Senior Police Officers Receive Training in Leadership and Management

Senior officers in the Belize Police Department will be receiving training in leadership and management skills over the course of the next two weeks in Belmopan. Senior Officers Development Training kicked off this morning with its first cohort of commanding officers. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says the training was developed to increase the efficiency of the Police Department. The training will include aspects management and leadership. We spoke with Superintendent Leslie Wade the Director of Training at the Belize Police Department, in Belmopan today.

Leslie Wade

Supt Leslie Wade, Director of Training, Belize Police Department

“This morning we have commenced the first cohort of the Senior Officers Development Training for the senior officers of the Belize Police Department. This is training particularly in the area of leadership and management, particularly in the area of leadership and management for our senior element of the department which mainly comprises of formation commanders. As soon as we are through with them within the next two weeks we will also bring in their deputy commanders to also participate in this same training. As I speak about management, they will be receiving training in the areas of role of a manager, the process of management, the role of a leader, your leadership skills, leadership qualities. They will also receive training in the area of communication, communication skills, how do you manage assets and also how you manage human resources. As a department and the Director of Training, I believe that leadership is key as it relates to our managers out there. I believe in leading from the front. The only way you would be able lead from the front is if you have the basic knowledge as to how to lead. Time to time I have seen where people have been placed in managerial positions and they are not equipped with the knowledge or the know how to carry out their daily duties. So, training is continues learning and that is the reason why we brought this cohort of senior officers here, which we believe is critical at this time, especially in this era we are living in, for them to come and gather the necessary knowledge skills, and tools so they can go out there and effectively manage their formation.”