Submitted photo
Cpl. Dustin Johnson, left, and Sgt. Glen Harris, right, stand with Rockingham Police Chief Billy Kelly after the two graduated from N.C. State’s Law Enforcement Executive Program.
Staff report
ROCKINGHAM — Two Rockingham Police Department officers graduated on Wednesday from N.C. State University’s Law Enforcement Executive Program.
RPD Chief Billy Kelly said the achievement by Sgt. Glenn Harris and Cpl. Dustin Johnson now makes five, including himself, to have completed the 160-hour, six-month leadership course through the N.C. State School of Public and International Affairs.
The purpose of the program is to build proactive leadership among law enforcement executives to enable them to manage their most critical and future challenges effectively.
The program builds on the foundation participants already have by giving them an opportunity to:
* Explore current ideas and techniques of public management as they apply to police agencies;
* Sharpen personal skills necessary to excel as police managers;
* Step outside daily activities and responsibilities to think creatively about the job of managing a law enforcement agency in an increasingly complex, uncertain and changing environment.
The program explores individual leadership styles, communication skills and ethical behavior as well as evaluates how each officer views the world and what preferences they might have in examining and resolving issues pertaining to leadership.
Kelly said participants run through a variety of scenarios and typical struggles, such as an agency going through morale or staffing-related issues. Graduates also have been well-versed in personnel law, fiscal management, liability issues and more.
Kelly said his goal is to have all of his department’s supervisors become program graduates.
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