DJJ Secretary Walt McNeil

DJJ Secretary Walt McNeil's speech to DJJ employees
February 1, 2007

http://www.djj.state.fl.us/Secretary/openingletter.html

Dear Fellow Employees:

As you are aware, our honorable Governor, Charlie Crist, has selected me to serve you and the people of Florida as Secretary for the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). I'm truly honored by the Governor's confidence in me, and I'm equally honored to have the privilege of working with each of you. I welcome your ideas, as well as those from our providers, other key public and private stakeholders, and our citizens. Together, we can transform DJJ into a national leader in the fair, balanced and accountable treatment of at-risk youth.

During the coming weeks and months, I intend to meet each of you as I visit our offices and facilities across the state, as well as reach out to our stakeholders and communities in a spirit of inclusiveness and collaboration. As Governor Crist so eloquently has stated, this is the people's work, and we are public servants first and foremost.

I believe that each of us, at some point in our lifetime, must decide how to best serve our fellow citizens. In my case, the decision to accept the leadership role at DJJ was easy. I am the former Chief of Police of Tallahassee (our Capital City), having served as Chief for the last 10 years of my 28-year career in law enforcement. In that role, I enthusiastically embraced opportunities to help implement programs for children who were influenced or impacted by crime. These include partnering with local and state community leaders, advocacy groups, citizens, and public policymakers to address gang interdiction, educational outreach on juvenile crime, and local implementation of a statewide initiative that addresses all aspects of children's needs.

I am proud to say that the employees of the Tallahassee Police Department were recognized in 2006 by the Florida Crime Prevention Association as having the best crime prevention program in Florida. Currently serving as the 5th Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, with oversight responsibility for the Crime Prevention Committee, I have gained critical insights into the importance of shaping prevention efforts to meet the unique needs of diverse communities.

As I begin my service at DJJ, I look forward to listening and learning from you about how we can strengthen the programs and services you provide. It already is apparent to me that DJJ employees go well beyond the call of duty because of your tireless dedication to the children we serve. Public service is the cornerstone of Governor Crist's administration, and I share his passion and commitment to serving the citizens of our State, particularly children at risk.

This collective commitment is the foundation for our first steps together at DJJ, and with that come my expectations for our Department:

1. Every employee of DJJ has a duty to take a strong and proactive role to ensure that each child in our care and custody is safe. Every employee is expected to carry out these duties with the utmost integrity, professionalism, ethical behavior, and reverence for the law. This conduct represents another key cornerstone of Governor Crist's administration and my leadership values.

2. We will abide by the principles and laws of open government and the right of the public, including the news media, to full disclosure under the law. A well-informed citizenry is essential to carrying out our duties at DJJ and is a foundation for good customer service, another precept of this administration.

3. In our on-going commitment to serving children, we will be successful only if we work cooperatively with providers, parents, advocacy groups, citizens, local and state agencies, the Governor's staff, Cabinet members, and legislators in partnership to reach our shared goals. We will work to improve and expand our partnership base and strengthen existing partnerships.

4. Within the Department, my leadership team and I also will work to foster an environment of inclusion, empowerment, good will and job satisfaction for all employees’ opinion and input are valued. Mutual respect, fairness and teamwork will be paramount.

5. DJJ must embrace a philosophy of a balanced approach to reduce juvenile crime. Prevention, intervention, and treatment, when strategically combined, produce a more cost-effective reduction in juvenile crime. Central to our balanced approach will be prevention efforts directed at community involvement, and I welcome your ideas on ways to encourage local citizen interaction.

By achieving all of the above, I believe that DJJ will become the premiere Juvenile Justice Department in the country. Quite frankly, we have some challenges ahead of us in order to reach that goal. But I think we all stand ready to meet these challenges because we know that children are at the center of our efforts. We must be well-managed, progressive, proactive, and good stewards of our resources if we are to become the very best.

I understand that change is never easy, and that change in leadership can create anxiety. You should know that I am a servant leader who believes my job is to serve you, our children, and the people of Florida. As a servant leader, I will place your needs above those of my own in the context of performing the responsibilities of Secretary of DJJ.

In closing, everything that I envision for our organization can be summarized in three concepts: children-focused, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. We are fortunate that our mission is so critical and directly linked to the quality of life of the citizens of Florida. What could be more gratifying or inspiring as we embrace the challenges, risks, and opportunities associated with making a difference on behalf of the people?

I assume the position of Secretary with a full understanding of the hurdles we face in the days, months, and years ahead. At the same time, I want each of you to know that my commitment to effectively and efficiently carry out the duties of our agency is unwavering. Thank you in advance for your service to the DJJ and the great State of Florida.

Sincerely,

Walter A. McNeil Secretary

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