Date

8-2-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

Leading Through Respect to Reduce Officer Workload and Increase Wellness in Small Police Organizations. Pedro R. Delgado, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: emotional intelligence, morale, officer fatigue, overtime dependence, policing, respect, strategic planning, transactional leadership, transformational leadership,

The organization used for this strategy research project completed was a small municipal police department. The police department, referred to by the pseudonym West Gate Police Department, was studied through internal and external factor evaluations along with extensive scholarly research review.

Small police agencies often struggle with inadequate staffing and budget cuts. They can become overwhelmed with requests for services as call volume increases. This can leave officers working patrol, answering calls for service, completing administration, and working overtime. Employees may feel stressed, fatigued, burnt out, and dissatisfied with their jobs from these increased workloads. Increased stress can also impair decision making within the organization and lower officer morale, retention, productivity, and the quality of services provided to citizens.

Civilianization, alternative response models, technological assistance, and workforce management are some evidence-based solutions to help with workload issues. Civilianization allows non-sworn employees to complete administrative tasks. Alternative responses allow for certain calls for service that are not crime-related to be redirected to someone who may be better suited to help that particular population. Technology can ease time spent on writing reports, records entry, and other tasks that take officers away from doing their jobs. Workforce management can help agencies determine how many employees they should have.

Decreasing workload will allow the organization to become more resilient to current problems, lower employee stress, and be more efficient in the workplace. If organizational leaders can plan and lead strategically, they can prevent fatigue and burn out among employees and continue to provide professional, efficient, and trusted services to their community.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice

Concentration

Organizational Leadership

Language

English

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