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Introduction and Statement of Purpose

Kimberley Arnold has worked in law enforcement since 1997, beginning as a reserve deputy sheriff and then becoming a coroner investigator in 2003. She has since been promoted to field training officer and trained several new investigators. Arnold completed a Master's program in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership to further develop her leadership skills. For her capstone project, she chose papers from eight courses in the program that covered topics like organizational leadership, communication, and constitutional law. Arnold's experience and education have helped her transition from a transactional to a collaborative leadership style that welcomes questions and input from others.

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165 views3 pages

Introduction and Statement of Purpose

Kimberley Arnold has worked in law enforcement since 1997, beginning as a reserve deputy sheriff and then becoming a coroner investigator in 2003. She has since been promoted to field training officer and trained several new investigators. Arnold completed a Master's program in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership to further develop her leadership skills. For her capstone project, she chose papers from eight courses in the program that covered topics like organizational leadership, communication, and constitutional law. Arnold's experience and education have helped her transition from a transactional to a collaborative leadership style that welcomes questions and input from others.

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© © All Rights Reserved
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Kimberley Arnold, Investigator #498313

Dept. of Medical Examiner-Coroner


Los Angeles County
“Law and Science Serving the Community”

My career in law enforcement began in 1997 when I was sworn in as a Reserve Deputy
Sheriff for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. In 2003 I became a Coroner
Investigator Trainee with the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner and promoted to
Coroner Investigator in 2004. In 2007 I was asked to be a Field Training Officer. I have
trained several Coroner Investigator Trainees and it has been incredibly rewarding to
mentor new Investigators as they enter the world of death investigation. In the next
phase of my career I want to be promoted to supervisor so I can utilize the leadership
skills I have learned and developed through the University of San Diego’s Law
Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership (LEPSL) program on a broader scale. The
curriculum has helped me become a better listener, co-worker, friend, mentor, and
employee, and for that I am most grateful. I look forward to the new adventures and
opportunities this Master’s Degree will bring!

In choosing the selected papers for the capstone project, I wanted the papers to come
from several of the courses. There were 10 courses in total, I chose work from 8 of the
courses: Organizational Leadership, Organizational Theory and Change,
Communication for Law Enforcement Leaders, Critical Issues in Law Enforcement and
Public Safety, Community Assessment: Crime and Criminal Justice, Conflict Resolution
and Decision Making, and Public Safety Law. Law Enforcement has changed and
evolved for the better throughout the past 20 years. The topics were diverse and I hope
my papers reflect as much growth as I have experienced during the past 20 months.
Statement of Purpose

When my career in law enforcement began 22 years ago, the leadership style

I experienced was called transactional. This was the “old school” police

environment, Top-Down/Bottom-Up leadership, where when you were given an

order or task, asking questions was not acceptable. As my career progressed, I

witnessed the Millennial generation enter the workforce. Challenging the status

quo, they were not afraid to ask questions, not afraid to ask “Why?” Admittingly, I

was initially challenged by this gritty way of conduct. However, through these

courses, I realized that they are doing the right thing by asking questions and

seeking answers. I have come to understand that “this is the way we have always

done it” is no longer an acceptable answer. Today’s leadership requires open

mindedness and collaboration with co-workers, subordinates and the community.

My level of professionalism and maturity has improved throughout these courses.

As an experienced FTO, I now welcome my Millennial trainees with an open mind

rather than scoffing at them for being inquisitive or challenging my explanations.

My Capstone project reflects the course teachings for modern day policing.

Law enforcement agencies cannot be an island unto themselves. The community


stakeholders and the police agency work together to decide what is best for their

neighborhoods. Transparency and ethics have become vital. Social media

platforms are valuable tools law enforcement utilizes to keep the public informed

on current events including community meetings, pursuits, mass disasters, police

activity, and to profile officers/citizens deserving of recognition. Technology such

as cell phones and drones has changed police work. We can discover a citizen’s

comings and goings, who they communicate with, and even medical history

through their cell phone, with a warrant of course. Unmanned aerial vehicles

(Drones) have given agencies the ability to view a large area quickly and to

perform the function of a helicopter without the costly expenses of gas or

maintenance. Constitutional law encourages us to be ethical and ensures we are

not infringing on the rights of citizens. When our communities thrive, we thrive.

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