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The Journey Begins
Charles Roca, Chief of Police, City of Allentown.
When I reflect on leadership, it brings me back to the days of my youth and thinking about what leadership meant. Is leadership something that you are born with or a learned skill that is refined and tested over time?I remember seeing Ronald Regan elected president of the United States of America in 1981. I observed on the television the crowds that were gathered and the people cheering for our 40th president. Atthe young age of sixyears, I was impressed with the inaugural address that President Reagan gave. A part of his speech that was inspiring even today is where he states “Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children. And as we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will be seen as having greater strength throughout the world. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom.”
How inspiring these words were to me. I understood that my parents came to this great nation for the American dream and to provide a better life. As I experienced life and matured into adulthood, I had the goal of becoming an Allentown Police Officer and was fortunate to be selected to join the department in January 2002. I recall how happy I was to achieve this goal. At this point, I did not foresee that I would eventually become chief.
Evolving
Law enforcement is a field where continued education is paramount to success. Of course, education is acquired in many forms and can be presented both formally and informally. As a new patrolman, I learned how to be a police officer from veteran officers who were appointed to teach me the ways of modern law enforcement according to department standards. The budding of my leadership style began to take place within me. Often, leadership is taught in a formal environment with specific courses of instruction that officers take and can implement within their scope. I attended multiple formal courses of instruction that provided best practices in leadership at various levels of formalized rank.
"Leadership does not stay stagnant, but it evolves with the people’s needs."
There is also the impact of mentors within the department who provide a wellspring of knowledge and experience for officers to consider and apply in their approach to policing. In my career, there have been two such leaders/mentors who have taken a personal interest in me and have taken the time to impart their wisdom and challenge me to understand what leadership is about. I began to realize that leadership is not just attending a course of instruction or having formalized rank. Leadership evolves and is a journey that presents challenges. I quickly learned that leadership does not always equate to happiness.
"Leadership does not stay stagnant, but it evolves with the people’s needs.”
As I navigated the formal ranks of leadership within the department, my driving thought in considering whether to go for that promotion or not was “If not you, then who?” Formalized rank is only one aspect of leadership and does not automatically grant one respect. As a leader, one must be able to put your team’s needs above your own. There is no place for selfishness or self-promotion in this role. Establishing yourself as a voice for your team and an advocate for the people you serve in my opinion is that path to making real progress in the communities that we serve. Police officers at times struggle with change but true leadership is a vehicle in which positive growth can happen.
Leadership does not stay stagnant, but it evolves with the people’s needs. This journey is not alone though as one leads through service before self this empowers your team members and creates an atmosphere that our officers can be proud of and take part in. Leadership is a living and breathing concept.
Ever Forward
In June of 2021, I was humbled and honored to become chief of the Allentown Police Department. I recall meeting with the mayor at the time. The mayor asked if I would step into the role and for a moment, time froze and I could recall very quickly the events that impacted my life and shaped the person that I am. Facing challenges and adversity shapes a person’s character and the people who I have connected with shape my compass to keep me pointed in the right direction.
As a nation, we have navigated through the COVID pandemic and have faced the microscopic view of policing in the wake of the George Floyd incident. As police leaders, we must make decisions that serve the officers of our department and benefit the communities in our care. A key element to this is communication. Establishing relationships and creating an atmosphere of respect will establish the foundation for your respective leadership to be appreciated and deemed necessary.
Embrace challenges. Look to build community and understand that the process involves tough conversations that ultimately lead to a resilient and engaged community. We must look for opportunities to unite and not divide.
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