Pasadena Police Sergeant Completes Rigorous California Leadership Institute

Pasadena Police Department Sergeant Cristian Allen has graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, a demanding eight-month leadership development program administered by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, known as POST.

Police Chief Eugene Harris announced the graduation in the City Manager’s April 16 weekly newsletter, noting that Sgt. Allen joined the Pasadena Police Department in 2008 and has served in multiple assignments, including patrol, Community Relations, traffic enforcement, PAL Director, audits and inspections, and wellness and peer support.  He was promoted to sergeant in 2020.

The Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute, commonly referred to as the SBSLI or SLI, was designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals, educators, and trainers. The program was later renamed in honor of Sherman Block, the longtime Los Angeles County Sheriff who championed professional development in law enforcement before his death in 1998.

The course consists of eight 24-hour sessions held approximately every four weeks, for a total of 192 hours. It is designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in first-line supervisors. Topics include leadership theory, team dynamics, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational change. Students complete individual projects and are expected to apply course concepts within their own agencies.

While the program targets first-line supervisors, POST notes that it is suitable for all law enforcement leaders, both sworn and civilian.

“Sgt. Allen’s commitment to professional development reflects the high standards we hold for all members of this department,” Chief Harris said in the newsletter. “The leadership skills gained through this program will benefit both his team and the community he serves.”