Hey, I just got promoted!

Oct. 10, 2007
Never let the position go to your head.

This should be one of the happiest days of your career. Celebrate with your family and friends and thank them for their support. Be sure to avoid gloating. There is a clear line between gloating and celebrating. Now, get ready for fun and a greater responsibility in developing your personnel and your department. Remember, attitude is everything! Keep a positive outlook, no matter how bad things may seem. Anyone can complain, but it takes a really strong person to rise above the din of complaints and maintain an upbeat, positive attitude. You are now a department role model for your officers. You are also their mentor, cheerleader and confidant. You are special because out of all the candidates that interviewed for this position, you made it! How special is that?

You are no longer their peer, but having said that, you must never forget your roots. Even as a chief of police, I always remembered that I started as a patrolman. This was my basis in law enforcement, where I was taught how to be a police officer. Listen to all of your personnel because, oftentimes, they have some great ideas for solving many of your problems. Never let the position go to your head.

You worked hard for this position, so enjoy it and never be ashamed that you were chosen over someone else. There will always be someone who does not think you deserve the position, don't let them rain on your parade. I always believed that you must respect a person in order for their opinion to mean anything. People that tried to put me down or stated that I didn't deserve a position were not on my top ten list to begin with, so their opinion didn't matter to me--nor should it matter to you.

The job is yours because you were the best candidate for the job. Congratulations!!!

This is a great time in your career and I am excited for you, because now is the time when you will make many decisions that will affect your future. It is also the time to look at your career in a different light. At first you were just trying to perfect your profession, but now you have the opportunity to make changes and develop others who will follow your lead. Change is great and you are becoming a part of it. So do your best and enjoy the ride.

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