LEADing Through Crisis: Lessons from the California Wildfires

California wildfire news has shifted largely to insurance matters, runoff challenges and, alas, wildfire risks of the upcoming summer. For those who were there, however, the disaster itself is still at the forefront.  

As the wildfires raged across California, a group of law enforcement professionals from TCU’s Leadership, Executive & Administrative Development (LEAD) program found themselves at the center of crisis response efforts in Los Angeles. What started as a study of community-based policing became a rare chance to observe emergency management in action. 

LEAD is a graduate program in the AddRan College of Liberal Arts that serves working law enforcement professionals. The visit was initially intended to introduce the Criminology & Criminal Justice students to the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Operation Progress, a community initiative designed to support and mentor youth from underprivileged neighborhoods. However, as the fires intensified, so did the role of law enforcement in coordinating disaster response. The LEAD cohort witnessed firsthand how agencies mobilized to protect lives and infrastructure amid an evolving crisis. 

A Rare Perspective on Crisis Leadership 

Eric Gilbert, LEAD student and commander of the Special Operations Division at the TCU Police Department, emphasized the significance of interagency collaboration during the wildfire response, as he had previously experienced involvement in large-scale emergency responses such as Hurricane Katrina and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. 

“It was interesting to see the coordination aspect when various entities come together to manage a crisis situation,” Gilbert shared. “From a strictly law enforcement perspective, I observed numerous agencies coordinating resources to protect the public.” 

The Los Angeles Emergency Operations Center (EOC) serves as a hub where key decisions are made in real time. Gilbert noted the immense challenge of first responders working during a disaster that also personally affected them.  

“Some of the officers and responders had personally lost their homes and property to the fire,” Gilbert said. “Yet, they continued working tirelessly to protect their communities.” 

Fort Worth Police Sergeant Christina Watson, another LEAD student, echoed similar observations.  

“Watching the news, you see just snippets of what emergency responders are doing in the field, but at the EOC, we saw the support system behind them,” Watson shared. “Those men and women were coordinating equipment, shelters, food and relief coverage while having to prioritize where to direct the next group of first responders and city services crews.” 

The Importance of Interagency Collaboration 

LEAD students witnessed firsthand the intricate coordination between law enforcement, fire departments, city services and relief agencies.  

Johnny Nhan, creator of the LEAD program and interim associate provost and dean of graduate studies, helped lead the trip. He emphasized the importance of building relationships before a crisis occurs.  

“The first time a law enforcement leader meets someone from other organizations, such as civil engineers, water and power representatives and housing, shouldn’t be during an emergency,” Nhan said. 

Watson took this lesson to heart.  

“The LEAD program has been a great guidance tool by highlighting the importance of establishing good working relationships with other city departments and local agencies. When an urgent need arises, you know who to contact, which will help facilitate a seamless collaboration of a multi-agency response,” she said. 

A Lesson in Crisis Leadership 

While Gilbert and Watson are both seasoned law enforcement professionals, they found the experience reaffirmed the importance of leadership during crises.

“Providing leadership from all levels of an organization is key to a successful response,” Gilbert emphasized. “From patrol officers working the streets to the chief of police in the command center, all were working towards the common goal of protecting the communities affected by the wildfires.” 

Nhan pointed out that leadership in crisis situations goes beyond just making strategic decisions.  

“I hope the students learned that policing is more than just law enforcement and that their impact as leaders inside their organizations and in the community is vital, especially in times of emergency,” Nhan emphasized. 

Bridging Law Enforcement and Community Needs 

Beyond crisis response, the trip also reinforced the role of law enforcement in fostering community trust.  

Operation Progress, a community policing initiative and the program originally scheduled for the visit, demonstrated how officers work closely with school principals, staff and students in underserved areas like Watts and Compton in Los Angeles.  

“They help build trust and approachability that maybe someone in uniform does not immediately have,” Nhan explained. “Police can also bring legitimacy to these programs by helping secure resources they desperately need.” 

For LEAD students, the experience was eye-opening.  

“To see college-bound students come from such impoverished and gang-ridden communities that lacked even the most basic resources was the most unexpected and impactful lesson,” Nhan said. “It changes the way law enforcement leaders view their role in the community.” 

Shaping the Future of Law Enforcement Leadership 

While emergency response was a focal point of the trip, long-term leadership development remains the program’s cornerstone. 

The LEAD program, a brainchild of Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes ’19 MS, is designed to cultivate leadership in law enforcement professionals across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Nhan said. The program combines graduate-level coursework with real-world experiences that challenge students to think beyond traditional policing methods. 

“The ability to interact with our student peer group and discuss various topics within law enforcement is invaluable,” Gilbert said. “LEAD provides a great opportunity to network with officers from other departments, and the curriculum serves as a roadmap for those looking to advance to higher leadership roles.”

For Nhan, the program’s long-term impact is clear.  

“LEAD plays a vital role in changing the perspective of top law enforcement leaders to balance their focus back to community needs,” he said. “It is up to this new breed of leaders to champion the discourse of their organizations to fit community needs.” 

As the program continues to grow, with aspirations to expand beyond Texas, experiences like the one in Los Angeles serve as a testament to the power of experiential learning. Nhan explained that by placing law enforcement professionals in real-world crisis scenarios, LEAD ensures that graduates are not only prepared for leadership roles but also are equipped with the critical thinking and adaptability needed to navigate the evolving challenges of modern public safety.