As policing continues to evolve, Trent University Durham GTA 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 unique 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. Applications for this unique program are now being accepted, with the first Foundations course commencing 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,” says Dr. 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 certificate 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. Supervisors and managers in police services who are hoping to progress in their careers and to take their place as leaders in modern policing should seriously consider continuing their education through this certificate – not just for themselves, but also for their communities.”

The program’s flexibility allows learners to complete course blocks on a variety of key topics from governance and civilian oversight to police leaders foundations and leadership skills, on their own schedule, choosing from a variety of dates that are most convenient.

Unique teaching teams made up of academics and serving or retired senior police leaders will teach courses. Each five-day course is designed around a mix of lectures, case studies, and seminar discussions to ensure that every opportunity is utilized to learn from the experiences of academics, senior practitioners and learners alike, using best practices for meaningful professional learning.

Applications are now being accepted for this program. Learn more at trentu.ca/policeleaders