University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies Releases Whitepaper on Building Public Trust in Police as a Government Institution

Establishing collaborative partnerships between leaders is critical component

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies announces the release of a whitepaper examining how collaborative partnerships between government agency leaders can help rebuild public trust in government institutions such as the police: “Breaking Down Barriers: The Importance of Collaboration Between a City Manager and Chief of Police in Today’s Society.”

Authored by Donald Munday, Ed.D, and Ina Marie Peoples, Ph.D., the whitepaper highlights levels of public mistrust of governmental institutions, tensions related to aggressive policing, and the role and structure of typical governmental structures. The whitepaper proposes that, in order to rebuild public trust, the city manager and chief of police must develop a productive collaborative relationship, and that these executive leaders need to understand each other’s roles and the challenges each face. The whitepaper more specifically outlines steps that each can take to ensure that a collaborative partnership is established and maintained to achieve both community safety and organizational goals.

“The importance of positive collaboration between the city manager and the chief of police is incredibly important to the safety of the community and well-being of police department personnel,” states Munday.

An interview with Munday on this subject is available as part of an educational video series, Leadership Perspectives, offered by College of Doctoral Studies.

“These executive leaders in local government must work towards shared mission and vision for public safety,” states co-author Peoples. “Each executive leader must be dedicated to maintaining transparency with each other and to always work as a team for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

Munday is an associate faculty at College of Doctoral Studies and has been teaching at the University since 2005. He was a police officer for over 23 years, serving with the Wichita Police Department for over 20 years at various ranks and in many assignments such as the Community Policing Unit, Exploited and Missing Child Unit, Patrol Division, Planning and Research Division, and the Vice/Organized Crime Unit. He was awarded the Devore Foundation “Excellent in Public Service Award,” Bronze Wreath of Meritorious Service (2), a Bronze Wreath of Valor, and the Civic Achievement Award. Munday was also Chief of Police for the City of Bel Aire where he established a successful Community Policing philosophy and restructured the department to better serve the community. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, a Master of Science in Management from Friends University, and a doctorate in Occupational and Adult Education from Oklahoma State University.

Peoples is an associate faculty at College of Doctoral Studies and has been teaching at the University of Phoenix since 2004. Peoples currently serves as City Manager for Webster Groves, MO, and previously served as an elected member of the Coconino County Community College District Governing Board and as the Deputy County Manager for Coconino County, Arizona. Peoples was awarded the Presiding Judge’s Award by Coconino County Courts in honor of her exemplary efforts in furtherance of justice, fairness and service to the public. Peoples earned a master’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Lincoln University and a master’s degree in Public Health and a doctorate in Public Health Epidemiology from Walden University.

The full whitepaper is available at the College of Doctoral Studies Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Leadership webpage or as a direct link here.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program puts students in the center of an effective ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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Authored by Donald Munday, Ed.D, and Ina Marie Peoples, Ph.D., the whitepaper proposes that, in order to rebuild public trust, the city manager and chief of police must develop a productive collaborative relationship and understand each other's roles.