Chief Deputy Monahan: Leadership is being a servant to others

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“There’s no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.” Ronald Reagan

From Pinal County Sheriff Chris Vásquez:

Our Chief Deputy Jerald Monahan just returned as a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Virginia. He received invaluable training that he brought back to the Sheriff’s Office. I have asked Chief Monahan to share some of his insight with you the citizens by writing this month’s letter:

Leadership is difficult to describe. It is said to be the ability to influence others, but most people today would agree that leadership is much more. Leadership is about character, competence and courage. It is about defining the future, and then seeing that the path to that future is not only created but also followed. It does involve influencing others, as in any organization, because the mission is accomplished not by one but by all. The leader, as the person selected by the people whom he or she serves, has the responsibility, the duty, to oversee the establishment of the mission and the vision of the organization.

Leadership can also be present and exercised at all levels within an organization. Ralph Nader points out that one function of leadership is to produce more leaders. Today’s leaders would be wise to identify and then mentor others who can also lead no matter at what level they are in the organization. Leadership is displayed by those who have formal titles and positions as well as by those who do not.

According to noted leadership authority, John Maxwell (1997), by developing other leaders, the influence of the leader is raised to a new level. The personal potential of the new leader is raised as well. Resources are multiplied in the development of new leaders, and a positive future for the organization is ensured. All of this can contribute to the mission and vision of the organization and help it stay on course for the future.

At the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Chris Vasquez follows this philosophy of leadership development. He is sending his command staff to leadership development courses provided by the Arizona Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Board. The department is pursuing plans in the near future to host the commander’s course offered by the University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute. The FBI National Academy has just accepted the application of Lt. Harry Grizzle to attend a future session, which will add to the current members who have graduated from this prestigious law enforcement leadership development course. Lt. Grizzle will join Commander Jeffrey Karns and me as graduates.

Exposure to the concepts of managing and leading a Sheriff’s Office in today’s organizational climate is crucial to ensuring that the leadership at the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office is functioning in the most efficient and effective way possible. One such concept that should be grasped by leaders, a major duty of leadership, is to be a resource to their staff. The staff in the field, behind the counters and desks, and in the jail pods at the adult detention center all knows how to do their jobs. They must be provided with the necessary resources and support to continually perform those duties that provide public safety service to the people within Pinal County. After providing the resources for staff to do the job, which includes adequate training, staff must be trusted to carry out those duties in a competent manner.

Michael Durant, the Blackhawk helicopter pilot who survived after being shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia, in October 1993, stated that American lives were lost during that military operation because tactical decisions were being made in Washington instead of by the operational commanders in Somalia. While leaders are responsible for making the decisions that lead to staff actions in the field, the staff actually in the field must carry out those operations. They see the circumstances and must be trusted to adjust accordingly based on the resources and direction already provided by the organization’s leader.

Leaders prepare their people and then offer support while they perform the duties and tasks that make up public safety services. John Buchan stated, “The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there.” Over the employee entrance door at the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office headquarters in Florence, it is written: “Through these doors walk Pinal County’s Finest.” The men and women of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office are quality public servants, who have talent, skill, courage and integrity. While the Sheriff and his command staff are responsible for leading the department into the future, the actions of the staff on a day to day basis carry out the service of public safety to the community.

In considering how a leader is to be and provide resources to their staff, James Autry (1998), in his book about servant leadership, states that one of the most important things that a leader can be is useful. Being useful means insuring that staff who are doing the tasks day in and day out, have the resources necessary to do the job. Autry goes on to offer six things he believes about leadership in considering the concept that leadership is about serving others; leadership is not about controlling people; it’s about caring for people. It is not about being the boss; it is about being present for people and building a community at work; it is not about holding on to territory; it is about letting go of ego, bringing your spirit to work, being your best and most authentic self. Leadership is less concerned about the place where we work and more concerned with finding meaning in the work. Leadership is about paying attention, and leadership requires love (Autry, 2001).

After spending this past summer attending the FBI National Academy, 230th Session, and listening to my classmates from all over the United States and the world discuss contemporary police issues and the possible solutions to them, I must state that I agree with Autry’s thoughts on what leadership is and is supposed to accomplish. The attitude and behavior of the organization’s leaders have the potential to affect the organization more than any other single factor. The centerpiece of leadership, and the trait that holds up all the others, is character.

I count myself very fortunate indeed to be a part of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office where many of the solutions to public safety problems and issues are being practiced during this time of growth. The leadership at the Sheriff’s Office is second to none, and the citizens can be proud of the direction that their Sheriff’s Office is going. Challenges lie ahead for this growing agency, but the spirit and integrity of the staff, and the makeup of its leadership will see it through whatever difficulties are ahead.

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