What Type Of Person Thrives In The Law Enforcement Industry According To A Police Officer At UCLA Police Department
Historically, law enforcement valued "hard skills" like tactical abilities and stress tolerance; however, Officer London observes a shift towards prioritizing "soft skills"—emotional intelligence, self-reflection, and compassion—"folks that lead with compassion," a change reflected in hiring practices that now emphasize interpersonal skills and "good people" over purely physical capabilities.
Compassionate, Empathetic, Critical Thinker, Self-Aware, Resilient
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
London McBride
Police Officer
UCLA Police Department
Utah State University 99'
Southern New Hampshire University; MS-Organizational Leadership
Anthropology, Sociology
Government & Public Sector
Legal
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Level-headedness and critical thinking are essential skills for success in law enforcement. The ability to ask questions and challenge existing practices is highly valued.
2. The modern law enforcement landscape prioritizes emotional intelligence, self-care, and empathy. Officers who demonstrate self-reflection and compassion are seen as more effective and adaptable.
3. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with community members are increasingly important. The ability to communicate effectively and treat people with kindness is highly valued by hiring departments.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in law enforcement?
Back in the day, law enforcement was primarily looking for individuals with military experience and hard skills. They sought people who were good with tactics, could handle stress, and possessed a certain toughness. The focus was on a more rigid, traditional approach to policing.
Now, however, I believe the people who thrive in this position are those who are more level-headed and can think critically. They need to be able to ask questions, which is a significant shift. When you first join the department or go through the academy, you're mostly absorbing information.
But I've started to see a change, especially with the younger generation entering law enforcement. I like that they ask questions, like "Why do you do this?" This is the cool part because often, I don't even know why I was taught certain things. It's good to see trainees asking questions.
Typically, you wouldn't dare question your training officer. But it's great to see them asking why things are done a certain way. I believe they are pushing law enforcement in the right direction because they are willing to learn and do more. They aren't just accepting the old guard's standards of policing.
This evolution is crucial. It's moving beyond just "We take bad people to jail, no questions asked." Now, we're dealing with a generation that emphasizes self-care and self-help. They are also more open about addressing mental health issues, both within the community and within law enforcement itself.
For a long time, these issues were kept secret. People didn't talk about their struggles, but now it's becoming acceptable to discuss them. Seeing people express how they feel mentally and knowing they can take time off or seek help is huge.
Someone who is in touch with themselves, can self-reflect, and has emotional intelligence is better equipped to handle people and help them thrive. These are the individuals who will do well in law enforcement because the profession is changing, and it should.
To get the right people, we need individuals who lead with compassion, not just an iron fist. They earn respect from their officers and the community by genuinely caring about them. Some leaders here are ahead of their time.
It might feel like hitting a wall sometimes because people aren't used to such a compassionate approach or empathy. That was never the job description in the past. But seeing new people come in with these skill sets will make it easier to turn the corner and change the culture.
Those are the people who will thrive. While hard skills are important, it's the soft skills that truly matter now. Background checks and training divisions are looking for these qualities. When candidates return from physical agility tests, the feedback is often about how they were "good folks" and "good people."
They knew how to talk to people and were kind. That's a significant difference from the past, where the focus was on physical feats like "Did you see how he ran through that wall?" Now, they are looking for a different type of officer, and I think that's really cool.