A Values-Based Approach to Influencing People, Accomplishing Goals, and Improving Your Organization

1. P A R T ONE
Chapter 1
Welcome to Sector Three
Sgt. Adam McGraw steered his car down Juniper Street and
turned right into the dim parking lot behind the Midtown East
police substation. For the first time in his career, he pulled into
a row of spaces along a brick wall marked “SUPERVISORS
ONLY.”
The previous morning, McGraw had been promoted—
along with dozens of other members of the Central City Police
Department—in a solemn ceremony at the nearby convention
center. After eight years as a patrol officer, McGraw was now a
sergeant. And not just any sergeant, either, he reminded himself as
he gathered his things from the passenger seat and opened the
door. I’ve been assigned to the overnight shift in the toughest police
district in the city.
“Hey, Quickdraw!” a voice called out in the darkness as
McGraw locked his car. He didn’t have to look up to know
that the voice belonged to Fred Hitchcock, a veteran patrolman
McGraw had worked with several years ago in the Northeast
district. With a mental sigh, McGraw looked in Hitchcock’s di-
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2. The Leader’s Compass for Law Enforcement Professionals
rection, but he didn’t smile. He had never liked the nickname deep breath as he stepped inside and immediately jerked his
Hitchcock had given him. head back in reaction to a strong odor.
“Sergeant McGraw,” Hitchcock pronounced slowly as he ap- “That smell is the lockup, to the left,” Hitch explained, smil-
proached, his raised eyebrows illuminated by streetlights. “Con- ing at McGraw’s grimace. “You know which sector you’re head-
gratulations on the promotion. I guess that’s the last time I’ll be ing?”
calling you ‘Quickdraw McGraw.’” Midtown East was split up into four patrol sectors. On each
“You guessed right, Hitch,” McGraw replied in a purpose- shift, a patrol sector was headed by a sergeant who supervised a
fully light tone as he shoved his keys into his pocket. The two team of eight to twelve patrol officers to cover each beat.
men started walking toward the back door of the substation. “They told me Patrol Sector Three,” McGraw answered, feel-
“How are you doing?” ing his stomach clench for a moment as he wondered—not for
“I’m in this rathole, so what does that tell you?” Hitch re- the first time—what the position held in store for him.
sponded with a laugh. “I mean, working first watch in this dis- “That’s mine, too,” Hitch exclaimed. “We’ll be working to-
trict is a great place to break in a new sergeant like you. But for gether again!”
me? With twelve years on the streets?” This time, Hitch’s laugh McGraw hoped that the coincidence would turn out to be a
was unmistakably bitter. “Somebody in HQ hates me.” good one. “Which part of the division is that?”
“When did they send you here?” McGraw asked the other “The worst part,” Hitch responded without hesitation, tak-
man, eyeing Hitch warily. He knew that wherever Hitch went, ing the lead as the two men rounded a corner in the hallway.
trouble had a way of following. “Sector Three has some office buildings, a few hotels, and the
“Eleven months ago,” Hitch replied as they neared the build- convention center on the near side.”
ing. “I was still up in the Northeast district when I got written Hitch slowed, then stopped walking altogether. A conspira-
up on a few chicken-crap violations. They sent me here, and that torial gleam appeared in his eyes, and he motioned for McGraw
opened up a spot for a rookie in the Northeast. I think that kid to stop as well. “That’s all fine in the daytime, but at night the
must know someone in HQ.” vagrants, homeless, and graffiti artists take over—you’ll see.
McGraw swung open the rusted door to the substation, Then, on the other side of the convention center, there’s the
grateful for a reason not to answer. The hallway in front of him Walnut and Grant Streets area, with the bars, the nightclubs,
was dimly lit by flickering fluorescent bulbs. McGraw took a the drug dealing, and the hookers.” Hitch rolled his eyes. “Most
nights that corner is a real drunk and disorderly carnival. Go a
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3. The Leader’s Compass for Law Enforcement Professionals
few more blocks further out, and we got Pleasantville, which is officer. But he’d ultimately decided to wait and finish college in-
never dull.” stead. He spent three more years taking night classes and online
“Un-Pleasantville?” McGraw used the cops’ nickname for courses, and had finally been awarded his bachelor’s degree in
the high-crime neighborhood. “That’s in Sector Three?” Great. criminal justice two years ago. Then, right after graduation, he
“I think they planned it this way,” Hitchcock confirmed. He started studying for the sergeant’s test, even taking special prep
lowered his voice as he presented what was clearly his pet theory. classes offered by the police association. He was pleased when
“They put all the garbage everyone hates into one single sector. he tested near the top of the class on the sergeant’s exam and
Then they take everyone they don’t like and they bury them in remained at the top after the assessment center. All his studying
that sector, on first watch.” and practice had paid off.
“Is that right?” McGraw wasn’t thrilled to be working with A nudge from Hitch snapped McGraw out of his reverie.
Hitch again, but he knew Hitch was often a source of useful in- “There’s Gus, the shift lieutenant,” Hitch said, jerking his head
formation. Hopefully, Hitch’s last revelation wouldn’t turn out toward a man who was walking toward them. “I’ll see ya later.”
to be true. Lt. Jack Gustafson was a tall, thin man with a heavy brow
“Right or wrong, that’s the way it is,” Hitchcock replied with and a lantern jaw. “You McGraw?” he asked, without extending
a shrug. “Every cop assigned to first watch in Three has either his hand. “Come with me.”
messed something up or ticked someone off. Remember that They walked over to the main meeting room, where detail
children’s show, about the Land of Misfit Toys? That’s us here in would be called soon. Gus looked McGraw up and down before
Three. We’re stuck in Screw-up City, and you’re our new may- speaking. “You and Hitchcock—are you two buddies?”
or.” “I know him,” McGraw replied evenly. “We were both in
Hitch laughed at his own cleverness. McGraw didn’t join Northeast for a few years.”
him. “You’re not trying to scare me, are you, Hitch?” McGraw “I hope you’re not buddies,” Gus said with a scowl. “Be-
asked as he started walking again. cause, I gotta tell you, Hitchcock is the worst kind of cop. He’s
Hitch shook his head. “I just want you to be ready.” highly motivated and prone to poor judgment, which is a lethal
“Don’t worry about that,” replied McGraw. “I’ve been get- combination. Guys like him always go down eventually. Some-
ting ready for a long time.” times they take their sergeants with them.” Gus fixed McGraw
It was true. McGraw had been tempted to take the sergeant’s with a pointed look. “Got it?”
test as soon as he was eligible, during his fourth year as a patrol “I got it.”
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4. The Leader’s Compass for Law Enforcement Professionals
“Good.” Gus cleared his throat, then sat down at his desk Gus murmured as his eyes followed the new arrivals across the
and shuffled through some papers. He spoke without looking room. “You recognize him?”
at McGraw. “You’ve got ten officers in your sector on this shift. McGraw shook his head.
You’ll want to put Williams—the woman over there—on park- “That’s Herman Duncan, the big real estate guy. He’s got a
ing tickets, because that’s about all she’s good for. Ramsey and lot of juice with the Chamber of Commerce, too.” In the flick-
Somers should take the patrol wagon because they’re big and ering fluorescent light, surrounded by dirty, scuffed walls cov-
tough. Prisoners are scared of them. The other seven are on pa- ered in peeling paint, Duncan’s formalwear and perfectly cut
trol, which is not a lot, so you need to be out there, too.” hair looked strangely out of place. “He must have come straight
Finally, Gus looked up at McGraw. “I don’t want a house from a charity event,” Gus speculated.
mouse for my first shift sergeant in Three.” “What’s he doing here?” McGraw asked, genuinely curious.
“I like patrol,” McGraw said. He was trying to be agreeable, “I’ll introduce you once he’s done talking,” Gus replied, turn-
although in his opinion, Gus wasn’t making it easy. ing his attention back to the piles of paper on his desk. “He’s got
“Like it or not, I want you out there on the streets, okay?” some concerns about your sector.”
Gus reiterated as he shifted a sheaf of papers to the other side of
the desk. He paused for a moment, then continued. “Now the
other troublemaker I should warn you about is Hardy.”
Gus gestured toward a trim, athletic-looking patrol officer
standing alone by the wall on the far side of the room. “Hardy
was kicked back to patrol from plainclothes narcotics,” Gus ex-
plained. “I don’t know what he did wrong, but I assume it had
something to do with his mouth and his attitude. He’s got a chip
on his shoulder and someone higher up doesn’t like him, so steer
clear of him.”
Just then, the substation chief walked in, accompanied by a
burly grey-haired man fully turned out in a dark, double-breast-
ed tuxedo. “There’s Chief Robinson with our guest tonight,”
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