Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First‐Line Leader

Citation

Nees, H. (2009), "Common Sense Police Supervision: Practical Tips for the First‐Line Leader", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 568-568. https://doi.org/10.1108/13639510910981680

Common Sense Police Supervision is not an academic book and consequently college level instructors should possibly not consider it for use in a classroom setting. The book is more of a manual that provides adequate information for the newer first level supervisor in law enforcement. Because the book lacks needed supporting materials such as slides for classroom use (Power Point), instructor manual or a student manual, and no footnotes or a biography it is less useful for classroom adoption.

The book has 18 chapters that cover a wide range of topics from preparation to be a supervisor to ethics, operational techniques, leadership, employee development, and future career planning. The author refers to the supervision of law enforcement personnel as “unlike any other endeavor on Earth” (p. vii). While there are differences at times between law enforcement supervision and supervision in other fields, I disagree with this assertion. Given my own experience as a supervisor, police chief, and teacher on the subject, as well as the empirical studies on supervision, I believe there are many similarities and these similarities far outweigh the differences.

The emphasis on the importance of loyalty, to the administration and to those one supervises, is a thread throughout the book. I would like to have seen more attention to the need to be loyal to the public. The book does offer details concerning how a new supervisor can improve his or her skills in the areas of supervision and technical skills to move into a supervisory position and once obtained the need to continue to develop stronger knowledge, skills and abilities in the field.

Nine of the 18 chapters in the book deal with issues of leadership, but do include: education, evaluation, discipline, planning, communication, counselor, manager, and finally as complaint processor. The book describes the work in each of these areas. The author lays out some descriptive ideas but fails to cite relevant sources cited (if that is needed) for any of the information provided. It seems that the book is based mainly on the experiences and ideas of the author. There are also a few editing problems with the book.

Given my 30 years of background in law enforcement, besides over ten years as a college instructor, I certainly appreciate practical experience. Hence, I feel the author provides valuable insights into supervision and for that reason the ideas presented should not be ignored. However, the book would be improved if he included supporting material from other sources.

Although the book may serve individuals who have recently been promoted and have not attended a basic supervision course, the book is not appropriate for classroom instruction.