Don’t be surprised: Police Chief Paul Pedersen doesn’t stay up late at night pouring through page-turner crime novels.
“Do I read mysteries? I get asked this question a lot. Similarly, do I watch police shows? My general answer is no.”
He does admit to rare moments of diversion, though.
“One mystery book that I read virtually cover to cover in a weekend was The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. Definitely one of my all-time favourites.”
But there is much literature on the topic that has weight.
“Of course, speaking with my sister, [I] remembered another influential book that I’ve loaned to others — Future Crimes by Marc Goodman. It's an eye-opening look at current and future technological crimes, truly enlightening about how vulnerable we all are. A must read.”
So fact, not fiction has the greater influence for this reader.
Pedersen is the head of operations and administration and wears the badge of the city's top cop. It carries great responsibility, so where to go for guidance?
Why not a book?
“I consider myself a lifelong learner, and throughout my career, I have read many, wonderful leadership books. “The Game” by Ken Dryden I found very insightful. John Kotter’s “What Leaders Really Do” helped me understand the differences and intersections between leadership, management and supervision. I’ve also really enjoyed some of the more “light” management books such as “The Rules of Management” by Richard Templar.. While this book might not be peer-reviewed, or grounded in much empirical proof, it does have a number of intuitively good messages that often serve as references for me.”
When asked to go back in time to childhood, Pedersen has fond memories.
“Interesting question about influences, because reading has been so much of my life. I truly don’t remember a time when books weren’t influencing me in one way or another from the days when my mother would read to me until today when I’m reading both for work and for pleasure. Although, I don’t have the hours that I used to have to spend entire days curled up reading.
“As I kid, I remember being part of a book club and reading Encyclopedia Brown. It’s only just now that I’m realizing that this was my early introduction to detective work and perhaps that had an influence on my future career choice. I also loved Farley Mowat books, again, only now in responding to this, am I recognizing that perhaps those books, with their focus on Northern outdoors, influenced my choice to come to Sudbury now. But my favourite books, the books that could have me in doors all weekend reading, were the Tarzan series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I don’t know that they changed my perspective or influenced my outlook or view point on life, but I sure got lost in them.”
Clearly Pedersen would like to spend more time with words.
“I enjoy biographies: John Lennon by Philip Norman and the Beatles biography titled “Shout” by the same author. Bobby Orr’s book “My Story” was a little different perspective from the simple straight narrative of career highlights. I’ve read so many I’d have a hard time listing them all — Eric Clapton, Don Cherry, Neil Peart, Johnny Cash. I think I enjoy the story of everyday folk ending up leading extraordinary lives. I also enjoy Canadian humour and love anything written by Stuart McLean, such a shame that he passed on. I think I’ve read all of his books.”
What about as an adult? Pedersen makes reference to vegetarianism, health and wellness.
“As far as influences go, I have to acknowledge Jeff Galloway’s guide book “Galloway’s Book On Running” that helped me push my running to marathon distances and helped me qualify for and run in the Boston Marathon.”
When asked what one book he would pull off the shelf for a colleague, Pedersen stops and contemplates.
“Of course that depends on the colleague and depends on the issue. Just recently, I pulled out a book called “Damaged Angels” by Bonnie Buxton.This is a book I was introduced to many years ago that changed my perspective with respect to fetal alcohol syndrome. I’ve shared a book called “Community Conversations” by Paul Born, which is all about mobilizing communities to build capacity. It’s the book where I learned the quote “listening to hear the obvious,” in other words, listen to what the community has to say. Often, the solution that evades us is so obvious to them and all we need to do is engage them in conversation and sit back and listen.”
Across the spectrum, the topics and titles are diverse for this community leader. A varied diet of literature and content benefits Pedersen’s leadership style, his interaction with individuals, groups, and neighbourhoods, and his successful guidance of a team of dedicated professionals.
For the electronic list of books listed in this article, click here.
