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Course detail: Foundations of Rural Leadership: Part 1 Public Trust and Scene Leadership

Course Description:

In rural policing, leadership is not an administrative rank or a gold stripe on a uniform-it is an immediate operational action. Frontline personnel in small agencies routinely operate without close supervision, miles away from immediate backup, and under a intense community microscope.

This intensive 8-hour course bridges the gap between basic academy training and true street leadership. Students will master the mental shift from reactive "responders" to proactive "scene leaders," learn to navigate small-town political and relational pressures, exercise peer influence without positional authority, and build practical strategies for long-term career survival in isolated environments.

Core Competencies:

Managing Self - Participants will harness one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.
Managing Projects - Participants will demonstrate strong communication skills to convey messages effectively to share their vision, goals, ideas, and issues.
Leading People - Participants will lead and engage people to maximize organizational performance.

Objectives:

Defend absolute impartial service (Peelian Principle #5) when confronted with small-town social pressures, informal perks, or expectations of favoritism.
Transition instantly from a reactive call-to-call responder mindset to a proactive scene manager who anticipates long-term community, legal, and command staff fallout.
Execute assertive peer-to-peer interventions and tactical "tap-outs" to safely manage escalating scenes without fracturing fragile multi-agency mutual aid agreements.
Demonstrate the moral courage required to enforce horizontal accountability among shift partners, utilizing professional communication scripts to correct corner-cutting or ethical drift.

Instructional Methods:

100% Interactive, scenario-driven, and peer-focused facilitation
Roleplay
Group tactical white-boarding
Peer-to-peer accountability drills

Who Should Attend:

Frontline Officers, Deputies, and Troopers (6-24 months of field experience)

Course Requirements:

100% participation and attendance

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in an event, please email CPSL or call 620.694.1401 at least three weeks before the first day of the event. Some events may require notice earlier than three weeks and require you contact a specific individual; if so, that information is provided in the event-specific information.

Session Information: SL27024P

Schedule:

Every day, starting on 02/11/27 and ending on 02/11/27

Times:

08:00am-05:00pm CST

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Price:

Registration Fee : $199.00

Bulletin

Participants are responsible for their own snacks, drinks, meals, lodging and travel. Please dress in layers, as the temperature in the room may be difficult to adjust. You will receive an email about 7 days prior to each training event providing you with additional information specific to that training event and location.

Instructors

Name

Additional Resources

Cole Presley

Biography: Cole Presley is a dedicated professional with a passion for public service and developing future leaders in public safety. Cole has almost 25 years of experience in law enforcement, EMS, Fire and Emergency Management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from Central Christian College of Kansas. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Criminal Justice Leadership from Liberty University.

Throughout his career, Cole has contributed to law enforcement leadership processes and projects statewide. As the Sheriff of Graham County, he served on the Statewide Interoperability Advisory Committee that focuses on interoperable communications via multiple platforms as well as a Commissioner for the Kansas Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. He also served on the NW Kansas Homeland Security Regional Committee and numerous law enforcement work groups statewide. A highlight of his career was the 5 years he served on the Executive Board for the Kansas Sheriff's Association culminating in his two-year term as President from 2020-2022.

Outside of work, Cole is an active member of his community and church with a focus on involvement and rural development through community care. Cole and his wife Nikki have three children, and much free time is spent chasing these teenagers and college aged kids around the state.

Facility Detail

Hays Police Department Training Room

1100 Fort St

Hays, KS 67601

Cancellation Policy

A refund less a $25.00 cancellation fee will be assessed for all cancellations made in writing prior to 10 days before the start of the event. After that time, no refunds will be made.