Leadership / Supervision

Police Supervisor, Management, Leadership and Liability Phase II

Length of Seminar: 2 Days
Instructor: William Westfall

Course Overview:
Certainly liability and the concern for managing liability has changed the complexion of law enforcement. Since the Monell decision in 1978, law enforcement has not been the same. Further, as much as we may discuss and yearn for the way things were, we cannot turn back. However, not all that has changed as a result of Monell has been destructive or detrimental. In fact, much good has come from the many changes that have taken place within law enforcement, government and the insurance industry. While you may presently be searching to find some of that good, part of our role in this seminar is to focus not on our frustrations, (many of which we have no little control), but instead on the positive aspects of managing liability reduction over which we do have control. We have far greater control over this system of liability than most of us realize, and better tools to manage and lead than ever before.

This two day program will utilize concepts about leadership that were introduced in Phase I, however, attendance of Phase I is not required to attend Phase II.

Upon Completion:
The following are the objectives that we will address during the course of this seminar.

1. Introduce the Six Layered Liability Protection System as a active defense against plaintiff’s Five Front Attack.
2. Establish the absolute dependent relationship between liability management and quality supervision while explaining the relationship of managers and supervisors to each component of the Six Layered Liability Protection System.
3. The importance of leadership to the implementation of the Six Layers and liability defense.
4. Identify the four reasons police officers fail in their operational performance.
5. Explain the importance of policy and procedures to the officer’s performance.
6. Provide a means for supervisors to assess a properly written policy and procedure.
7. Understanding the importance of training to successful performance.
8. Training in context.
9. Briefly review the history of law enforcement liability so that there is a full understanding of how we got where we are and where we can go from here.
10. Provide an understanding of plaintiff and how plaintiff attacks on five separate fronts probing for specific weaknesses while historically we have only prepared for one front.
11. Provide a means of evaluating police actions for potential seriousness of liability.
12. Introduce The Leadership Test and The George Patton and Sam Walton Defense as a means of thwarting “The Lawyer’s Lie” that it is always “cheaper to settle.” These objectives will be accomplished while focusing on increasing the effectiveness of the supervisor as a leader.