I have taken courses on ethics in graduate school. The study of human behavior and choices at that level is a stretch for most anyone. Sometimes it is helpful to return to the basics. I had that experience today.

We had an area meeting for one of the law agencies I serve today. The newly appointed captain came out to meet those working under his command. He is an impressive leader both in stature and in attitude! He told those who will answer to him two things that I took note of today.

He impressed on everyone that lying will not be tolerated. In fact, dishonesty forms the basis for immediate dismissal. That sounds like ethics 101, but in a litigous society many departments will jump through a lot of hoops before dismissing someone who has obviously been deceptive.
Even if an officer has made a horrible mistake, honesty is still expected.

The second theme he touched on is candor. He urged those under his command to speak up and speak candidly at will. I find that his comment interesting. In my 20 years of working around law enforcement leaders, I have taken note that good cops don’t always make good supervisors.
I should explain: Cops are tempted to deal with each other the way they deal with a criminal on the street. That of course very unhealthy and does not promote trust or mutual respect. I sense that this new generation of law enforcement leaders are ready to embrace more effective models of leadership. Words like collaborate and candor are now an integral part of their vocabulary.

I am sure the officers are wary. They are going to check out their new leader carefully, but they like what they are hearing. Cops are generally a good judge of character. They sense that our new captain is the real thing. I am excited about serving under a leader who exhibits and expects integrity. Honesty and candor are both good ethical qualites that cannot be learned in the classroom.