The NJ Police Chief Magazine - Vol. 27, Number 1 | Page 10

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | July/August 2020
Meet the NJSACOP Command & Leadership Academy Faculty
Paul Sorrentino, Deputy Chief (Ret.)
NJSACOP Command and Leadership Program Manager
2020 continues to challenge law enforcement and our communities. Faculty of the Command and Leadership program
have not been exempt. This month faculty member, Major Wendi Feeser of the New Castle County Police
Department was asked to introduce herself and discuss the impact the program has had on her, her agency and
her role in helping the program grow to surrounding States.
Wendi Feeser, Major
New Castle County Police
New Castle, DE
Command and Leadership Program Instructor
Over 23 years ago I decided to make one of the biggest decisions of my life and make a radical career change. I
applied to only one police department, New Castle County, and was fortunate to be hired on my first attempt. I
entered the world of law enforcement a little unsure but knowing that I had a calling to serve and give back to the
county I called home. I had big dreams for myself as I began what I believed, and still do, to be the best career.
I have been very fortunate in my career and granted a lot of great opportunities. As I grew up my parents always
reminded me to make the most of every opportunity that came my way. I also live and work by the motto; “Learn
something new every day. Be open to learn from anyone and everyone no matter what job they do because you
never know when you may be in a situation and that information will be helpful or necessary.” This along with
being willing to honestly critique myself has allowed me to grow and develop throughout my career.
With about three years on the department I was selected to be part of a train the trainer on the SARA Model. I
was very excited about being a trainer and really believed in community policing and the SARA Model. This
excitement was short lived as I began the job of trying to train the 350 plus other officers in our department. I
quickly learned that teaching other cops was not an easy task especially when they really didn’t believe in or want
to do what you were teaching them. My hopes became nightmares as senior officers read newspapers and held
conversations blatantly in front of me as I tried to instruct. As a young officer, I waited for my senior
co-instructors to help but that help never came. This was a very eye-opening experience for me that instead of
impeding me inspired me, even more than I knew at the time, to become a leader of change.
At nine years, I was promoted to Sergeant and in that same year I was given my biggest challenge and
opportunity to attend the Command and Leadership Program. I worked extremely hard to excel in the program
and really understand each theory and the impact it had on the department and the officers. It was also the time
when I was finally able to name the drive, I felt 6 years ago, to lead change- transformational leadership.
Since then, I have been promoted several times and have had the opportunity to supervise or command every
division within my department. Thankfully, I work at a very progressive department that has allowed me to be
involved in projects such as a Local DNA Database, Body Worn Cameras, Cooking with Cops, Nikko the Facility
Dog and countless others. The many programs along with the Targeted Analytic Policing System (TAPS) have
allowed the department to have a solid working relationship with the communities we serve while effectively
combating crime and nuisance complaints.
Additionally, I have been a Command and Leadership Program Instructor in Area 3 for twelve years. My drive and
desire to be part of the program remains very strong. Each and every session, my passion for the program is
reignited by the students and their desire to learn and educate me. I have been very blessed to have attended
some of the most prestigious training around the country. However, as I tell each class I teach, none of the training
has prepared me or helped me advance in my career as much as the Command and Leadership Program.
With the assistance of Retired Lieutenant Bill Harden, New Castle County was able to start a session of the
Command and Leadership Program in Delaware. The program continues to thrive in Delaware with participants
from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland. We have also expanded the program to include
paramedics, 911 dispatchers, fire fighters and government personnel. As I get closer to retirement and look back
over my career, I certainly hope this is the legacy I leave behind for others to grow.
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