I have over 16 years of law enforcement experience working various assignments as a patrol officer, Financial Crimes detective, Robbery Homicide Detective, Patrol Sergeant and Internal Affairs Sergeant while working as an operator, sniper and Team Leader on the SWAT team.
What motivated you to be a LEPSL ambassador?
The LEPSL program was pivotal in my development as a leader and mentor to my fellow officers, as well as a father. I want to spread the word about the LEPSL Program for future leaders in law enforcement.
Why did you choose the LEPSL program? What made LEPSL stand out in comparison to other schools/programs?
My passion for the topic of leadership began from experiencing and observing poor leadership throughout law enforcement. Instead of complaining, I chose to learn as much as I could about leadership and how it pertains to law enforcement. The LEPSL program tailors the content to law enforcement professionals and brings together like-minded individuals looking to learn and develop effective leadership skills.
What were your concerns about starting a graduate program?
It was primarily time concerns. Between juggling working Robbery Homicide and family commitments, I was unsure if I had enough time to tackle this endeavor.
How did the LEPSL program help you achieve your career goals?
The LEPSL program paced each learning module in consistent, yet flexible, ways. The program clearly addressed the working professional and made learning easy while holding students accountable to get their work done.
The LEPSL program covered meaningful topics relevant to leadership in law enforcement which directly applied to where I was at in my career, especially after my promotion. I utilized concepts I learned through LEPSL to develop my leadership style and have received positive results and feedback.
What advice would you give to someone to be a more effective leader?
If you are frustrated with poor or ineffective leaders, take a look at the LEPSL program to see what effective leadership looks like. Take action to develop yourself as an effective leader. The LEPSL program allows for the working professional to learn and apply effective leadership principles that can directly help you in your career.
What was your favorite part of the LEPSL program?
My favorite part of the program is the overarching focus on leadership. Every topic or concept is viewed through the lens of leadership and encourages critical thinking pertaining to law enforcement leadership.
What were you balancing while participating in the LEPSL program?
Throughout my time in the LEPSL program, I worked as a Robbery Homicide Detective, which consisted of callouts, lengthy investigations, and trials. I was also working as an operator on the SWAT team, which also consisted of call-outs and high-risk warrants.
On the family side, I was usually with my son, who played travel baseball. Even when my family went on vacation, I always took my laptop to complete my assignments.
The LEPSL program is a commitment, but it is possible to successfully complete it because of the consistent, yet flexible pace.
How did you stay motivated throughout the program in the face of competing priorities in your life?
My motivation was twofold: My passionate pursuit of learning to be a good leader and setting a good example to my son, which was to teach him learning is a lifelong process.
LEPSL Graduating Class:
2024