Sheriff’s Sergeant Graduates from Leadership Institute

 (San Andreas, Ca.) Calaveras County Sheriff’s Sergeant Rachelle Whiting graduated with class #295 from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute on September 30, 2011. Sergeant Whiting began her employment with the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office in June 2000 where she held the position of a jail corrections officer. She transferred to a patrol deputy position in December 2001. She was promoted to the rank of sergeant in February 2007. Prior to being promoted to sergeant she held the rank of senior deputy. Sergeant Whiting has held a myriad of special assignments during her career, including hostage negotiator, field training officer, computerized voice stress analyzer examiner, and detective, specializing is sex offense crimes. She is currently the hostage negotiations team supervisor, Reserve Deputy and Chaplain Program coordinator, and the communications/dispatch center, and Office of Emergency Services supervisor.

The Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI) is a program designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement front-line supervisors. Designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers, the SBSLI is an intense program based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work.
The curriculum takes students through an analysis of management (planning, organizing, directing, etc.) and leadership (inspiring, challenging, developing, etc.) and how each discipline compliments the other. The course progresses from self-evaluation, to interpersonal evaluation, to organizational relationships. During the program, a typical successful student develops the ability to: Correlate the relationship between personal and organizational principles and values
Exercise greater leadership in personal and professional activities
Increase personal influence with individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals
Analyze issues from multiple perspectives
Develop increased self-confidence and confidence in the ability of others
Provide support and development for peers and subordinates
Recognize and address areas for personal improvement
Effectively integrate management skills and leadership qualities
A typical successful student is willing to learn, open to new ideas, and able to engage in deep self-examination of values and beliefs. The program is not a "how-to" course and should not be viewed as a fix for problem individuals. The curriculum provides a forum for personal growth and development of qualities necessary for effective public safety leadership.