Course Description

Without active and effective engagement from police leaders, negative one-sided media narratives about policing are nearly inevitable. And the negative impact of inaccurate reporting is a barrier to police operations and public safety.

It is vitally important that your agency regularly communicates with the public—through both traditional media and social media—and that you place a particular emphasis on rapidly responding to misinformation before it develops into a false narrative that is cemented for large segments of your community.

In this two hour webinar, Chief Harry P. Dolan (Ret.) will discuss:

  • The importance of media engagement in community policing
  • Managing officers’ social media activity to minimize unnecessary damage to public trust
  • Communicating in a crisis
  • The importance of strong, plain language in the face of verbal attacks on the agency

Instructor

CEO, Dolan Consulting Group

| Chief Harry Dolan (Ret.)

Harry P. Dolan is a 32-year police veteran who served as a Chief of Police since 1987. As one of the nation's most experienced police chiefs, he brings 25 years of public safety executive experience to Dolan Consulting Group. He retired in October 2012 as Chief of Police of the Raleigh (N.C.) Police Department, an agency comprised of nearly 900 employees in America's 42nd largest city.

Chief Dolan began his law enforcement career in 1980 as a deputy sheriff in Asheville, North Carolina and served there until early 1982, when he joined the Raleigh Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer. In 1987, he was appointed Chief of Police for the N.C. Department of Human Resources Police Department, located in Black Mountain. He served as Chief of Police in Lumberton, N.C. from 1992 until 1998, when he became Chief of Police of the Grand Rapids, Michigan Police Department. He served in that capacity for nearly ten years before becoming Chief of the Raleigh Police Department in September 2007. As Chief, he raised the bar at every organization and left each in a better position to both achieve and sustain success.

Harry Dolan has lectured throughout the United States and has trained thousands of public safety professionals in the fields of Leadership & Management, Communications Skills, and Community Policing. Past participants have consistently described Chief Dolan's presentations as career changing, characterized by his sense of humor and unique ability to maintain participants' interest throughout his training sessions. Chief Dolan's demonstrated ability to connect with his clientele and deliver insightful instruction all with uncompromising principles will be of tremendous value in the private sector.

Chief Dolan's unbridled passion to achieve service-excellence is a driving force behind Dolan Consulting Group. He is a graduate of Western Carolina University and holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Before You Start

    • Consent Questions

    • Download Course Materials

  • 2

    Webinar

    • Effective Media Engagement for Police Leaders | Hour 1

    • Effective Media Engagement for Police Leaders | Hour 2