EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ’ S REPORT
MITCHELL C . SKLAR
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | September 2022
NJSACOP CONTINUES TO REACH OUT FOR GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE IN POLICE LEADERSHIP 2022 Senior Leaders Course conducted in cooperation with the International Academy , Scottish Police College and Police Scotland
The NJSACOP has a well-earned reputation for offering our members and other stakeholders cutting-edge professional development opportunities and fresh perspectives on contemporary issues . One of our Association ’ s key strategies in delivering such opportunities is looking beyond the traditional topics , presenters , venues and methods of law enforcement professional development and education . While of course we have an enormous wealth of talent , knowledge , and experience right here in our own backyard , we naturally do not have a monopoly on these assets . Accordingly , we continually seek out the best that can be found from across our borders – whether those borders are local , state , national - or even international .
Professional and personal growth benefits from looking beyond the routine , the comfortable , the local ; in short , from being open to new experiences , information , and perspectives . The 14 police professionals that attended the 2022 NJSACOP Senior Leadership Seminar at Scottish Police College did just that , and much more . The program , conducted in conjunction with the Scottish Police College International Academy and Police Scotland , was held July 09 – 17 , 2022 at the College ’ s campus at Tulliallan Castle in Fife , Scotland . In putting together the agenda for the program , we were able to take advantage of the close links we ’ ve forged over the past few years with the College , as well as other police executives and academics in the United Kingdom . The result was an agenda that included a rich mix of practitioners and police educators , as well as the opportunity to make several site visits of great interest to our group of law enforcement professionals .
The limited registration for this seminar served to maximize the interactive nature of the learning experience . The agenda was broken down into multiple units , with a special emphasis on Decision Making , Command and Control of Critical Incidents , Operational Safety and De-escalation , Policing of Public Disorder , Use of Force , Community Policing and Partnerships , and Local Policing Strategies Addressing Drug-Related Deaths . These topics were not chosen at random ; on the one hand , New Jersey ’ s law enforcement leaders have been confronted with these challenges in ways not readily imaginable just a few short years ago , while Scotland ’ s public safety professionals have been dealing with these issues for many years . They have drawn many lessons from these experiences and are more than eager to share these lessons . The specific information provided on plans , tactics , strategies , mistakes , successes , and the like were interesting and useful , even more importantly was the chance for our attendees to look at these topics from another perspective and to challenge their own thoughts and assumptions .
The agenda included additional units focusing on Civilian Oversight , Firearms Training , diversification of police agencies , and other topics . Additionally , the seminar-like nature of the program allowed for lively interchanges between the participants and the presenters – both during and after the classroom sessions .
The week was rounded out with the presentation of certificates to the attendees from The Scottish Police College and the NJSACOP , as well as our own certificates of appreciation to our colleagues at both of our international partners .
While this seminar stands on its own , it also fits into the overall NJSACOP professional development portfolio . Participants receive units that can be used towards qualification for the Accredited Chief / Command Executive certification designation , a statewide , voluntary professional credentialing program instituted and administered by the NJSACOP .
Quite naturally , I am proud to say that the program was an unqualified success . However , anyone that knows anything about our Association knows that we are not
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