Former two-time police chief Jesus “Eddie” Campa, now a leadership consultant, speaker and author, believes it is time for police departments to take a hard look at their policies and practices and adopt reforms as needed.
In an interview with the NFN Radio News podcast, Campa called for an end to the "blue wall of silence", with police officers protecting their own even when unlawful acts are committed. He also said he disagrees with the concept of "qualified immunity," which protects cops and other officials from personal liability for civil violations committed while on the job.
Campa is the author of “Unmasking Leadership: What They Don’t Tell You.” He lectures frequently on “Leading Through Diversity.”
In our interview with Campa, we talk about those leadership topics, and tap into Eddie’s background in law enforcement to get his view about the current debate over the need for police reform.
Eddie Campa was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. After 27 years of law enforcement experience, he retired from the public service, and transitioned his experience and expertise into the private sector as a mentor, consultant, and sounding board.
Campa served as a Chief Deputy and Chief of Police on two different occasions throughout his career. As a result of his last tour in a city impacted by racial divisions, Eddie created and implemented the innovative No Colors No Labels Initiative.
It was designed to remove the preconceived notion that the police were racially motivated. In 2017 Eddie was named Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian of the Year by the NAACP. He’s a leader who believes in diversity and that a workforce should mirror the community they serve.
Campa holds a Master’s in Criminal Justice and Security Administration and is currently working on a PH.D. in Public Service Leadership. He is a strong supporter of leadership development, strategic planning, customer service, crisis communication, 21st Century Policing, and Procedural Justice.
Joining in the interview is Mark M. Bello, author, attorney, and Not Fake News contributor. This episode also will be featured in an episode on the new podcast, Justice Counts, hosted by Bello and myself.
Listen to the podcast: