Chela Cottrell is a law enforcement veteran with more than 20 years of experience. She initially served as a Dispatcher at the Scotts Valley Police Department in Santa Cruz County, California. Later she served as a Community Services and Correctional Officer for the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office. Subsequently, she served for 14 years as a Dispatcher, Communications Training Officer and Communications Supervisor for the Citrus Heights Police Department. The experience she gained and the expertise she developed in those roles prepared her for her current role as the Police Services Manager of the Communications Center and Operations division in the Citrus Heights Police Department. She is focused on promoting training and tactics to enhance policing both within and outside the organization.
Recognized as a dispatch subject matter expert, Chela has participated in several projects aiding POST in their mission of continually enhancing the professionalism of California law enforcement in serving its communities. Chela possesses a Bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. She is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute Class #490 and holds certificates from the National Emergency Number Association as an Emergency Number Professional and from the Center Manager Certification Program.
What motivated you to be a LEPSL ambassador?
When I applied for the LEPSL program, my youngest child was only a few months old. I was working the night-shift as a line-level dispatcher, and most people told me that the timing of me starting a graduate program was all wrong.
I knew, however, that I was ready for more — and that the challenges of this program would become opportunities. I can say with certainty that the choice that my family and I made for me to participate in the LEPSL program has paid dividends. The program brought me the joy of learning, the gift of camaraderie, and a self-assurance gained from participating in courses with high-ranking individuals from many different backgrounds and disciplines. Upon the successful completion of the program, I was presented several career opportunities which I felt confident in both applying for and executing thanks to the foundation this program provided. I truly believe that if I can have such a great measure of success as a direct result of participating in the LEPSL program, others can find the same or greater benefits.
Why did you choose the LEPSL program? What made LEPSL stand out in comparison to other schools/programs?
The LEPSL program offered at the University of San Diego not only fit into my demanding personal and workplace schedules, but it also hit the right balance of being both rigorous and modern.
I reviewed several different options prior to applying for this program, and this one stood out as being accredited, applicable to policing instead of theory, with instructors who were accessible and relevant to the content of the coursework.
What were your concerns about starting a graduate program?
Like most people, time and money were my biggest concerns. I researched scholarship opportunities from law enforcement organizations and my employer’s tuition reimbursement programs to make the cost a viable choice.
I was also worried about finding time for the coursework on top of parenting three children aged six and under while maintaining a full-time job, but after deciding this degree was my goal I carved out the early morning hours before the family awoke to do concentrated reading and writing. If I can make this degree work, anyone with a desire to broaden their education can.
How did the LEPSL program help you achieve your career goals?
I met people because of the LEPSL program who recognized my skill-set and gave me a chance. One opportunity led to the next. I can honestly say that the LEPSL program provided me a pathway that would have otherwise remained unrealized.
Additionally, many people — women in particular, do not apply for jobs where they do not meet all the requirements. This program provided me with the knowledge that I could achieve difficult goals and be successful in arenas that I hadn’t ventured into before. That self-assurance I will carry with me far beyond the years of my formal career.
What advice would you share with prospective LEPSL applicants?
There are few things that can never be taken from you. Education is one of them. You might lose your material possessions, or a position you care about; but no one can take your knowledge away from you. Invest in yourself and you will never regret it.
What was your favorite course in the LEPSL program?
My favorite class during the LEPSL coursework focused on creating and managing an organizational budget. I liked it because it forced me to focus on the subject I felt the least comfortable with and had therefore avoided. Now, in my current role as a Police Services Manager, being aware of the budget is part of my day-to-day strategy and I felt prepared to meet that responsibility due to the assignments in this course.
What were you balancing while participating in the LEPSL program?
During this program my three children were aged six and under, and I was working the night-shift.
Balancing the demands of the coursework with my schedule was challenging, I missed out on some of the weekend activities I would have normally participated in for my children. While the parenting guilt was real, I can honestly say that the sacrifice was worth the results that came from completing this program.
How did you stay motivated throughout the program in the face of competing priorities in your life?
Once the program began, and the jitters of getting “back into school” wore off, the joy of the work took over. The topics addressed in the LEPSL program are both real and timely. If you are a policing professional, you will find that the courage to continue comes from the engagement of your cohort, the expansiveness of the reading, and the singular drive that comes from finding answers for the questions posed by the instructors.
LEPSL Graduating Class:
2019