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Trent University post-grad program is “missing link in police learning continuum,” says retired chief

As policing continues to evolve, Trent University-Durham GTA has announced it now offers senior police leaders a new program to train them in the ever-changing and complex accountability, legal and governance frameworks of police services and police services boards.

The postgraduate certificate in senior police leadership, offered to practicing police leaders, both sworn and civilian, at the sergeant level and above, can be completed at Trent’s GTA campus in as little as 12 months, starting as early as September, the school states. Applications for this program are now being accepted, with the first “foundations” course starting the week of September 23, 2019.

“Successful leaders in the highest ranks of today’s police services require a unique set of skills: strategic vision and planning, political prowess, team building and motivation, media expertise, budgeting, and an understanding of complex community needs,” said Leo Groarke, president and vice-chancellor at Trent University. “These types of skills and training cannot be attained through career assignments alone – today’s police leaders need a new senior police leadership curriculum.”

A team of academics and senior police leaders, both active and retired, created this program, which combines the theory and practice of leadership, policing operations, human resources, the governance and oversight of police agencies and decision-making in complex environments.

“I believe this program is the missing link in the police learning continuum around leadership and management,” says Murray Rodd, retired chief of police for the Peterborough Police Service, who was involved with the development of the program. “Policing has evolved to include more calls that used to be outside of police mandate and modern police leaders must also evolve with the times.”

The program’s flexibility allows learners to complete course blocks on their own schedule, choosing from a variety of dates that are most convenient.

Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S., also offers a variety of police leadership certificates online, including an Advanced Police Leadership certificate for officers of all ranks.

“All courses stand on their own and can be taken independent of the certificate program for those that just want to take a course or two to fill in competency gaps,” notes the Dalhousie program director.