The One Trait Most Police Supervisors Ignore | Deneisha Seaman

The One Trait Most Police Supervisors Ignore | Deneisha Seaman

March 6, 2026 · 54 min · Episode 3

About this episode

Captain Deneisha Seaman discusses the importance of humility in law enforcement supervision and shares insights from her career.

Captain Deneisha Seaman is the first Black female captain in the history of the Baltimore County Police Department. In this conversation, she identifies humility as the most overlooked trait in law enforcement supervision—and the one constant across her 16-year career. Seaman discusses how humility allowed her to stay coachable, receive criticism, and grow under leaders who pushed her past her comfort zone. She shares lessons from Internal Affairs, where a lieutenant forced her to develop the decision-making discipline she relies on today. She reflects on a traumatic investigation that taught her when leaders must challenge their superiors, a communication failure that cost trust early in her career, and why supervising friends requires separating rank from relationship. She also addresses generational shifts in policing—why today's officers prioritize different things and why effective leaders must adapt without losing sight of what actually matters. Seaman honors the trailblazers who paved the way, especially Sergeant Gwen Perish, and explains why the best leaders never stop being students. For law enforcement supervisors, command staff, and emerging leaders navigating modern…

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Host: Dominick Watters

Guest: Deneisha Seaman

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Baltimore County Police Department

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