ABSTRACT
Turning to advice about managing political relations on the job, chiefs varied across the countries in their engagement with the topic. The hiring process is an occasion for negotiation between politicians and candidates about roles and agendas. The advice that chiefs have about tactics for handling politicians is wide ranging, often going in directions people had not anticipated. The main topics were to protect turf, anticipate trouble, be diplomatic, educate staff, embrace politics, manage appearances, and take care. It is possible that the advice from politicians will be less extensive than from chiefs because managing the police is not as central to their responsibilities as managing politicians is to chiefs. Canadian chiefs were engaged with the topic, but felt protected more than Australians or Americans by Police Services Boards. A chief with a type A personality—always wanting to dominate—is in for trouble.
