The Alignment of Leadership Styles among Appointed Police Leaders

As police leaders continue to run organizations that encounter more complex situations, such as growing crime rates, employee disenchantment, and financial constraints, they need models, best practices, and strategies in order to successfully deal with these particular issues. Research suggests that one of the keys to stellar organizational performance in the private sector is organizational alignment while another is strong leadership that serves a purpose. A recurring theme among law enforcement professionals is that those who were unhappy with their workplace operated under a structure that had very inconsistent leadership, while those who were happy with their job environment worked for leaders who shared similar leadership styles. This dissertation conducts research on whether the alignment of leadership styles in law enforcement agencies affects the engagement of their employees and thus the productivity of their organizations.