From the Desk of Chief Ogden | Seeds of Leadership | By Chief David A. Ogden
Truth Prevails: Leadership in the Face of Deception
Several years ago, our team encountered an individual posing as a police officer, running a fraudulent funeral escort business. From the start, he did everything possible to manipulate the situation. He left threatening messages promising lawsuits, convinced a resident to support his version of the story, and tried to bully our agency into dropping the case.
At first, public perception leaned his way—he even managed to get a news outlet to portray him as the victim. But we stayed the course. Through a thorough investigation, his many misdeeds came to light, leading to a litany of charges from multiple agencies. He became notorious, even appearing on the Dr. Phil show, where his lack of honesty was transparent to all.
Through it all, we chose composure over retaliation. We stayed steadfast in the truth, trusted the process, and ultimately watched deception unravel.
It was a powerful reminder that integrity is our strongest defense in leadership. You don’t always have to fight back against false narratives—sometimes, the truth simply needs time to surface.
The Buckle of Truth is the first armor to put on in battle.
Leadership question: How have you seen patience and integrity outlast deception or pressure in your own leadership journey?
Regards, - David A. Ogden
“Outdo one another with Honor.”
