When you’ve had to lead a police department through crisis, your view of leadership changes.
When I took office in 2013 as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, I inherited a department destabilized by scandal tied to the prior administration of John Leopold, and Police Chief James Teare.
There had been leadership turnover. Allegations of wrongdoing. Public distrust. Internal morale challenges.
Shortly after I took office, I requested the resignation of then-Chief Larry Tolliver amid accusations of racist and sexist slurs. It was clear the department needed more than a personnel change. It needed structural repair.
We assembled a multi-jurisdictional task force led by former Baltimore Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld to conduct an outside review and make recommendations.
That process ultimately led to hiring Kevin Davis as chief, who would later lead major departments in Baltimore City and Fairfax County.
I share this because leading a police department is not theoretical.
It is complex.
It is political.
It is emotionally charged.
And it demands leaders who prioritize standards over comfort.
Which brings me to this week’s William Webster Profiles in Leadership honoree: Chuck Wexler.
As Executive Director of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Wexler has spent nearly three decades shaping national policing standards.
He has led work on:
• Modern use-of-force frameworks
• De-escalation training protocols
• Active shooter response standards
• Officer wellness initiatives
• Data-driven accountability models
PERF reports have influenced departments across the country, often in the wake of national crises, when emotions run high and public trust is fragile.
Wexler’s leadership is distinctive for three reasons:
1. He builds consensus across divides.
In a profession often defensive under scrutiny, he convenes chiefs, researchers, and policymakers to move toward solutions rather than rhetoric.
2. He leads with evidence.
Long before “evidence-based policy” became fashionable, Wexler pushed departments to adopt research, data, and measurable standards.
3. He strengthens leadership capacity.
His work equips chiefs to lead through complexity, not just manage operations.
From my experience, I know this:
Character determines what you tolerate.
Structure determines what endures.
Chuck Wexler has dedicated his career to strengthening the structure of American policing, so that strong leaders can succeed and weak systems can be fixed.
The William Webster Profiles in Leadership program continues because of the vision and stewardship of Lynn Mattice and Philip Niedermair “The price of Liberty is eternal vigilance.”, whose commitment to elevating principled public service keeps this conversation alive.
In a field where scrutiny is constant and stakes are high, steady leadership like this is essential.
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