and leaders are similar in responsibili-
ties and often overlap. I had a commanding general once tell me the difference between a leader and supervisor. He said, “A subordinate obeys an order because if he doesn’t comply, he will be fired. Meanwhile, a leader has the ability to influence his subordinates to do some-
thing they might not otherwise want to do, but they be- lieve in their leader so they do it.”
I received instruction on leadership when I entered the Se- nior Army ROTC and throughout my 30-year military career.
Today, the Army continues with the leadership model, which stresses the following core leader competencies:
• Leads: Provides purpose, direction and motivation; builds trust; provides an example; communicates.
• Develops: Develops themselves; creates a positive cli- mate; develops subordinates; stewards the profession.
• Achieves: Executes, adjusts and gets results to accom- plish tasks and missions on time and to standard.
Every soldier receives military professional development courses that stress the importance of leadership and its impact on subordinates to accomplish the mission. The Army’s ulti- mate leadership development course is Ranger School, which is open to all military occupational specialties.
I know of no program in the CPD that seeks to develop or identify potential leaders, either through examination or edu- cation.
I’ve not been a supervisor in the CPD, so I cannot speak from experience on what occurs when a police officer is promoted. I’m sure superiors do not develop their own subordinates.
The CPD’s lack of leadership development causes many is- sues that have led to low morale, the highest suicide rate in the nation among police officers, a consent decree and the ultimate insult for a professional ⁠— swiping as if you are a cashier at Mc- Donald’s.
Since no program exists, the conclusion is that the CPD is promoting supervisors, not leaders, and we are living with the results.
Sadly, the consent decree does nothing to address the lack of leadership development, other than to promote more supervi- sors. But I know we can do better.
We have officers currently serving and who have served in the military that participated in numerous leadership professional courses. More importantly, they served in key leadership posi- tions, such as commanders, and in noncommissioned officer leader positions.
These men and woman are ready and trained but often over- looked because they are not political. Their supervisors might even be intimidated by their leadership abilities.
Promoting some of these individuals and developing a lead- ership program would fundamentally change the department, more than any consent decree ever could.
What did you do on Veterans Day? Drop me an email and tell me how you honored those who served.
Thank you for all you do, and please be careful out there.
If you have questions or comments, please send me an email at LTC_Cruz@wowway.com.
JERRY CRUZ
24 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2019