As my 28 year career in law enforcement recently transitioned to that of city manager , one thing has remained an important factor . To be a successful police executive or senior city executive , you must have a solid foundation with your elected officials .
There are a few areas I have found to be essential in establishing that solid foundation . First , clear and defined expectations for you in your position as well as what expectations you have of your elected officials . Along with clearly defined expectations should be the setting of boundaries . It is a business relationship , so do not cross the line in to being friends or socializing together .
Communication must be open , honest , and provide facts – not opinions . I can ’ t stress enough the importance of keeping your elected officials updated and informed on topics that are important to your community . If you keep them informed and updated , you will face less questions / concerns from them as well as from your community . However , when your elected officials ask you a question , provide them with an honest and fact-based answer . Do not , under any circumstances , respond with an answer that is not factually based . Not responding is not an acceptable reply . Always follow up on an inquiry from an elected official . Above all else , do not put yourself in a compromising position or allow someone else to put you there . By taking these few actions , you will project a positive influence and maintain a steady path of good decisions that will foster trust and confidence in you and in your elected officials . Allow them the credit for the successes ; and when a mistake is made , own it .
Be honest , open , and approachable and it will serve you well in your duties as a Police Chief or senior city executive .
Ed Densmore began his law enforcement career in 1993 . He joined the Alpharetta Police Department in 1996 and rose through the ranks to Chief . Densmore was named Police Chief with the launch of the Johns Creek Police Department in 2008 . He was appointed as the Johns Creek City Manager in March 2020 . He holds a B . S . in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Command College at Columbus State University , the FBI National Academy , FBI-LEEDS , and a GILEE graduate
Developing positive relationships in the workplace can be difficult in any profession . For police chiefs , working within the department may be easier where there is likely to be agreement on the basic mission , and there is general understanding about the flow of communication and delegation through the chain of command . Outside the department , there can be less structure , so it ’ s critical to the success and career survival of police chiefs to be intentional about developing and maintaining positive relationships , especially with their elected officials . A little time invested continually in this area can pay huge dividends down the road .
Elected officials have a great deal of accountability to the community and they represent the local concerns and needs of all . The
How do you develop a positive working relationship with elected officials ?
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