The Criminal Justice Commission for Credible Leadership Development (CJC-CLD®) conferred Credible Law Enforcement Organization certification upon the Linn County Sheriff’s Office on May 21, 2019, making it one of only two law enforcement agencies in the nation to receive this recognition.
This agency certification was the culmination of a five-year process in which Sheriff’s Office employees participated in an ethical leadership development training program through the Institute for Credible Leadership Development (ICLD). Many employees went on to receive Certified Credible Leader (CCL) certification through the International Academy of Public Safety, which qualified the agency for Credible Leadership Organization (CLO) certification.
Employees participating in this two-day training and certification process have completed a total of 256 hours of leadership training, read eight leadership textbooks, and successfully passed 45 on-line examinations, verifying their understanding of the concepts and principles of the ICLD training.
Becoming a Credible Leadership Organization (CLO) requires a commitment to build an agency, which represents the highest of ethical standards and is dedicated to developing personnel with an unparalleled level of service capability and orientation to the community. The progressive CLO agency is reform-minded, future-focused and seeks to continuously strengthen the organization by developing its people as leaders and by extension, provides a problem-solving leadership role in the community.
The goal of the CLO program is to put an infrastructure of progressive processes in place that deliver continuously improved services. The CLO prioritizes human capital development as the strength of individuals contribute to the strength of the organization. The CLO becomes a trusted partner in the community’s work to solve problems that contribute to overall well-being that are not limited to safety and security. Ultimately, the CLO becomes a focal point for positive change.
As part of the award, Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner received the following letter from the Criminal Justice Commission on Credible Leadership:
May 21, 2019
Sheriff Brian Gardner
Linn County Sheriff’s office
310 2nd Avenue SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Dear Sheriff Gardner,
On behalf of the Commissioners of the Criminal Justice Commission on Credible Leadership (CJCCLD) of the National Command & Staff College (NCSC), I am delighted to recognize the Linn County Sheriff’s Office as a Credible Leadership Organization (CLO). With this recognition, your agency is now among the two (2) law enforcement agencies in America our Commission has officially recognized as a CLO. BRAVO!
As you may already know, receiving this recognition requires a commitment to building an agency which represents the highest level of ethical standards and dedicated to developing personnel with an unparalleled level of service capability and orientation to the community. Besides administering and enforcing the law, the agency must evolve to meet current and anticipate future demands by continuously developing human and organizational capacity to build and stabilize ideas in the agency and within the community. It is not enough to develop a new cadre of Certified Credible Leaders; the organization has a responsibility to put these new change agents to work by:
Focusing on human capacity development – Staff is viewed in terms of a single force that is creative, motivated to contribute, qualified to build an idea to permanence, career oriented and promotable.
Being involved in community betterment – Serve and Protect will encompass a new social contract with the community where problems will be addressed with locally defined matrixes of partners with new credible leaders serving in a significant leadership role.
Developing a leadership learning environment – Leadership training, education and professional development and, most important, application is continuous and of the highest possible quality. Encouraging credible leaders to be independent thinkers to improve processes and resolve problems they see to improve the organization and by extension, the community; this requires an open environment and acceptance of critical thinking.
Incubating ideas – New ideas improve the organization and meet community needs through invigorated and enlightened leadership, long-term persistence and especially resources for project development. Direction from leadership, but with clear encouragement of new independent ideas, demonstrates support and motivation for staff. Application of new ideas from staff is a clear illustration of leadership at its best.
In your journey to achieve Credible Leadership Organization merit in the last 5 years, you have accomplished the above and more with a sincere sense of duty, obligation and supererogation. A significant number of your sworn and civilian personnel have completed over 6,000 hours of ethical based leadership education and developmental programs on a voluntary basis. This has included reading eight (8) books, taken over 1,400 exams with eight (8) members going beyond to achieving the “Credible Leader Certification” from the college. Furthermore, our recent randomized polls within your county has revealed a community satisfaction index of 93% and a customer service rating of 91%. Over 75% of your community members say they find your agency to be professional, caring, ethical and responsive with a high sense of safety for the community you serve.
It is my honor and pleasure to acknowledge your agency for this national achievement. The Linn County Sheriff’s office truly exemplifies “Credible Leadership Organizations” as envisioned by our Commission for America.
Regards,
Mitch Javidi, Ph.D.,
Chancellor, National Command & Staff College
Adjunct Professor, NC State University
Founder, Criminal Justice Commission for Credible Leadership Development
Honorary Member, US Army Special Operations Command 1999
Honorary Sheriff ~ Awarded by the National Sheriff’s Association 2015