The book, Challenging the Law Enforcement Organization: Proactive Leadership Strategies (updated edition, October 1, 2022), is an E-book that is a summary of many of my presentations. Among the topics discussed are chapters on the impact of living and policing an unskilled and violent society, why law enforcement managers fail to successfully impact their agencies, and chapters on self-management, communication, motivation, and being more effective in our personal lives. Many of these latter “strategy” chapters have examples of proactive techniques used by law enforcement managers as well as “action items” to apply the principles examined in each chapter.

Why Law Enforcement Organizations Faildissects headline cases to examine how things go wrong in criminal justice agencies. The third edition features new cases in each chapter including coverage of LaQuan McDonald's death; excessive force in Baltimore and during the Ferguson riots; and the death of Deborah Danner, a mentally ill woman in New York. Highlight cases that remain from earlier editions include New Orleans' Danziger Bridge after Hurricane Katrina; the death of Amadou Diallo; the Jon Benet Ramsey murder investigation; and the conflagration that ended the siege at the MOVE house in Philadelphia. These human tragedies and organizational debacles serve as starting points for exploring how common structural and cultural fault lines in police organizations set the stage for major failures. The author provides a framework for sorting through these cases to help readers recognize the distinct roles of operational mechanics, organizational structures, rank and file culture and executive hubris in making criminal justice agencies vulnerable to failure. The book examines how dysfunctions such as institutional racism, sexual harassment, systems abuse and renegade enforcement become established and then readily blossom into major scandals. Why Law Enforcement Organizations Fail also shows how managers and oversight officials can spot malignant individuals, identify perverse incentives, neutralize deviant cultures and recognize when reigning managerial philosophies or governing policies are producing diminishing or negative returns. This book is jargon-free and communicates plainly with students and criminal justice professionals. This is a highly-teachable book that also provides pragmatic long-term guidance for how to deal with crises, prevent their recurrence and restore organizational legitimacy. This book is an excellent centerpiece for any class on police organization and management, criminal justice policy or police-community relations. Praise for earlier editions:

This book is designed to help law enforcement professionals overcome the internal assaults they experience both personally and organizationally over the course of their careers. These assaults can transform idealistic and committed officers into angry, cynical individuals, leading to significant problems in both their personal and professional lives.

A veteran police chief's hard-won lessons on leading yourself, leading others, and leading an organization. Essential Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line is just that &– lessons learned the old-fashioned way through trial and error, studying, hard work, and experience while on our nation's front lines to serve and protect. Dean Crisp spent decades leading people where a single misstep could cost a life. Faced with the daily challenges of a police chief, Dean threw himself into learning all he could about effective leadership and applying those lessons in his departments. He shares those hard-won lessons in this book. Dean lays the book out into three key sections that build on each other to help you become a better leader: Leading Yourself, Leading Others, Leading the Organization. Dean's approach to leadership is built on his concept of Diamond Leadership, a four-point method that creates a self-perpetuating synergy for positive change. Dean has taught this method in elite conferences to countless rising leaders, and now he brings it to you. "I think that all leaders want to be really good at leading and most seek ways to improve. Some are even willing to go to extraordinary lengths to become the best. I am hoping this book will inspire others to be their best and to constantly strive to get better, to shoot for the stars, to get outside their comfort zones, and to push themselves to become remarkable." &–Dean Crisp Built on the success of Dean's debut leadership book, Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line, this new release features a revised approach to the curriculum, expanded information, and a streamlined formula to develop the leader within you. Essential Leadership Lessons from the Thin Blue Line uses personal anecdotes to drive home the human element of leadership and will connect with you at any point on your journey to becoming a significant leader. "My motive and intent in writing this book is simple: I want to provide the reader with leadership lessons and experiences which I hope will help you, the reader, to become a better leader and, more importantly, a better person." &–Dean Crisp

Terrorism threats and increased school and workplace violence have always generated headlines, but in recent years, the response to these events has received heightened media scrutiny. Critical Incident Management: A Complete Resource Guide, Second Edition provides evidence-based, tested, and proven methodologies applicable to a host of scenarios that may be encountered in the public and private sector. Filled with tactical direction designed to prevent, contain, manage, and resolve emergencies and critical incidents efficiently and effectively, this volume explores: The phases of a critical incident response and tasks that must be implemented to stabilize the scene Leadership style and techniques required to manage a critical incident successfully The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) Guidelines for responding to hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction incidents Critical incident stress management for responders Maintaining continuity of business and delivery of products or services in the face of a crisis Roles of high-level personnel in setting policy and direction for the response and recovery efforts Augmented by Seven Critical TasksTM that have been the industry standard for emergency management and response, the book guides readers through every aspect of a critical incident: from taking initial scene command, to managing resources, to resolution, and finally to recovery and mitigation from the incident. The authors’ company, BowMac Educational Services, Inc., presently conducts five courses certified by the Department of Homeland Security. These hands-on "Simulation Based" Courses will prepare your personnel to handle any unexpected scenario. For additional information contact: 585-624-9500 or [email protected].