“Doing” Police Leadership: Enter the “New Smart Macho”

Abstract

In recent years, women and leaders have increasingly been identified as key players in the project of achieving organizational change in policing. This article provides a conceptual bridge between these emerging discourses through an exploration of way in which women in police leadership are carrying out their roles. Findings from interviews carried out with senior policewomen suggest that they are adopting different approaches to leadership than those traditionally associated with the police organization. Their leadership styles and ways of working have much in common with what has become known as “transformational” leadership. This style of leadership has been identified and endorsed across the police organization as crucial to effecting any real change. Despite this recognition, the article argues that there is little evidence to suggest that police leadership styles are changing. On the contrary, the police organization continues to cling firmly to a style characterized more by transaction than transformation.