TORONTO, December 13, 2000 -- The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) has approved a new leadership development program that provides the next generation of top police officers with MBA-style executive training from one of the world’s best business schools.

This new initiative, called the Police Leadership Program, is designed to give experienced law enforcement professionals the unique management skills required for leading a police service successfully in today’s environment of social and political change. The program, developed in partnership with the University of Toronto’s Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, begins in early 2001.

“The duties of a police officer have changed dramatically in the past decade,” says OACP spokesman Ron Bain, Deputy Chief of the Peel Regional Police and Chair of the OACP Training Committee. “In today’s complex, fast-changing world, an effective police leader must be an expert at much more than law enforcement. Top police officers need to know how to lead organizations effectively and understand the ‘business’ issues that affect their ability to serve the public. The better we become at leading and running a police force, the better we can serve and protect the people of Ontario.”

The Police Leadership Program includes executive-level training in fields such as organizational development, leadership and team-building, financial management and stakeholder relations. The program is the result of a detailed study recently completed by the OACP that identified the skills required for future police leaders. Program participants are nominated by their commanding officers and identified as having the potential to advance toward a command position.

“The Police Leadership Program will ensure police chiefs and others with leadership responsibilities have the skills and knowledge to accomplish the goals of their organizations effectively, with maximum concern for public safety and quality service,” says OACP President, Bruce J. Davis, Chief of the South Simcoe Police.

Each of the courses is designed to reinforce fundamental concepts, build on participants’ law enforcement experience and develop competency-based executive-level skills. Program instruction is based on the team-based learning philosophy that the Rotman School incorporates in its programs, including the Executive MBA.

“The courses combine in-class instruction, peer-based learning, simulations, team projects and individual assignments,” explains Professor Joseph D'Cruz, Academic Director of the Program and Professor of Strategic Management at the Rotman School. “We find this approach creates a powerful learning environment where new concepts are quickly understood and put into action.”

The OACP is a professional services organization of more than 1,000 members that promotes competent administration of policing services, co-ordinates police training and education and provides timely information. The Association continually strives to increase the efficiency of law enforcement agencies for the protection and service of the people of Ontario.

Recently ranked by Business Week in the top tier of business schools in the world, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School offers leading-edge research and undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the prestigious Rotman MBA, the newly redesigned Part-Time MBA, the Executive MBA, a first-rate Doctoral Program, the distinctive Master of Management & Professional Accounting program, combined programs with the University of Toronto faculties of Law, Engineering and Nursing, and an innovative series of Executive Programs tailored to the current needs of businesses and individual managers.

John Mason
Marketing & Communications Officer
Rotman School of Management
Voice: (416) 978-1985
E-mail: mason@rotman.utoronto.ca

Udo Rauk
Director, Operations
OACP
Voice: (705) 946-6389, ext. 1
E-mail: oacp@oacp.on.ca

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