Police Promotions
In every profession, there are different levels of promotions where employees can start off at a low level and work their way up to supervisory positions. Nowhere is this more important than at the police level. Promotions for police officers play a vital role for the following reasons:
- Promotions build a motivated and professional law enforcement department.
- They recognize the dedication officers put into studying criminal law, criminal procedure, and other police related knowledge that is instrumental for Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, Deputy Chiefs, and Chiefs.
- They recognize the experience and competence of officers who are committed to public service.
Promotions within a police department show that the department rewards merit, performance, and encourages officers to hold the highest of standards. By promoting officers within the department who hold high standards, and are well trained and motivated, it ensures that the leadership positions within the department are held by individuals who have practical, hands-on experience, and who have shown decision making skills which can assist in dealing with a wide array of calls for service, from the most critical of critical incidents to the simplest assist citizen calls.
Experienced officers who assume leadership roles through promotions are essential, as they guide the younger officers, providing them with the necessary skills and tools to succeed in policing, and to also handle critical thinking incidents, engage in proper public safety, and this in turn will strengthen the relationship between the department and the citizens they are sworn to protect. The guiding of younger officers is also crucial as it allows supervisors to potentially become leaders, allowing them to play vital roles in the growth of the younger officers as they branch out into the various positions within police departments.
Promotions are also important in the police department because officers who see opportunities for vertical growth within the department are motivated to perform their duties to the highest of levels. Stagnation can breed laziness, mistrust, and anger for the department, whereas if there are clear opportunities for vertical enhancement, officers will be more apt to engage in training and other areas to expand on their professional knowledge. Numerous studies have shown that officers with higher levels of knowledge overall tend to be better decision makers, better critical thinkers, and better developed skills to contribute to an overall better police department.
Unfortunately, The New Bedford Police Department is short ranking officers, specifically Captains and numerous Sergeants. As a result, we have officers now who are on a promotional list that is going to expire. These officers put extensive hours into preparing for the promotional exams, and it is most unfortunate that due to a lack of vertical growth they will figuratively “die” on the list. These officers, many who are senior and have a vast array of experience through different specialized assignments in the department, would be instrumental in shaping the minds of young officers and providing them with the skills needed to succeed.
When the issue of promotions has been brought up, the Chief of Police and Assistant Deputy Chiefs are aware that promotions need to be made, but ultimately whether they are made or not falls upon City Hall and the departmental budget. With all the vacant positions, the Union is hopeful that promotions will be made soon, however it is dependent on whether the Mayor signs off on the promotions and allows them to be made.
In conclusion, effective police promotions contribute to a stronger police force, which in turn contributes to a more trusted police force, allowing for the maintaining and fostering of not only public confidence in law enforcement, but also inner confidence amongst officers within the department that their efforts to better themselves do not go unnoticed. This in turn will boost overall morale with officers seeing clear lines of vertical growth, offering them opportunities to better themselves, which in turn will make things better for the people of the City of New Bedford.
Respectfully submitted,
Officer Lorenzo Gonzalez III
NBPU President
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