An Empirical Study on Factors Shaping Effective Police Leadership for Crime Prevention in Bishoftu City

This study examined the factors influencing police leadership effectiveness in crime prevention within the Bishoftu City Police Administration, Ethiopia. An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was employed, integrating quantitative survey data with qualitative interviews. Quantitative data from 100 officers were analyzed using multiple linear regression, probit regression, and Spearman correlation to identify determinants of leadership effectiveness. The results shows that poor communication and budget shortages negatively affected leadership effectiveness, whereas educational status, experience, leadership style, and follower commitment had positive and significant influences on leadership performance, explaining over 70% of the variance in effectiveness. Qualitative findings supported these results, highlighting the need for improved communication systems, adequate resource allocation, and leadership development programs. The study contributes empirical evidence to the limited literature on police leadership in Ethiopia and offers practical recommendations for enhancing crime prevention outcomes.