Personal Narrative: A Career In Law Enforcement

When I joined the police department, I knew I wanted to be a part of something great. I wanted to leave a legacy and make an impression on others. I was the first in my family to choose a career in law enforcement, so initially, I was unaware of the challenges this career field came with. My mom was a teacher, and my dad worked in the printing business. Both were successful in their chosen fields, but they were blind to the demands required for a fulfilling career in law enforcement. To be successful, I would need to be observant of those around me who had found success. I would need to mirror their ways and incorporate their habits into my own. I would need to learn from their failures. Most importantly, I would need to learn what made them
Kessinger began his law enforcement career with the Louisville Division of Police in 1998. His dad was a cop, and he grew up surrounded by other police officers and their families. It was a culture that became engrained into him at a very young age. When he became of age, he never considered any other career. He wanted to carry a gun, drive fast and lock up bad guys. His career began just as any other, in patrol. After a few years, he became a detective at the division level and later, a detective in the homicide unit. He was promoted to sergeant in 2007. He served his time as a sergeant in patrol as well as supervising the robbery unit. In 2010, he was promoted to lieutenant and served in patrol, special operations, and homicide, where he still is assigned
Kessinger, he and I have had several conversations regarding, “Why homicide? Why do we want to do this demanding and stressful job? What draws us to it?” His attitude has always been that the homicide unit is the best job in the world, not just on the police department. Every case is different and challenging. The work is high profile and high pressure. However, there is no better feeling in law enforcement than when you realize the pieces are coming together, and you are about to solve a murder. He truly enjoys leading this unit by taking a group of skilled detectives and working a specific crime. We will go wherever the case takes us to bring it to a resolution. Every decision is calculated and difficult. The best part about it is you never know where it is going to take you or where you will be at the end of the day. It is obvious he is passionate his about this job and the service it provides for the community. This is a passion that resonates within the unit. In their book, The Leadership Challenge, Kouzes and Posner discuss the “Five Practices of Effective Leadership”: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act and Encourage the Heart (The Leadership Challenge, 2012). These five practices are evident in Lt. Kessinger’s leadership style and attitude. The remainder of this case study will further analyze each of the five practices as it relates to Lt. Kessinger’s