By Michael Sale

In the August/September 2012 edition of Blue Line Magazine, psychology columnist, Dr. Dorothy Cotton, asks an old question: “Is it useful for a police officer to have some higher education?” By higher education, she means something beyond the traditional high-school diploma.

It was not so long ago that many police officers with a post-secondary education would not let it be known that they possessed a university degree for fear of incurring a negative reaction from peers and supervisors.

By Michael Sale

Recently, while attending the annual conference of the FBI National Academy Associates, I sat through my fifth presentation by Gordon Graham, law enforcement’s leading expert on risk management. I realize, now, that risk management should be a way of life and not something we simply apply to our professional responsibilities.

By Dennis Porter

Many officers are pursuing college degrees to advance their careers. An officer with a degree is more likely to stay with his or her agency longer and less likely to receive discipline. They are often better suited to take on higher-level positions. Many supervisors encourage officers to earn degrees in nontraditional subjects that will help them develop skills and knowledge that will shape them into well-rounded people. Read more about some of the most common nontraditional degree programs for LEOs.

By Michael Sale

One of my all-time favorite movies is Cecil B. DeMille’s, The Buccaneer, with Yul Brynner (Paramount Pictures, 1958). While there are many aspects of this picture that raise questions about Hollywood’s creative historical license, I often recall that this was where I learned my first important lesson about responsibility.

By Robin L. Thompson, DM

The many political games and power plays occurring throughout the world on a daily basis are not always as they appear. Members of the intelligence community (IC) must proactively seek out clues and dig deeper to fully comprehend what is really happening behind the scenes.

By Michael Sale

I remember the glory days of the Toronto Maple Leafs when they won four Stanley Cups from 1962 to 1967. During the holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s, the Leafs established a tradition of holding an “open house” for one of their practices. I can still remember going to Maple Leaf Gardens to see my hockey heroes at one of those events and I often

By James McLaughlin

With the financial strains currently facing many city managers and mayors throughout the country, consolidation of services is a hot topic in town halls everywhere. Because fire and police departments are often two of the most expensive departments in the total budget, it is not surprising that the consolidation of the two makes sense to fiscal managers as a way to save money in the short term.

By Jeff Kuhn

Public safety agencies continue to grapple with challenges of effective succession planning brought on by the aging of baby-boomers, early retirements due to budgetary cutbacks, and lack of resources for adequate management training. The responsibility for preparing future leadership within these agencies is most commonly placed in the hands of police, fire and emergency management executives.

By James Green, Jr.

Have you ever wondered how the President and senior policymakers arrive at national security decisions? How our military forces maneuver through the battle spaces and know exactly where enemy forces are? What gives our first responders and other emergency personnel an advantage during natural or man-made disasters?