Law Enforcement Leadership: Expert Panel Insights
On January 29th, the UVA Center for Public Safety and Justice hosted another installment in their Speaker Series. This session, "Leadership Under Extreme Circumstances," provided insights into how law-enforcement professionals adapt their approaches when facing mass casualty events, large demonstrations, and other critical situations. Moderated by Ben Haiman, the Executive Director of the Center, the panel included the following distinguished participants:
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Danielle M. Outlaw: Deputy Chief Security Officer for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
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Bill Humphrey, M.A.: Director of Community Security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.
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Neil Johnson: Lieutenant and Deputy Division Commander with the Virginia State Police.
Different Approaches to Crisis Management
Deputy Chief Outlaw highlighted the contrasts between East and West Coast policing, especially regarding the importance of regional laws and cultural nuances, which significantly affect law enforcement strategies. For example, she noted that while California allows live streaming and recording during protests, Oregon takes a more restrictive approach. As a result, efforts to document and respond to civil unrest can grow quite complicated.
To stress the necessity of building relationships within the community and the police department, Deputy Chief Outlaw described how her own experiences in a police immersion program helped her become a leader who values visibility and presence. This experience underscored how being adaptable and culturally aware allows law enforcement to tailor their responses for specific environments.
Tactical Response Leadership During Dallas Police Ambush
Director Humphrey explained how, on July 7, 2016, a peaceful Black Lives Matter rally turned violent when a shooter ambushed police officers. This attack resulted in the deaths of five officers and injuries to twelve others. As the on-scene commander at the time, Director Humphrey had to transition from managing a peaceful demonstration to coordinating a tactical response to an active shooter.
Director Humphrey's leadership during this crisis, which involved setting up a tactical command post, coordinating with various agencies, and ultimately employing a robot with an explosive device to neutralize the threat, reinforces the importance of keeping clear roles and responsibilities to ensure that law enforcement can take decisive actions under pressure.
Training and Resource Mobilization for Critical Incidents
From his perspective, Lieutenant Johnson shared how he prepares for and responds to large demonstrations and critical incidents. He cited consistent training as a major factor for success; this includes having uniformed officers train in public order and civil disturbance tactics. When paired with the ability to mobilize resources from across the state, Lieutenant Johnson can better ensure that law enforcement professionals can work together in unison during multi-jurisdictional operations.
Furthermore, Lieutenant Johnson brought up the challenge he faced transitioning from a hands-on role to a more strategic leadership position. During the post-George Floyd protests in Manassas, Virginia, he had to balance the immediate needs of his troopers with the operation's broader strategic goals. To do so, Lieutenant Johnson credited the importance of trust in training and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations.
Community Trust and Officer Wellness as Effective Crisis Leadership
This idea of building trust within the community and the police department was emphasized throughout the discussion: all panelists cited the need for visibility, presence, and open communication. In addition, many highlighted how critical mental health support is for law enforcement officers. In particular, Director Humphrey spoke about the long-term impact of traumatic incidents and the necessity of providing ongoing support to officers.
Key Takeaways for Law Enforcement
Leading under extreme circumstances requires a combination of adaptability, decisiveness, and empathy. The experiences shared at the Speaker Series panel illustrate that by understanding regional differences, mounting thorough preparation, and prioritizing trust and support, law enforcement leadership can navigate the complexities of critical incidents and build stronger, more resilient communities.