Rocklin itself has a relatively young population, with
20 percent of its residents under 18. It’s a city where
youth sports are huge and that has experienced
tremendous growth over the past decade. The
Lawrences’ three children all attend Rocklin schools.
Whether or not it’s a philosophy that comes from
being relatively young.
Lawrence says the new generation of police officers,
unlike cops from a few decades ago, seems to
place more emphasis on personal time off and time
with family --- both healthy things, and a more
balanced approach then putting work ahead of
everything else. He allows his officers to swing by
their children’s games while on duty and encourages
them to exercise for up to an hour during their shifts.
Ron Lawrence, Rocklin Chief of Police
“What I’ve found,” Lawrence says, “is that a more
collaborative approach works. I am constantly
asking myself, ‘How can we make this department
better?’”
Instead of being content with the way their
departments are running, the young chiefs embrace
the use of new and recent technological tools such
as social media to solve problems, and they look at
ways to be progressive in the face of such challenges
as budget cuts and prison realignment. It’s an
approach, they say, that often can meet resistance
from chiefs and other members of command staffs
who come from older generations.
Lawrence has been police chief of Rocklin since
April 2011 --- preceding Ruffcorn’s appointment by
two months. Hahn was sworn in as chief in March
2011.
“As police chief, I’ve learned that getting to know
the community is so important,” says Lawrence, who
lives in Rocklin, a city of about 58,000, and makes
a point of staying in the city to shop and eat with his
wife, Jennifer.
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Younger police chiefs tend to look at issues such as
budget cuts and realignment as opportunities rather
than obstacles, Lawrence says. He, Ruffcorn and
Hahn put their heads together to strategize about
the effects of the early release of prisoners and the
shift to local oversight of them. The three chiefs
also worked to save a countywide drug task force
when the governor eliminated state funding of the
program. They and others on a panel made sure that
money remained the keep the narcotics task force
alive.
Academy (his wife, Angel, is a special agent with the
FBI). Ruffcorn also has taught classes on generational
leadership at police academies and at a private
college. In addition to policing skills, Ruffcorn, as
chief, places an emphasis on training and leadership
for his 20 sworn officers and overall staff of 30.
“Can we do things better? Can we find ways to be
more efficient? These are some of the questions I am
constantly asking myself,” Ruffcorn says. “Younger
officers tend to be more effective at managing
change, and not just being content with the way
things are.
“They are hands-on learners, and I make a point
of involving them in the decision-making process.
I see myself as more of a facilitator rather than an
instructional police chief. I strive to incorporate the
officers who are out their on the street as much as
possible into the decisions I make.”
Ruffcorn, citing a Ken Blanchard (“The One Minute
Manager”) quote, added: “Leadership is not
- Daniel Hahn
something you do to people. It’s something you do
with people. I truly believe that is a guiding principle
in all of our styles.”
Hahn, like Ruffcorn and Lawrence, also is a graduate
of the FBI National Academy and, like Lawrence and
Ruffcorn, he believes that police chiefs must work in
a true partnership with the community in order to be
most effective.
“I don’t know whether our ages have anything to do
with the way we approach the job of police chief,
but we definitely have similar philosophies about
the importance of community-oriented policing
and making sure our officers are out in the streets
engaging with people,” says Hahn.
In a nod to an activity that has become embraced
by younger cops raised in the digital age, Lawrence
allows his 52 sworn officers to text each other
about work-related issues while they are on duty
and while engaged in low-risk activities, rather that
communicating exclusively over the radio.
As far as management philosophy, Hahn says
he allows his 122 sworn officers to control their
destinies.
“I give them the responsibilities to solve problems
and the leeway to be innovative,” Hahn says.
“It’s easy to say no and put my foot down, but it they
are doing it safely and are being productive, it’s not
a big deal,” Lawrence says. “I’ve got to embrace that
and be innovative and creative as long as the activity
is safe and legal.”
Ruffcorn started his career in 1986 at the Riverside
County Sheriff’s Department at the age of 19 in the
evidence room and worked his way up to the rank
of lieutenant. Among his career accomplishments
are being named a management fellow for the
Commission on Peace Officer Standards and
Training and graduating from the FBI National
“I don’t know whether our ages
have anything to do with the way
we approach the job of police
chief, but we definitely have similar
philosophies about the importance
of community-oriented policing”
Hahn, Ruffcorn and Lawrence get together for lunch
regularly.
“It helps that we’re all of a like mind when it
comes to the role of a police agency,” Hahn says.
“It’s often said that the community is our eyes
and ears, but that’s not a true partnership. It goes
much deeper than that. We need to know what the
community values, and then do our best to serve our
community.” •
Daniel Hahn, Roseville Chief of Police
Fall 2012
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