Jonathan Ziders - Assistant Chief: Rising Through the Ranks Changes Everything You Thought You Knew

The CopDoc Podcast: Aiming for Excellence in Leadership

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The CopDoc Podcast - Season 8 - Episode 154

Leadership doesn't happen in a vacuum – especially in policing, where decisions impact both officers and communities. In this revealing conversation, Assistant Chief Jonathan Ziders takes us on his remarkable journey from reluctant recruit to departmental leader.
"I never wanted to be a cop," Ziders candidly shares at the start of our discussion. His original dream of becoming a firefighter gave way to a policing career that has seen him rise through every rank in the Lancaster, NY Police Department, culminating in his recent appointment as the agency's first-ever Assistant Chief. This unique trajectory provides the backdrop for exploring how leadership perspectives transform with increased responsibility.
Communication emerges as perhaps the most critical skill for police leaders. Ziders reflects on his evolution from an introverted officer to a leader responsible for setting departmental tone. "I had to learn how to speak and communicate differently because I started to realize that how I thought I should be wasn't going to work," he explains. His emphasis on explaining "the why" behind directives resonates as a leadership principle applicable far beyond policing.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Ziders discusses his data-driven approach to mental health response. After analyzing call data, he discovered mental health incidents were dramatically underreported in their systems – not intentionally, but due to classification practices. This revelation led to exploring co-responder models that pair officers with mental health clinicians, representing the forward-thinking approaches Ziters brings to his department.
Throughout our discussion, Ziders repeatedly returns to the service core of policing, explaining how he reinforces this value with new officers: "When we're looking at hiring, those are the types of people that we want - the service-oriented individuals." His philosophy of leadership being about character – "who you are, not what you do" – offers wisdom for leaders in any field.
Join us for this candid look at police leadership and discover why explaining purpose, fostering communication, and maintaining authenticity might be the most valuable tools in any leader's arsenal.

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Website: www.copdocpodcast.com
If you'd like to arrange for facilitated training, or consulting, or talk about steps you might take to improve your leadership and help in your quest for promotion, contact Steve at [email protected]

Chapters

1. Introducing Assistant Chief Jonathan Ziters (00:00:00)

2. From Firefighter Dreams to Police Leadership (00:04:10)

3. Rising Through the Ranks Successfully (00:08:50)

4. Communication as Essential Leadership Skill (00:15:40)

5. The Service Core of Policing (00:22:45)

6. Teaching and Learning as a Pracademic (00:31:10)

7. Mental Health Response and Data Improvements (00:40:25)

8. Transitioning to Assistant Chief (00:48:15)

9. Building Leaders for Tomorrow (00:54:55)