Leadership in Law Enforcement

Law enforcement leaders hold significant power within their organizations. Their chosen leadership strategies will ultimately shape the overall performance of an organization, subordinate outcomes, and an agency’s underlying culture. This chapter discusses commonly employed leadership styles and strategies in law enforcement organizations. The existing literature is reviewed to highlight the advantages and shortcomings of each style and strategy while also assessing the effectiveness of other traits and behaviors. This chapter then provides a framework detailing the most effective strategies, styles, traits, and behaviors individuals should possess to lead in law enforcement successfully. Lastly, future research directions are discussed to further understand what makes an effective law enforcement leader.