Chief Kevin Treadway. Courtesy photo.
By Flagstaff Police Department Chief Kevin Treadway / Column courtesy of Lancaster Consulting
As the Chief of the Flagstaff Police Department, I might appreciate more than most the importance of creating the “right” culture in an organization. Today, with law enforcement under fire almost daily, it is more important than ever to assure my department is policing ethically, efficiently and effectively. This I think this is best accomplished by developing and maintain the right culture.
Culture is defined by well written and clearly articulated mission, vision and value statements. Briefly, our mission is to protect life, property, public order and the rights of the individual by providing exemplary service through partnerships with law abiding citizens. It defines clearly our most important focus, and articulates how we go about accomplishing it. Our vision and values reiterate a little more clearly that we value life, the Constitution, customer service, integrity and quality of life. These documents complement and are consistent with one another. But simply writing these documents are not enough.
How is a culture consistent with your mission and values established throughout an organization?
I think the answer is found in the following:
- Focus on your mission and values daily
- Assure your training incorporates the mission and values of the organization
- The 3 “P’s”
- Develop supporting philosophies
Focus on your mission and values daily
Some organizations go to great lengths to carefully craft a mission and values statement. Then they shelve this statement and rarely again look at it. An effective leader should find ways to incorporate the values and the mission into daily life in their organization. Certainly buying professional posters with the mission and values depicted and framed is one way, but even more effective is incorporating the mission and values in all discussions and documents. The strategic plan should start with the mission, values and vision, as well as quarterly and annual reports. If the organization hosts regularly scheduled staff meetings, the first powerpoint slide should be the mission statement of the organization and start every conversation.
Assure your training incorporates Mission and Values
Training is important to any organization. It represents a golden opportunity to ensure that the mission and values of the organization are reinforced. Leaders should pay close attention to lesson plans being offered to their employees, especially if the instructor is from outside the organization. There is nothing more devastating than an instructor unfamiliar with your mission teaching your employees, especially if this material is contrary to the culture you are trying to establish.
The 3 “P’s”
The culture you are trying to create can be effectively reinforced through the organizations promotions, praise and punishment. Promotional processes in most organizations involve an announcement of the material to prepare for, and the ability for the organization to design the test. This is a stellar opportunity for leaders to design a process that reinforces the mission and values of the organization. Make employees study this material in preparation for the process and exhibit their mastery of it. Leaders should constantly look for ways to recognize their employees for work that reinforces the mission and values. Formal award programs are great for this. Finally, behavior or actions that are inconsistent with the mission and values of the organization should be addressed through formal disciplinary processes. Employees will quickly determine what actions will result in positive or negative reinforcement.
Develop Supporting Philosophies
On the Flagstaff Police Department, in addition to our Mission, Vision and Values Statements, we have developed a motto and a philosophy that reinforce these documents. Our motto, “Ad Honorem”, is Latin and translates to “Service with Honor Without any Expectation of Personal Gain”. It reinforces our commitment to exemplary selfless service and at the same time, reminds our employees of our dedication to ethics and integrity. Finally, we have established a philosophy known as the “Four C’s of Policing”. Our Officers are constantly reminded that to police most effectively, we need to police Compassionately, Constitutionally, Consistently, and Correctly (in the eyes of the public and the courts).This is a philosophy supportive of both our mission, vision and values.
— Chief Kevin Treadway has been a member of the Flagstaff Police Department for 30 years. Flagstaff is a community of 68,000 residents, and home to Northern Arizona University. Although located in Arizona, Flagstaff is known for its winter snowfall, and can occasionally be ranked in the nations top ten for snowfall levels. Flagstaff is nestled in the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the world. Flagstaff is also home to the Snowbowl ski resort, the Lowell Observatory, and is located 85 miles from the Grand Canyon.
The Flagstaff Police Department is comprised of 112 sworn officers, and an additional 52 support personnel. The department has an emergency response team consisting of hostage negotiators, a bomb team, and a tactical operations team. During his tenure with the Department, Kevin has worked as a field patrol officer, a DARE instructor, a Detective, and a supervisor in both criminal investigations and the patrol divisions. He has served as Deputy Chief of the Support Services Division, and the Operations Division. Kevin has also served as a hostage negotiator, and critical collision investigator for the department. He has promoted improved services to the mentally ill, improvements in addressing issues of violence against women, and the development of Compstat and intelligence led policing initiatives during his tenure with the Flagstaff Police Department.
Kevin possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, as well as a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, both from Northern Arizona University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (class 217) and served as the President of the Arizona Chapter of the National Academy Associates in 2010. Kevin has also completed the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Leadership in Police Organizations training course, as well as the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar. He occasionally teaches Situational Leadership to other officers around the state.
In his spare time, Kevin is an avid military history buff. In addition to reading about history, he also enjoys running, fishing and hiking.
Kevin has been married to his wife Jackie, a first grade school teacher, for 23 years. They have a daughter, Taryn, who also teaches first grade.