06/08/2026
Leadership is lived — especially when the moment is heavy.
Our Monday did not start the way we expected.
Before the meetings, the deadlines and the big presentation waiting for us this afternoon, there was a moment when someone needed a leader to show up with a steady voice and a level head.
A young officer in our county was navigating a difficult situation involving an employee and some serious allegations. I asked them to give me a moment to reach him directly. I believed that, with the right conversation, he would take accountability and do the right thing.
The conversation was not easy.
We talked about fear.
We talked about owning our actions.
We talked about accountability and what it means to face the next step, even when it is scary.
And he made the decision to turn himself in.
Right before we hung up the phone, he told me he loved me. I reminded him that I loved him too. I told him that he needed to get through this, take responsibility for what comes next and know that there would be people waiting for him on the other side.
Leading with empathy does not mean excusing someone’s actions. It does not mean lowering the standard or shielding someone from accountability.
Sometimes, it means caring enough to help someone face the consequences of their choices with honesty and dignity.
Leadership can feel heavy because you carry the weight of understanding that people are more than their worst moments. When warranted, you help provide a path forward and a soft landing upon their return — not without accountability, but with humanity.
We still have a full day ahead of us. The presentation still needs to happen. The work is still waiting.
But this morning, we had the opportunity to remind someone that they are loved while encouraging them to do the right thing.
That mattered too.
Leadership is lived in all situations — especially the ones no one prepares you for.
