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Public safety agencies are evolving, and one of the most impactful shifts is the integration of civilian professionals into leadership and operational roles. While police officers and firefighters bring critical field expertise, civilian leaders contribute specialized knowledge in management, technology, finance and strategy — helping agencies run more effectively.
In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with experts from law enforcement agencies across the country to discuss the growing role of civilian leadership in public safety. We explore how civilian leadership is shaping modern policing, the benefits of professional staff in command positions, and practical ways agencies can enhance recruitment, retention and training for non-sworn personnel.
Learn more about the role of civilians in policing at the “Leading Without a Badge” conference, April 13-15, 2025, at the Kimpton The Forum Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Tune in to discover
- Why civilian leadership is a game-changer in public safety and how it’s transforming modern policing.
- How to seamlessly integrate non-sworn professionals into command roles without disrupting department culture.
- The key to attracting top civilian talent and why agencies need to rethink traditional recruitment strategies.
- The battle to break the badge barrier — how to win over skeptics and build trust in civilian leadership.
- From the office to the frontlines — the surprising ways departments are training civilian leaders to thrive.
About our guests
Elizabeth M. Daitz is the assistant commissioner of police for the Suffolk County (New York) Police Department. She previously served as executive director, civil litigation and executive director, strategic initiatives for the NYPD. She began her career at the Office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York, where she handled multiple high-profile federal civil rights cases.
Marvin “Ben” Haiman is the Executive Director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice (CPSJ). He has held executive leadership roles with the DC Metropolitan Police Department and has worked nationally with dozens of agencies to improve hiring practices.
Tara Hall, M.Ed., serves as the Community Relations & Recruitment Division Administrator at the Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, where responsibilities include overseeing talent acquisition, volunteer engagement, collegiate internships and community forums.
About our sponsor
eSOPH is a secure, cloud-based, pre-employment background investigation software system designed specifically for public safety agencies. Used by hundreds of agencies nationwide, eSOPH has been credited with cutting the time it takes to process a pre-employment background investigation by up to 50%, saving agencies significant time, money, and resources without sacrificing investigation quality. For more information, go to eSOPH.com.
Key takeaways from this episode
- Civilian leaders provide stability and expertise: Sworn officers often rotate through leadership roles, but civilian staff can maintain continuity in critical areas like budgeting, technology, and human resources.
- Recruitment strategies must evolve: Agencies need to think outside traditional hiring models — targeting professionals in fields like finance, media, and technology to fill key roles.
- Cross-disciplinary leadership strengthens decision-making: Including non-sworn professionals in command-level discussions brings diverse perspectives, leading to more innovative and effective strategies.
- Training is essential for professional staff: Civilian personnel should have access to leadership development programs similar to those available for sworn officers to ensure they are prepared for executive roles.
- Culture shifts take time but bring lasting benefits: Agencies must define clear roles, set expectations, and build a culture that values both sworn and non-sworn contributions to public safety.
Additional resources
- University of Virginia to host groundbreaking summit for civilian public safety leaders
- The new era of law enforcement: Civilianization
- Embracing Civilianization: Integrating Professional Staff to Advance Modern Policing
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