Got Promoted

Z

zebra

Registered
After getting skipped once and waiting a year I finally got promoted! I am now a "Captain." I will be leaving patrol division and will be responsible for "research and development," in addition to overseeing various services such as "Training" and "Records Division."

And get this: I am going to have to learn how to keep our computer network up and running, and to improve it.

I am sure I will be needing a ton of advice in this area, starting with: What kind of training should I start with? Has anyone here been to any training they would like to recommend? I have only rudimentary computer skills. (But much better than most on my department!)

I am happy to be getting my own real office and THREE computers! I'll be trading in my marked car for a solid black one.

Just thought I'd share!
 
RE: Got Promoted

Congratulations Stephanie! I hope you enjoy your new position. See if a local community college offers courses that you can take at night. I'm sure you will get some advice from those of us 'in the know'.

BTW, I just cruised through your state last week, and it was a quick one. Of course, I did not speed too bad. A few state troopers did startle me at times. Once I thought I was busted, but he let me pass at 77 in a 70.
 
RE: Got Promoted

Congratulations!

You could offer martial arts training for your officers. Something that focuses on non-lethal control techniques, like Hapkido, can be very effective in law enforcement. Whereas sport-styles like Tae Kwon Do are probably not going to be very useful to an officer on the street. just MHO.

On the computer support topic - I would recommend you get a reasonable budget and contract with a well-reputed local company. Also, constatnly look for ways to innovate your IT technology (talking to the people that use it) and try to secure a recurring annual budget for IT R&D, at the Captain's spending discretion. The lower the control, the more effective the innovation.

One more piece of advice, if you don't mind - HAVE FUN!

David

94 Mark VIII, Black / Black
 
RE: Got Promoted

Naw, the black car will be a well-used LT1 Caprice. I wish I could tint the windows and get nice wheels...
 
RE: Got Promoted

You can bust me anytime, Captain.

'93 MonsterMark Project Car
Bryan
 
RE: Got Promoted

Oh god! Not RESEARCH!

You'll be fine....Your fellow co-workers will be wondering what you do now...They'll also be calling you night and day to correct their computer mistakes on arrests, transfers and everyday stupid things..You better learn some politics fast too...You're on the way up and the higher you are, the sharper the axes get down below..

By the way...C'GRATS!!

te
94
LM8
150k miles

GOOD LUCK!!
 
RE: Got Promoted

Congratulations.

Since you asked, I will offer some advice. I'm just going to assume that you will do whatever it takes and learn whatever you need to learn to do well at your new position. But looking to the future and higher promotions, I would suggest that you begin taking courses in business management, preferably to recieve an MBA degree. Like I said, I'll assume that you'll do what it takes to learn the requirements of your new job and this business course of study will be in addition to anything you need to learn now.

I'm suggesting this because I was just involved in interviewing candidates and hiring a new deputy chief for our police dep't. The candidates that studied business stood out markedly from the other candidates. The higher you rise in the ranks, the more you become an administrator with a need for the skills taught at business school, i.e. budgetting, staffing, managing resources, utilizing technology, preparing reports and business plans, etc. Beat cops don't generally learn these administratve skills, yet they are the ones promoted to fulfill those functions. Those that have the training before being promoted have an advantage in the promotion process.

The candidate we selected for deputy chief was a business school graduate.

Dave.
'02 Camaro SS
Former VIII owner.
 
RE: Got Promoted

Nice work. Skipped Lieutenant and went strait to Captain. I suspect that you are very experienced in politics to accomplish that rank in what, 12 years? The most important thing you could do would be to take courses in grant writing. There are many grants out there from the gov't to purchase computers and software. There may also be grants available to hire an M.I.S. person.

Your job is to deligate people to accomplish these tasks, not do them yourself. It will be exceptionally cheeper to hire a civillian to do this stuff than a cop. When you factor in the cost of salary, insurance, pension and all the other crap that comes with a cop it could be nearly half as much to hire somebody. Also, check with city hall to see if they have M.I.S. people that can help. This way the cost of this person is coming out of thier budget.

If all of those options lead to a dead end, put a team together. Put a memo out stating that you are looking for volunteers to assist in the design and implimentation of a computer system in the p.d., then start a rumor that those who help would be given first consideration or increased consideration when promotion's are given out next time. Either way, you are going to get a lot of volunteers. Cop's get tired of shagging call's every day and are alway's looking for something different to do. Have regular meeting's with these people and encourage them to be a part of the future of the agency.

Adam
 
RE: Got Promoted

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

I've been slowly working on finishing my college degree part time in the evenings. I am majoring in Criminal Justice simply because I have that part completed, and my minor is still up in the air. I am having problems deciding what to do when I grow up. I'm considering management classes, but also engineering and others.
The inside job will be a nice change. My own office will be especially nice!

I'll be hitting you up for computer advice now in addition to car stuff!
 
RE: Got Promoted

Congrats Stephanie. Oh, I'm sorry, Captain Stephanie. There is enough help around the site to help you out. I can lend a thing or two about web images if you need. Congrats again.
 
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