Police agencies want leaders at all levels who have the ability to self-evaluate, the emotional intelligence to learn and adapt, and the desire to hone their leadership skills.

Most new sergeant training programs usually consist of some ride-alongs with a senior sergeant and eventually attending an offsite supervisory school. With this approach, it is no wonder that we continue to replicate problems and stymie the development of our sergeants. However, the Sergeant Transitional Educational Program (S.T.E.P.) is a new training method developed to avoid those issues. Traditionally, most supervisory training is delivered in lecture format. While this style of training may allow us to “check the box” that the material has been covered, it is simply not the way most adults learn best, and it certainly does not promote long-term retention. Educational studies have consistently shown that the knowledge retention in the lecture format is somewhere around 15 percent. Results like this simply will not cut it if we hope to equip our leaders with the best chance for success.