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A Legacy of Leadership
The PLP was founded on the idea that the future of policing depends on empowered, visionary leaders. Over the past two and a half decades, that vision has become reality. Designed specifically for current and aspiring police leaders, the program brings together cutting-edge business education and real-world law enforcement expertise in a unique academic-professional collaboration.
Through an intensive, modular format, participants explore leadership theory, strategic management, ethical decision-making, and more—always grounded in practical application. What makes the program truly distinctive, however, is the emphasis on reflective learning and peer collaboration.
According to Chief Thai Truong of London Police Service, “The Rotman Police Leadership Program has been fundamental to my leadership journey. The program provided valuable insights into strategic leadership and challenged me to think beyond day-to-day operations. The connections I made, and the lessons learned continue to significantly influence how I lead today.”
Tanya Klingenberg, Inspector with the Waterloo Regional Police Service, and a PLP graduate, adds, “This program undoubtedly strengthened my leadership capabilities. The focus on psychological safety, data interpretation, and financial mindset was unlike anything I’d previously encountered in police training.”
Impacting Police Services Across Ontario and Beyond
More than 1,000 alumni have passed through the PLP, many of whom have gone on to not only broaden their leadership skills and become agents of change in their organizations but risen to the top of their organizations as Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, and senior police leaders (both sworn and civilian). From implementing new community policing models to leading transformation in accountability and inclusion, PLP graduates consistently apply their learning to enhance public trust and internal performance.
Steven Bogart, Deputy Chief of the St. Thomas Police Service, says that completing the PLP allowed him to bring real-world skills to his service. “The value the PLP has brought to our organization is immeasurable,” he said” The lessons extended far beyond theory. This program fosters a network of support and leadership growth that has made a lasting impact.”
Learning from the Best
The Rotman School of Management’s world-class faculty create a vibrant, interdisciplinary learning environment. Participants engage in real-time case studies, simulations, and thought-provoking discussions designed to foster innovation. For Dyson Smith, Inspector of Intelligence Services at Peel Regional, merging theory with practical skills makes PLP stand out.
“I’ve attended many professional development programs, but the PLP stands out, said Inspector Smith. “It blends academic insight with real-world relevance, equipping leaders to drive change in their organizations and communities.”
Speak to past graduates and you’re likely to hear then identify one of the PLP’s greatest strengths as being a collaborative spirit that it fosters among peers. The program attracts police leaders from across Ontario and beyond, bringing diverse perspectives into one room—creating bonds that endure far beyond the classroom. Often, the three week experience with others in policing and related professions can result in significant reflection and even a mindset change for participants.
For Kiri Ipsen of the Ontario Provincial Police, PLP was transformational. “I left feeling empowered with knowledge and strategies I could immediately apply,” said Ipsen. “The relationships built during the program continue to influence my leadership today.”
Looking to the Future
As the OACP and Rotman look ahead, PLP’s unique leadership training is evolving to meet the emerging needs of policing in Ontario. It also remains complementary to other evolving leadership training opportunities that the OACP is developing. Topics such as digital policing, mental wellness, and equity-focused leadership are becoming central to the curriculum—ensuring the next generation of police leaders is prepared to face an increasingly complex landscape.
This anniversary is both a celebration of the past and a commitment to the future, where police leadership is defined by integrity, strategy, and community engagement.
To learn more or apply for the next cohort, which runs October 27 to November 14, 2025, visit the Rotman School’s Police Leadership Program page.
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Licence Plate Recognition:
Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology is a transformative innovation for policing, helping to track stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, and enforce driving laws. But as its use expands to include other purposes, so does the responsibility to ensure ALPR programs are well-managed, privacy-protective, and trusted by the public.
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Book Review: If They Only Knew: A Cop’s Journey with Addiction and Mental Health
As someone who has worked closely with many police officers for more than two decades and spent five years engaged in doctoral research on what makes police officers “tick,” I have often found that officers find it difficult to talk about personal mental health and addiction issues. I attribute much of that to the deeply engrained police culture that demands “toughness” in the face of what cops deal with “on the job”.
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The Key is Compassion
Shiftwork makes people tired in a way that few things can. Police members and other first responders, who work to promote the safety and well-being of those around them, are well aware of this. However, physical exhaustion is not the only type of fatigue. The emotional load of seeing and experiencing tragedies repeatedly can have long term impacts, including on the ability to feel compassionate.
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Evaluative Thinking about Strategic Business Planning in Policing
What is strategic management and why is it important? Strategic management is the execution of a plan; it is dynamic, continuous, and involves the coordination of resources across an organization. Done well, it means a plan made an impact towards things that matter and did so efficiently.
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Honouring Canada’s Female Police Officers and Personnel
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize the remarkable contributions of female police officers and civilian members across Canada. These dedicated professionals play a pivotal role in maintaining public safety, upholding justice, and fostering community trust.
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What We Can Learn in Policing from Wildfires
I had trouble figuring out where to begin this year’s renewed version of the Police Leadership Program. The challenge was too many options. The leadership issues in policing today range all the way, for example, from community mental health to organizational budgeting to technical skill development.
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The Complexity of Police Leadership
Yet leadership effectiveness is, simply put, about people understanding people. It is a skillset that can be learned, and that depends quite simply on leaders investing in themselves. With social-scientific discoveries, self-awareness, and powers of observation and communication, leaders can pull others together around a common goal. Among others, the below three skill sets help to get you there:
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Countering Incivility, Harassment, and Discrimination in Policing
Creating a workplace environment that is inclusive, respectful, and free from harassment and discrimination is an ongoing priority for ontario police services. However, services face systemic challenges in their efforts to prevent these negative behaviours, effectively address them, and change their culture.
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The Leadership Imperative: Leader development in Ontario
Modern policing is complex. Whether mediating a dispute or managing a crisis, it’s a job that not only requires a deep understanding of the law and society, but also the ability to lead with confidence and compassion.
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THE FUTURE OF LEADERSHIP IN POLICING
Under the leadership of Chief Jim MacSween, the executive leadership team at York Regional Police (YRP) established a mission to re-imagine leadership development within the organization. YRP knew that standardizing leadership principles and delivering them to all ranks of the organization would enrich the development of ethical and professional leaders.
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Connect, Lead, Inspire
As policing leaders, there are key elements to consider when it comes to developing outstanding organizations. Opening conference keynote presenter Tanya McCready of the Winterdance Dogsled Tour and author of Journey of 1000 Miles opened the conference with a timely message: time, dedication, trust, and practice are key elements to leadership, as well as ensuring that leaders know their team and where they thrive best.
