Effective Police Leadership [Paperback]

Thomas E. Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1932777261 | ISBN-13: 978-1932777260 | Edition: 2

Great leaders aren't born, they're made..and this book makes them! Whether you're an officer aspiring to lead or a senior official interested in evaluating and enhancing your leadership effectiveness, this powerful book gives you practical, in-depth insight into the time-yesyed principles that empower supervisors and inspire troops. From developing high morale and lasting respect to implementing constructive disciplinary techniques and effective conflict resolution strategies, the wealth of wisdom in this book will launch you and those in your charge to the highest levels of unity and performance!

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Looseleaf Law Publications; 2 edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932777261
• ISBN-13: 978-1932777260
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,124,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

INTRODUCTION: Prof. Thomas E. Baker is an associate professor of criminal justice (Feb. 2000), assistant professor (1975-Jan. 2000), and awarded the Decennial Medal and Order of Pro Deo et Universitate for service. In addition, Tom served as a Lt. Col. (Ret.) United States Army Reserve Military Police Corps.

MILITARY CAREER: Lt. Col. Baker's military assignments include: special agent, detachment commander, battalion level commander, and a Command Headquarters assignment with the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. Additional assignments include: provost marshal, military police investigations, staff officer for Training and Doctrine Command and instructor for the United States Army Command and General Staff College. He has earned over ten military and national police awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal.

Lt. Col. Baker is a graduate of the Basic Military Police Officer's Course, Advanced Infantry Officer's Course, Advanced Military Police Officer's Course, Criminal Investigation Course, Advanced Criminal Investigation Management Course, Psychological Operations Course, Field Grade Infantry Course, and the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

CIVILIAN CAREER: His civilian experience includes former police officer for Henrico County Police, Richmond, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland. His service includes assignments as an Intelligence Officer and Undercover Officer in the Vice, Intelligence and Organized Crime Unit.

Prof. Baker's previous educational experience includes service in the Virginia Community College System as an associate professor, Child Supervisor, and teacher for the Diagnostic Center for Children, Bon Air, Virginia, and Children's Supervisor, Richmond, Virginia Detention Center.

ACADEMIC DEGREES: His academic degrees include: A. A. Social Science/Law Enforcement; B.S. Social Welfare/Criminal Justice, M. S. Rehabilitation Counseling/Corrections, Virginia Commonwealth University; M. Ed. Sports Science, and M.S. Health and Educational Administration, East Stroudsburg University; CAGS Psychology and Counseling, Marywood University; advanced study adult education, Pennsylvania State University, and educational leadership, Temple University and the University of Alabama.

PUBLICATIONS: Prof. Baker is the author of over 160 publications and has presented research at national and international meetings. Prof. Baker has published numerous articles on teaching criminal justice courses including: police criminalistics, active learning simulations, gravesite excavations, public safety administration, introduction to criminal justice, organized crime (Criminal Justice Educator), etc. Prof. Baker published an article entitled "The Crime Triangle: Alcohol, Drug Use, and Vandalism" in Police Practice and Research. He has served as an editorial reviewer for the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology, Journal of Criminal Justice, American Journal of Criminal Justice, and Sage Publications.

Prof. Baker published a book entitled, Effective Police Leadership: Moving Beyond Management, 3nd ed., Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc., 2010. The first printing of Effective Police Leadership in 2000 was his first book. He then published a second book entitled, Introductory Criminal Analysis: Crime Prevention and Intervention Strategies, for Pearson/Prentice-Hall Publishing Company, 2005. Moreover, he published his third book entitled Intelligence-Led Policing: Leadership, Strategies and Tactics with Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc. The books include related instructor's manuals and PowerPoint presentations.Prof. Baker published his first novel in 2010, The Siesta Key Awakening. Prof. Baker's 5th book, Police Suicide: Proactive Leadership and Crisis Management Tactics was published by NOVA Scientific Publications in October 2010.

Prof. Baker published book articles in the following encyclopedias: Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement, Encyclopedia of Criminal Justice, Encyclopedia of Historical and Notorious Personalities, Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, Crime and Punishment in the United States, Encyclopedia of American Law and Criminal Justice, Encyclopedia of Drug Policy, Encyclopedia of Women in American Military History, Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society, Counterterrorism: From the Cold War to the War on Terror, Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia of Military Science, Encyclopedia of Trauma, Encyclopedia of the Social History of Crime and Punishment, and Encyclopedia of Community Corrections. In addition, he serves as an editorial reviewer for ARBA Library Services, numerous textbook publishing companies, and professional journals.

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES: Prof. Baker regularly teaches: S/CJ 110 Introduction to Criminal Justice, S/227 Organized Crime Patterns, CJ 237 Investigative Process, CJ 238 Police Criminalistics, CJ 230 Crime Prevention, S/CJ 234 Criminal Justice Management, S/CJ 232 Public Safety Administration, and CJ 239 Introductory Criminal Analysis.

Prof. Baker has been teaching courses in police administration, public safety administration, organized crime, criminal investigation, police criminalistics and criminal analysis for over 38 years. His research focus includes criminal investigative analysis, criminal investigation, terrorism, police leadership, organized crime, community-oriented and problem solving policing, police grantsmanship, and criminal and intelligence analysis.

CONSULTING: Prof. Baker served as a police consultant to local law enforcement agencies, police administration, police testing, and Department of Justice COPS grants. He is peer reviewer for academic journals and provides peer support for major publishers book reviews and proposals.

CONCLUSION: Prof. Baker's first priority is his students. His classroom teaching style emphasizes critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making. Prof. Baker's active learning classroom experiences include crime scene reconstruction, gravesite excavation, and moot court simulations.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational Book!, August 2, 2002

By 

A Reader (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Effective Police Leadership (Paperback)

The book offers practical techniques and "can do" leadership strategies for over-coming obstacles police leaders encounter everyday. It encourages the reader to answer three basic leadership questions: Where am I going? How will I get there? How will I know when I have arrived? EFFECTIVE POLICE LEADERSHIP is inspirational; the reader learns the importance of developing vision and direction.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars PD409, March 13, 2011

By 

Bob - See all my reviews

This review is from: Effective Police Leadership - 3rd Edition (Paperback)

I only read this book because I had to as part of a promotion process/assessment center. First, the editing was non-existent. Seriously. Grammar, spelling, syntax errors abounded. Many subjects and themes overlapped, repeated and contradicted each other in various chapters, separated by whole other chapters. Also, give us some credit for not being complete idiots. Enough with the "can-do" platitudes.

It was difficult to read for comprehension and could have used a LOT of editing. It was only slightly more enjoyable to read than "The Green Monster" of old, only because it wasn't as lengthy. It had none of the redeeming values of "The Monster". It was as if the author just dictated this stuff of the top of his head and sprinkled a bunch of end notes around for credibility. It didn't work. The only good thing about the "case studies" was that they took up space and were somewhat cohesive as opposed to the rest of the rambling.

I can only guess that the glowing reviews of this book came from friends, relatives, coworkers, subordinates, students of the author or other instructors at the same university hoping for a reciprocal 5-star snow (I said SNOW) job. I've been a police officer for over 26 years, have been promoted several times and have read my share of self-improvement books and books required for testing purposes. This was one of the worst.

The theme for most of the book seemed to be: "Community policing good, traditional policing bad. Nobody knows what Community Policing is, but we do know that police command should be decentralized and command authority should be given to police officers in the field and they should all attend neighborhood watch meetings. Also, you need to hire psychologists, sociologists and professional planners to evaluate your department."

The Army's loss was the police book mill's gain. The price was two or three times what it should have been. I haven't looked at the "study guide" yet, but it better be better than this book.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT POLICE LEADERSHIP BOOK!, September 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Effective Police Leadership (Paperback)

EFFECTIVE POLICE LEADERSHIP is reader friendly, inspirational and includes case study applications. The book is a combination of relevant theories and practical applications. It meets the needs of the men and women of law enforcement and students interested in the field of criminal justice.

EFFECTIVE POLICE LEADERSHIP addresses two key leadership requirements: Character and Competence. The book provides police officers the navigational system for developing a can do attitude. The chapters and themes provide a compass for developing vision, inspiration and direction. This book offers practical techniques and can do leadership strategies for over-coming obstacles police leaders encounter everyday.

EFFECTIVE POLICE LEADERSHIP is for police officers and students who aspire to serve in a leadership capacity. This book is an excellent resource for studying future responsibilities and promotional opportunities. The book explores the roles of chief, senior leader, middle manager and sergeant. The chapters and themes develop essential leadership skills that encourage others to follow your leadership in the Twenty-First Century.

EFFECTIVE POLICE LEADERSHIP provides a framework for your professional leadership development. The book will help you answer three essential leadership questions: Where am I going? How will I get there? and How will I know when I have arrived?

This book offers practical guidelines. I believe this book inspires you to reach your fullest potential as an effective police leader. I encourage anyone interested in this topic to consider purchasing this book.