Running Head: POSITIVELY EFFECT A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION 1
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POSITIVELY EFFECT A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION 2
Law enforcement organizations have been marred by injustices, brutality, corruption, and
abuse of power. However, a good leader can positively affect a law enforcement organization
through the use of various Christian values. From the earlier days of the watch system to the
modern patrol systems of policing, law enforcement agencies have worked towards combating
crime with the hope to maintain security and peace within the society. Therefore a leader could
bring positive change through communication, making justice a virtue, integrity, and services to
others. In the Christian worldview, listening is more important than talking. It is essential for a
leader to listen to his fellow officers' grievances and those of the community. It is through
communication, specifically listening, existing problems can be discovered and resolved.
Another way is by making justice a virtue. It is the purpose of law enforcement
agencies/organizations to pursue justice. Organizations in law enforcement deal with more than
identifying and arresting offenders for judgment. Many, if most, work towards crisis
management and social work rather than direct law application. Through proper leadership, a
virtue of justice would mean treating all individuals equally under the eyes of the law in shaping
an organization towards administering justice and being of service to everyone in need. Integrity
is a virtue that is critical in leadership and which is emphasized in Christian views of leadership.
Where integrity lacks, the decisions made will be selfish rather than those than benefit the
organization (Nathan Brown, 2019).
A leader can negatively affect such an organization by being arrogant, unjust, and misuse
of authority. Unlike good leadership, where an organization is effectively managed, bad
leadership would cripple a law enforcement organization (John Middleton-Hope, 2017). By
being arrogant and unjust, a leader would mistreat his juniors and mismanage the organization
and be unjust to the public. A leader could be arrogant by refusing to listen to his fellow officers,
POSITIVELY EFFECT A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION 3
either senior or junior. This would create divisions in the organization, making service delivery
challenges. Through injustice, a leader can run-down an organization. Injustice could be in the
form of favoritism during promotions, scheduling of work, or awarding the best officers. Misuse
of authority is ripe in most law enforcing organizations. Misuse of power includes corruption,
mistreating junior officers, and inappropriate behavior at the workplace, such as sexual
harassment and wrongful employment termination. In a Christian worldview, it is important to
treat everyone with dignity by respecting authority. It is the duty of a leader to serve fellow men
rather than take advantage of them. Failing to be justice, kind, and of service to others would
ultimately negatively affect a law enforcement organization.
POSITIVELY EFFECT A LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION 4
References
John Middleton-Hope. (2017). Challenges in Contemporary Police Leadership [Doctoral
dissertation].
Nathan Brown. (2019). The Peacemakers: Navigating the Intersection of Biblical Justice and
Contemporary Policing [Doctoral dissertation].
