EXPLORING APPROPRIATE LEADERSHIP STYLE FOR POLICE FORCE IN TANZANIA:

Abstract

Despite their importance, police leadership in Tanzania faces several leadership challenges such as abuse of power, corruption among police officers, low morale and obstruction of justice. Hence, this study attempted to explore appropriate leadership styles for police force at Arusha Central Police in Tanzania. The study was guided by four specific objectives. They included to ascertain leadership styles that are appropriate for leading police officers at Arusha Central Police, to establish the relationship between respondents' demographic characteristics and perceptions of appropriate leadership styles for police officers at Arusha Central Police, to assess challenges affecting application of appropriate leadership styles for 1111 police officers at Arusha Central Police, and to determine strategies that can improve application of leadership styles for leading police officers at Arusha Central Police. The study employed quantitative research approach which involved descriptive research design. The study was based on the population of 500 police officers from which a sample size of 222 respondents was selected. However, only 194 respondents participated in this study. Data were collected through structure questionnaires while data analysis was performed through descriptive statistics, chi-square and regression analysis. This study found that transformational, transactional and servant leadership styles were the most appropriate while autocratic leadership style was the least appropriate for leading police officers. This study also found that there was relationship between transformational leadership style and demographic characteristics such as gender, age, education, job positions and years of work. This study also found that there was relationship between autocratic leadership style and demographic characteristics such age, education, job positions and years of work. This study also found that there was relationship between transaction leadership style and demographic characteristics such age and education levels. This study also found that there was relationship between servant leadership style and demographic characteristics such age, education, job positions and years of work. This study further found that application of leadership styles in leading police officers is affected by challenges such as lack of appropriate leadership training among police leaders, lack of skills to apply leadership styles, lack of leadership skills; negative attitude of subordinate towards police leaders. Other leadership challenges cited were scarcity of resources, and high-performance expectations. Furthermore, this study found that multiple strategies such as training, resources, management and communication are necessary to improve application of leadership styles for leading police officers at Arusha Central police. This study concluded that. This study concludes that transformational leadership style, transactional leadership style and servant leadership styles are the most preferred leadership styles for leading police officers at Arusha Central Police. This study recommends that Arusha Central Police should ensure provision of regular leadership training to police leaders. This study also recommends that adequate resources should be supplied to subordinates so as to instill positive attitudes towards leaders.