The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 23, Number 8 | Page 5

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | October 2017
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
MITCHELL C. SKLAR
Fredericksburg and After
From September 22 – 24, the NJSACOP conducted this year’s Experiential Learning Staff
Ride for Law Enforcement Leaders at the national military parks in and near Fredericksburg,
VA. Naturally, the program focused on the historic battles that took place in that area in
both 1862 and 1863.
During the winter of 1862 and the first half of 1863, the administration of Abraham Lincoln was at a low ebb, as
was the nation’s principal army (the Army of the Potomac). That army was to sustain horrific defeats at
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville under two different commanders, Generals Ambrose Burnside and Joseph
Hooker. These two battles would cost the Union army over 30,000 casualties, and pave the way for Robert E.
Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia’s invasion of the North (which would eventually lead to the small town of
Gettysburg).
Our program was designed to provide the participants with an understanding and appreciation of the best
practices employed in times of crisis by organizations chartered for dangerous missions. This was accomplished by
way of the “living classroom” – placing the participants in the role of major and subordinate commanders of the
opposing armies involved in the operations and events that we studied. The leaders at the battles of
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville faced problems all too familiar to the modern police executive — internal
politics, working with often unreliable information, juggling a shortage of manpower and resources, getting people
with diverse personalities to work together for a common goal, balancing political considerations with operational
and strategic imperatives. The decisions they made in the face of these obstacles provide a range of leadership
lessons for today’s leader. As always on our Staff Rides, the attendees had a very enjoyable time while at the
same time studying and contemplating these issues.
This year’s Experiential Staff Ride was augmented by an additional special experience: a visit to the National
Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. Following the tour of the museum, we were honored to have USMC
Major Michael McTeague provide a presentation on Marine leadership at the lunch provided for our attendees. It
was, of course, truly an honor to have Major McTeague with us. His background as a combat leader, Joint Forces
officer, and law enforcement professional (as both an MP commander and a graduate of Lycoming College with a
double BA in Law Enforcement and Corrections) made his thoughts and insights that much more pertinent to the
professional lives of our attendees.
Times change, but truly some issues are eternal, and how those who came before us confronted those issues can
provide us with valuable lessons. The NJSACOP will continue to mine the great events from our nation’s past,
drawing contemporary lessons from the experiences of le aders (and those they led) who shaped that past by their
actions and decisions. We hope you will consider joining us at a future program; you can be certain it will be a
moving, educational and enjoyable experience.
The NJSACOP Gettysburg Leadership Experience:
An Experiential Learning Staff Ride for Law Enforcement Leaders
September 21 – 23, 2018
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