Earlier this month, CAIL’s education center in Plano welcomed 26 law enforcement leaders from Texas, Idaho, and Kansas the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration’s (ILEA) first-ever Future Chief Executive course.
For two days, participants stepped away from their day-to-day duties to focus on what it really takes to succeed in one of the most demanding roles in policing: the chief executive. The course was led by Luis Soler, a retired police chief whose career spanned both California and Texas, giving him a unique perspective on the political and organizational challenges of the job.
Conversations were candid and scenario-based, tackling the “Big 3” areas of executive leadership: navigating politics, guiding organizations, and building trust with communities. From learning how to frame those first 90 days in office to exploring the impact of a single decision on public perception, participants gained tools they can carry forward into their careers.
Matt Clem, ILEA’s Associate Director, reflected that the inaugural class was “a true testament to these representative organizations and to the entire law enforcement profession to know there are truly capable, dedicated, passionate and compassionate leaders like these 26 ready and willing to carry that torch forward.”
Attendees also earned 14 hours of TCOLE credit, but more importantly, they left with something harder to measure: the confidence and perspective to approach the chief’s office with clarity and purpose.
ILEA is proud to mark this first Future Chief Executive course as the beginning of a tradition—one designed to prepare leaders who are not only capable but also compassionate as they take on the future of policing.