Henry Porretto on Leadership in Law Enforcement

(Newswire.net — April 10, 2018) Mathis, Texas — The role of police officers has shifted over the past several decades. What was formerly seen as a mere job has now evolved into a complex profession, with law enforcement officers now possessing a wide range of specialized skills and knowledge. Just as the profession itself has evolved, so too has law enforcement leadership. Henry S. Porretto, a decorated law enforcement veteran and former Chief of Police for the City of Galveston Police Department in Texas, understands that police leaders have had to shift their thoughts, prioritizing officer safety over mission completion. “In years past, losing officers during interventions may have been seen as an acceptable loss,” says Mr. Porretto, who now consults with law enforcement agencies in Texas. “As leadership roles have evolved, successful completion of police operations only happens when officer safety is the primary part of departmental culture.” To learn more about the evolving role of police leaders, visit https://www.policeone.com/chiefs-sheriffs/articles/473152006-Lessons-in-Leadership-Is-the-man-or-the-mission-more-important/.

“Man over mission” has become a defining thought process in recent years. Rising rates of on-duty officer deaths and unrealistic portrayals of law enforcement professionals in news and entertainment media have led the public to expect that police lay down their lives to protect the communities in which they serve. The life of a police officer is certainly risky, but police leaders are demanding more training, more equipment, and more understanding that any officer loss is unacceptable. Quality leaders in the law enforcement community create a culture where every officer under their watch can return home to their families safely at the end of every shift. While this isn’t always possible, putting the culture in place in departments has had a strengthening effect on morale and on officer safety. A culture where officer safety is more important than missions has also improved tactical response parameters across departments. For example, active shooter incidents or warrant executions may be handled differently if evidence points to a loss of officer safety. In years past, police leaders would push their personnel to take needless risks in the execution of their duties. “This was a flawed leadership strategy which was prevalent when I first joined the force over three decades ago,” adds Mr. Porretto. “Unfortunately, it has only been in recent years that departments implemented safety standards from leadership all the way down to street patrol officers. This signifies a dramatic departmental change in culture.”

Risk assessment has become a critical tool in the law enforcement community, particularly among leaders who must make tough and sometimes life-threatening decisions that affect their officers’ lives. Law enforcement leaders in today’s best-managed departments put aside egos and make decisions using common sense, instructing others on their teams to focus on safety over job completion. More work needs to be directed toward shifting cultural focus away from taking risks, but as Henry Porretto knows, the law enforcement field is rapidly evolving to protect lives, both of their personnel and in their communities. For more information on Mr. Porretto and his work in the field, visit https://everipedia.org/wiki/henry-s-porretto/.