Trust
Trust is built through experience. It is not gained through lectures, promises or good intentions. Recently, I observed a team that added to their infrastructure of trust. It began with a crisis and ended with excellence. The day began as normal, but in the course of a few minutes, it was filled with multiple situations that required teamwork and sacrifice. This team answered the call and ventured out of their comfort zones to accomplish the mission at hand.
The mission or task is not what built trust within this team. The willingness to act decisively and selflessly for the good of another and for the overall benefit of the team is what mattered. Once the crisis was over, each member involved knew that they could depend on one another. They knew this not because of a speech, talk, or passionate conversation. They had experienced what it felt like for their teammates to deliver in the midst of a storm.
We talk a lot about trust, but do we look for ways to turn our words into action? Do we consistently come through for others when they need us? Do we look for ways to do good? Can we be depended upon to sacrifice ourselves for others when there is no recognition or gain for us?
Choose to build trust by consistently doing good for others, and you will make a difference.
Dr. Larry Little
Eagle Center for Leadership
For any police department to operate effectively with its officers, staff, and the community it serves, trust must be at the heart of everything it does. Trust is the firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. It is built over time through consistent actions that demonstrate integrity, fairness, and a commitment to doing what is right.
Trust lays the groundwork for accountability by ensuring promises are kept, ethical standards are upheld, and everyone—both within the department and in the community—can count on fairness and honest communication.
Trust is not just an ideal; it’s what enables officers to work together effectively, supervisors to make just decisions, and communities to feel secure in those who protect and serve them. It builds strong relationships within the department and strengthens bonds with the public, earning the respect and cooperation essential for law enforcement. Without trust, even the best plans and efforts can fall short.
“Trust is like the air we breathe.
When it’s present, no one really notices. When it’s absent, everyone notices.”
Earning trust takes effort, but it gives meaning to every interaction and decision you make. Each time you engage with someone, make a choice, or take action, you have an opportunity to demonstrate fairness, honesty, and care. These everyday moments are what build strong, lasting relationships—within the department and throughout the community. As officers of the Decatur Police Department, you have the unique ability to show what it truly means to serve with integrity and respect.
When trust is strong, everything functions better. Teams communicate more effectively, officers and leaders make confident decisions, and communities feel safer and more connected to the department. Trust creates an environment where people feel valued, respected, and united in their shared mission to serve.
At its core, trust shapes the relationships you build, the decisions you make, and the impact you have each day. This module offers you the chance to reflect on what makes your work meaningful: earning trust, strengthening connections, and making a positive difference for your team and the community you serve. Let’s get started.
Trust: Module Overview
Session One: Trust Matters - Foundations for Strong Leadership
Explore the core attributes of trust—benevolence, honesty, openness, reliability, and competence—and their importance in building strong teams and community relationships.
Session Two: Embracing Authentic Integrity
Learn how aligning actions with values strengthens credibility and builds trust within the department and with the community.
Session Three: Strategic Trust
Discover intentional leadership actions that build trust through respect, connection, and collaboration, both within the department and with the community.
Session Four: The Power of Truth
Examine how honesty and transparency create trust, inspire confidence, and establish unity in law enforcement.
