Statement of Purpose My career has been filled with diverse assignments that include patrol enforcement, investigations, crisis negotiations, computer forensics, field training, and supervision. As I moved through these positions and became a supervisor myself, I learned that leadership is a skill, an art, and a delicate balance that will deteriorate without active engagement. Ethical and effective leadership changes with the culture and environment which we seek to lead, and the law enforcement culture is in a constant state of evolution as we proceed through the 21st century. Higher education, practical application, and innovation are areas that I wanted to improve upon to become a better leader when I learned about The University of San Diego’s Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership Master’s program.
After eighteen years of experience in law enforcement, the LEPSL program ignited a fire within me. I have completed courses exploring current enforcement issues, updated case law decisions, community engagement, leadership, conflict resolution, and budget analysis, all with an emphasis on practical application. I began this program as a newly promoted Corporal on the weekend graveyard shift. By integrating the knowledge I have gained through research, written papers, and discussions with classmates, I am now supervising a unit of 20 individuals and preparing for further promotions. Some of my work that began as a school project has been approved by the Chief of Police, viewed by our City Council Members, and provided to our citizens as a formal police department document. This integrative capstone project provides an introspective view of my journey through the program, highlighting significant law enforcement changes during my career. My portfolio will serve as a dynamic and engaging resume that showcases the type of leader I am working to become and the progress I have made through my written work. The pendulum of community support for law enforcement has shifted dramatically during my career, which began with the events of 9/11. In the years that followed, I learned that there is so much more to policing than just enforcing the law. The LEPSL program is built around this idea, which embraces innovative police procedures, changed expectations, increased educational requirements, resiliency, and a passion for community service while focusing on ethical and effective leadership. My capstone project demonstrates how the philosophy of LEPSL became a reality for me. |
Corporal Abby Padgett |