Professional Development Training Continues for Springfield Police Supervisors
Springfield, Mass — Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood is pleased to announce she is sending a dozen Springfield Police Supervisors to a professional development leadership program beginning Friday January 21st.
The Police Leadership Blue Sky Program is taught by Babson College Faculty and will be held in seven full-day sessions on Friday’s through early March at the Springfield Police Training Facility on Page Boulevard. The program is designed to help drive a culture of creativity and innovation in decision-making and leadership skills as well as build better relationships within the community. Ten Lieutenants and two Sergeants will attend this program.
Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood stated, “Professional Development and leadership training is an area that we continue to address at the Springfield Police Department as it is vital for our Supervisory staff. We strive to provide the best training and education for all our Supervisors and Mayor Sarno has supported this mission from the onset. This professional development training is in line with the highest professional standard and will also assist us in our pursuit of obtaining state certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) as we continue to modernize our police department and provide our supervisors with the best training and education available.”
”Public Safety Officers keep us safe. Babson’s professional development and leadership program will help Springfield’s Superior officers leverage all of their skills and talents together to maximize positive relationships with the community. I commend the leadership of Mayor Sarno and Commissioner Clapprood who continue to put forward real tangible solutions that help protect lives and property”, said Kevin J. Sullivan, Vice President of Engagement at Babson College and former Lawrence Mayor.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “I want to commend Commissioner Clapprood and her leadership team for their continued commitment to professional development and leadership training for our SPD supervisors. These training sessions will continue to enhance our police/community relations and will serve to protect not only our brave and dedicated men and women in Blue but just as important better serve our residents and business community. As Commissioner Clapprood stated, these vital professional development training follows the highest professional standards and fall in line with our commitment to becoming state certified from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.”
The program will focus on taking care of yourself in a stressful profession, performance management and decision-making under stress. Additionally an important aspect of the program is the completion of the Reflected Best Self Exercise which was developed at the University of Michigan and reviewed in the Harvard Business Review. The program is taught by Babson College Faculty members Scott Taylor and Dwight Gertz.
Taylor is an Assistant Professor and the Inaugural Arthur M. Blank Endowed Chair for Values-Based Leadership at The Blank School at Babson College. His research focuses on leadership assessment and development. He has worked with more than 50 companies including the National Football League, Biogen, Pfizer and the City of Albuquerque.
Gertz is a Senior Lecturer of strategy, leadership and executive decision-making at Babson. He has 25 years of experience including teaching admirals in the United States Navy. Gertz served as an active and reserve officer in the United States Navy where he retired as a Captain.
Former Miami (FL) Police Chief Raymond Martinez and retired Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Roderick Ireland, a Springfield native, are scheduled to be guest speakers during this program.
This is a continuation of Commissioner Clapprood’s approach to provide professional development training for Springfield Police Department’s Supervisors. In July Commissioner Clapprood sent ten Sergeants to a professional development course taught by Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Wynn and co-sponsored by American International College.
