Sandra Kompier appointed as Director of the School of Police Leadership

On 1 November, Sandra Kompier was officially appointed as Director of the School of Police Leadership (SPL). Over the past four years, Sandra has worked on rebuilding the SPL. Her work has included developing leadership programmes for tactical and strategic managers within the police organisation.

‘The desire to rebuild the SPL’ (terminated in 2015 as a result of budget cuts) ‘came from the great need for leadership succession within the police organisation’, says Sandra. ‘At the request of the Force Command Team, we carefully started relaunching and adding programmes. Initially only for Team Leads, but now we also offer programmes for Sector Heads and members of Police Unit’s Command Teams and the Force Command Team. 

Together with fellow members of the SPL team and many internal and external partners, we are creating great programmes, really in line with the times. Many participants have responded positively to them. As a police organisation, we can be very proud of what has been achieved.’

High-quality programmes

Liesbeth Huyzer, Deputy Commissioner, agrees. ‘In recent years, Sandra has given shape to leadership development in an inspiring way, developing amazing, high-quality programmes.’

‘The educational programme of the School of Police Leadership showcases the advantages of effective leadership programmes. It will help our organisation grow and develop. I’m very grateful to Sandra for the great dedication she has shown to this project. And I’m proud that she has been appointed as the first Director of the School of Police Leadership.’

Honoured and excited

‘I am honoured and excited to be given this new role’, says Sandra. ‘I really enjoy the practical side of the job: coaching colleagues and in that way contributing to leadership development. To be able to do this, I completed a three-year Master’s degree in Executive Coaching. I wanted to have a solid basis to do this work well – you really have to know what you’re doing.’ 

The SPL is part of the Netherlands Police Academy. Sandra: ‘The SPL offers educational and developmental programmes for police employees who already have the initial qualifications required for their managerial position. We’re not part of the accredited study programmes, but we are closely connected to education and knowledge building. For this reason, it is beneficial that the SPL is embedded in the Police Academy.’ 

Vital role

Leonard Kok, Director of the Netherlands Police Academy, agrees: ‘I think the Commissioner is quite right to draw attention to leadership development in her initial document. There’s high demand for training programmes on operational leadership, as well as new leadership programmes for higher management. 

'The coming years will be busy ones for the police leadership educational community, including the SPL. Sandra plays a vital role within this community, both in terms of content and of connections. For this reason, I am very happy that we have been able to safeguard the position of the SPL within the organisation of the Police Academy and to formalise Sandra’s role.’

The Netherlands Police Academy’s staff council was involved in bringing this position under the Police Academy’s organisational structure. It looks forward with confidence to working together with Sandra in her new position.