What’s Holding Your Employees Back – Creating a Culture of Inclusive Thought (Repeat)

Description

We encourage people to “think outside the box” but law enforcement and agency culture can inhibit our employees’ innovative confidence and limit opportunities for the sharing of diverse perspectives. Intentional mentoring and fostering a culture of inclusive thought are key to allowing employees to realize their potential and not just succeed, but to thrive. With the backdrop of a pandemic and legislative and social change, our profession has the opportunity to examine and re-imagine how we deliver services. Now more than ever we need innovation and collaboration throughout our organizations. It is time to break through the trap of “group think”. Creating and fostering a culture of inclusive thought in which employees feel the freedom to be their authentic selves by valuing the qualities that make them unique. This session will focus on the power of mentoring and coaching individuals to identify, embrace, and celebrate their diverse qualities and perspectives. If we want people to think outside the box, we need to first give them a hammer to break out of the glass box they often find themselves in.

Contributors

Tom Chaplin, Retired Chief, Walnut Creek Police Department

Thomas Chaplin is a thirty-one-year law enforcement professional. He served as the Police Chief for the city of Walnut Creek from July 2013 until his retirement in October 2021. Prior to his appointment, he served with the Citrus Heights CHPD, where he was a lieutenant in the Patrol Division and the Investigative Services Division. He also served as commander in the Patrol Division and Investigative Services Division. In addition to being a member of the department’s start up team, he spent nine months in the role of deputy chief of police.

Chief Chaplin spent five years with California Department of Justice, where he was assigned as special agent on the Sexual Predator Apprehension Team, California Bureau of Investigation, Sacramento Regional Office; special agent supervisor for the Investigative Support Team – California Attorney General’s Office – Northern California; and special agent in charge for the Mission Support Branch, overseeing the Professional Standards Group (IA), Background Investigations Unit, and Litigation Unit.

Chief Chaplin started his law enforcement career with the Sacramento Police Department (SPD). He served as a community services officer, a patrol officer, field training officer, neighborhood police officer and detective. He was instructor at the police academy for the LD-12: Controlled Substances.
Chief Chaplin incorporated and served as president of the Citrus Heights Police Activities League. He served as a Governor appointed Commissioner for the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (2016-2019). He was on the board of directors for the California Police Chiefs Association (2013-2020), where he served as chair of the Training Committee. He served as chair of the Contra Costa County Police Chiefs Association (2020). He is an Executive Fellow for the National Police Foundation.

He serves as adjunct faculty for the University of San Diego and National University. He has developed courses for the CPCA to include Advanced Role of the Police Chief and Partnering for Success – A Course for Seconds in Command. He provides instruction for both. He is the course coordinator for the POST Executive Development Course. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Studies and a master’s degree in Emergency Services Administration, both from California State University, Long Beach. He is a graduate of the 44^th class of the California Command College. He has published an article in the California Journal of Law Enforcement entitled Cybercriminals have Passed Law Enforcement By. Let’s Catch Back Up!

Chief Chaplin has been the recipient of numerous leadership and service awards, including the Joseph Malloy award from the California Police Chiefs Association, a Distinguished Service Ribbon from the CHPD, a Medal of Valor from the Sacramento Police Department, and he was named Special Agent of the year while at DOJ.
Beth Johnson, Captain, Martinez Police Department

Captain Beth Johnson began her career as a police dispatcher for the Arcata Police Department in 1994 before moving back to the Bay Area in 1999 to accept a police officer position with the Walnut Creek Police Department. Beth served in Patrol, Investigations, the Community Policing Team, and was involved in a variety of collateral assignments. She promoted to sergeant in 2012 where she served in Patrol and Investigations. In June 2016, she promoted to Lieutenant where she was assigned as Patrol Watch Commander and Sector 2 Area Commander. Beth was hired as the Captain for the Martinez Police Department in October 2019. As the department’s second in command she oversee both the Operations and Administrative Divisions.

Captain Johnson was recently appointed to the California Police Chiefs Association Board of Directors as the Northern California Associate Member Representative. She also serves on the CPCA Women Leaders in Law Enforcement committee, the Training committee, the Wellness committee, and is the co-chair of the newly formed Mentoring Program committee.

Captain Johnson has a Master’s in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University, a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute & University, and is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Description

Contributors

Tom Chaplin, Retired Chief, Walnut Creek Police Department

Beth Johnson, Captain, Martinez Police Department