Meet the Leadership Blog Series
The IACP Board of Directors is comprised of the IACP Executive Board as well as 33 law enforcement leaders appointed by the IACP President. The members of the Board of Directors represent agencies large and small around the globe and contribute to the governance of the IACP. In the IACP’s new Meet the Leadership Blog Series, the IACP will feature brief profiles of the 33 appointed members of the Board of Directors, in the months leading up to the IACP 2017 Annual Conference and Exposition.
Name: William G. Brooks III
Title: Chief of Police
Agency: Norwood (MA) Police Department
Year joined the IACP: 2000
Reason for Going into Law Enforcement: I grew up next door to my local police chief. He seemed to have an interesting job and he would come back and tell us what had happened during his shift. Now I know that we received a very watered down version, but at the time it was interesting.
First Heard about IACP: When I started at the Wellesley (MA) Police Department, the chief at the time, Terrence Cunningham, was involved in IACP, so I joined right away and began to follow the Association closely.
Becoming More Involved in IACP: I had been involved in state policy and legislative issues for a few years, but when Chief Cunningham was elected as 4th Vice President of the Executive Board, I became more aware of issues across the United States and globally. Shortly after I became a chief, President Zakhary appointed me to the IACP Board of Directors, which was quite an honor.
Favorite Part About Being in Law Enforcement: One of my favorite parts of being a police officer is my interaction with the public. When I was a rookie, I never liked being assigned to a walking beat. I believed that I’d never catch criminals if I was unable to zip around in a car. Now, I take the opposite view – as a police chief I make sure I walk one of our foot beats for an hour every day.
The Most Challenging Part of Law Enforcement: Over the past two years, the part of my job that has been difficult has been watching how issues in the national spotlight have affected police officers. But we as a department have used these situations as opportunities to emphasize that positive engagements with the public are more important now than they’ve ever been.
One Piece of Advice for the Leaders of Tomorrow: Take great care in how you communicate - oftentimes how you say something is as important as what you say.
Name: Steven Pare
Title: Commissioner of Public Safety
Agency: City of Providence (RI)
Year joined the IACP: 1995
Reason for Going into Law Enforcement: It was a lifelong dream of mine to become a police officer, following in my Dad’s footsteps.
First Heard about IACP: As a commander while serving the Rhode Island State Police.
Becoming More Involved in IACP: I became more involved in the IACP because it offered me the ability to learn from and implement best practices in law enforcement, to solve problems confronting policing and to get an international perspective on issues facing law enforcement.
Favorite Part About Being in Law Enforcement: My favorite part is the constant changes, challenges, and uncertainty in public safety.
The Most Challenging Part of Law Enforcement: The most challenging part would have to be building trust and credibility with the communities that we serve.
One Piece of Advice for the Leaders of Tomorrow: Be patient, listen to advice, and be courageous in trying new methods and practices. It’s important to sometimes break out of doing things the same way because “that’s how we always do it” mentality.
Name: Lianne Tuomey
Title: Chief of Police
Agency: University of Vermont Police
Year joined the IACP: 2000
Reason for Going into Law Enforcement: I knew I wanted to do something criminal justice related so I don’t know that I was “drawn” to the work so much as “fell” into the work. Law enforcement was a good fit because I have always been able to easily connect with people and interacting with the public is such an important part of the job.
First Heard about IACP: I had seen some Police Chief magazines floating around the office over the years while at the Burlington (VT) Police Department and found the articles informative. Eventually, my then Chief at the University of Vermont suggested that I join the IACP and get active in the organization.
Becoming More Involved in IACP: I was asked to serve on a coordinating panel and a committee by the IACP President. I think it’s important when asked to serve that, if you can, you do. Being involved with IACP has provided me access to a myriad of perspectives, innovative thinking, and contemporary educational opportunities that can only benefit those I serve with and serve in a law enforcement role.
Favorite Part About Being in Law Enforcement: There was one call now over 30 years ago, I went to a suspicious person complaint at an elderly woman’s house. She told me that someone was walking around her house and she was frightened. After I walked all around the house and saw no footprints, I returned to her front door. She invited me in and offered me some coffee. As we talked, she shared her story with me, she was lonely and she needed someone to listen. I listened that day and almost every week for 5-10 minutes or so for the next year until she passed away. I recall that day often, especially on those days when the job is hard. That’s my favorite part of the serving in this noble profession, making a difference, or at least trying.
The Most Challenging Part of Law Enforcement: The most challenging is bearing witness to the tragedies of other’s lives.
One Piece of Advice for the Leaders of Tomorrow: Care about others, do the best you can, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
Name: William G. Brooks III
Title: Chief of Police
Agency: Norwood (MA) Police Department
Year joined the IACP: 2000
Reason for Going into Law Enforcement: I grew up next door to my local police chief. He seemed to have an interesting job and he would come back and tell us what had happened during his shift. Now I know that we received a very watered down version, but at the time it was interesting.
First Heard about IACP: When I started at the Wellesley (MA) Police Department, the chief at the time, Terrence Cunningham, was involved in IACP, so I joined right away and began to follow the Association closely.
Becoming More Involved in IACP: I had been involved in state policy and legislative issues for a few years, but when Chief Cunningham was elected as 4th Vice President of the Executive Board, I became more aware of issues across the United States and globally. Shortly after I became a chief, President Zakhary appointed me to the IACP Board of Directors, which was quite an honor.
Favorite Part About Being in Law Enforcement: One of my favorite parts of being a police officer is my interaction with the public. When I was a rookie, I never liked being assigned to a walking beat. I believed that I’d never catch criminals if I was unable to zip around in a car. Now, I take the opposite view – as a police chief I make sure I walk one of our foot beats for an hour every day.
The Most Challenging Part of Law Enforcement: Over the past two years, the part of my job that has been difficult has been watching how issues in the national spotlight have affected police officers. But we as a department have used these situations as opportunities to emphasize that positive engagements with the public are more important now than they’ve ever been.
One Piece of Advice for the Leaders of Tomorrow: Take great care in how you communicate - oftentimes how you say something is as important as what you say.
Name: Steven Pare
Title: Commissioner of Public Safety
Agency: City of Providence (RI)
Year joined the IACP: 1995
Reason for Going into Law Enforcement: It was a lifelong dream of mine to become a police officer, following in my Dad’s footsteps.
First Heard about IACP: As a commander while serving the Rhode Island State Police.
Becoming More Involved in IACP: I became more involved in the IACP because it offered me the ability to learn from and implement best practices in law enforcement, to solve problems confronting policing and to get an international perspective on issues facing law enforcement.
Favorite Part About Being in Law Enforcement: My favorite part is the constant changes, challenges, and uncertainty in public safety.
The Most Challenging Part of Law Enforcement: The most challenging part would have to be building trust and credibility with the communities that we serve.
One Piece of Advice for the Leaders of Tomorrow: Be patient, listen to advice, and be courageous in trying new methods and practices. It’s important to sometimes break out of doing things the same way because “that’s how we always do it” mentality.
Name: Lianne Tuomey
Title: Chief of Police
Agency: University of Vermont Police
Year joined the IACP: 2000
Reason for Going into Law Enforcement: I knew I wanted to do something criminal justice related so I don’t know that I was “drawn” to the work so much as “fell” into the work. Law enforcement was a good fit because I have always been able to easily connect with people and interacting with the public is such an important part of the job.
First Heard about IACP: I had seen some Police Chief magazines floating around the office over the years while at the Burlington (VT) Police Department and found the articles informative. Eventually, my then Chief at the University of Vermont suggested that I join the IACP and get active in the organization.
Becoming More Involved in IACP: I was asked to serve on a coordinating panel and a committee by the IACP President. I think it’s important when asked to serve that, if you can, you do. Being involved with IACP has provided me access to a myriad of perspectives, innovative thinking, and contemporary educational opportunities that can only benefit those I serve with and serve in a law enforcement role.
Favorite Part About Being in Law Enforcement: There was one call now over 30 years ago, I went to a suspicious person complaint at an elderly woman’s house. She told me that someone was walking around her house and she was frightened. After I walked all around the house and saw no footprints, I returned to her front door. She invited me in and offered me some coffee. As we talked, she shared her story with me, she was lonely and she needed someone to listen. I listened that day and almost every week for 5-10 minutes or so for the next year until she passed away. I recall that day often, especially on those days when the job is hard. That’s my favorite part of the serving in this noble profession, making a difference, or at least trying.
The Most Challenging Part of Law Enforcement: The most challenging is bearing witness to the tragedies of other’s lives.
One Piece of Advice for the Leaders of Tomorrow: Care about others, do the best you can, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
