On Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, Chief Chris Beddingfield of the Columbus Police Department graduated from Methodist University’s West Point Leadership Program. The West Point Leadership Program is adapted from the Military Leadership Course (PL300) that all Cadets at the United States Military Academy complete in their third year of study.

This is an academically rigorous course that relies heavily on the case study method of learning. The course examines and integrates leadership in organizations from four perspectives: the individual, the group, the leader, and the organization.

The program consists of 104 hours of leadership related training. Topics that were covered included critical thinking, organizational theory, behavioral and motivation theories, individual communicating and counseling, inter-group conflict management, and decision-making.

The purpose of the program is to develop leaders to become better decision makers, communicators, and stress managers within complex organizations. The 13-week program was hosted by the Gastonia Police Department, which has partnered with Methodist University’s Center for Excellence in Justice Administration in an effort to bring quality leadership training to the region.

 

– Submitted by Chief Chris Beddingfield