Lea Henderson - Distinguished Leadership Award
Corrections Captain Lea Henderson has proven to be a strong leader and advocate for her staff. She is methodical and patient in her mentoring of officers, so they are prepared to advance their careers to the next level.
Lea has 30 years of correctional and law enforcement experience with nine years of service at the Jackson County Detention Center. She began her career in corrections as a correctional officer with the Missouri Department of Corrections. Throughout her career she has demonstrated a commitment to the highest level of excellence in her job duties and public service.
Captain Henderson was a lieutenant in the Regional Correctional Center which housed high need city inmates in a novel operation that required building from the ground up. She was hand selected by the administration for this responsibility based on her skills, organization and superior judgment in crisis situations.
As a teacher, she coaches her staff with direct support. She is preparing her lieutenants for next level management. When her shift must call administration in crisis incidents, she has the lieutenants do it, but she’s right there coaching them through the opportunity so they can practice with her support, so when they need to do it without her, they are ready.
She has an exceptional record for the advancement of her subordinates as she celebrates and recognizes the pursuit of professional certification and promotions. She was also one of the first women of rank to be in the Corrections Emergency Response Unit, where she is active today. This unit is the tip of the spear in crisis response in the detention center and her leadership to this group and the training she provides is crucial to ensuring the members have the skills to do their critical jobs safely.
Captain Henderson currently works with the Jackson County courts, population control, inmate records office, and transportation unit, to respond to or resolve concerns and to ensure public safety during inmate transports. She also has the responsibility of assisting with the management of the overtime budget on her assigned shift at JCDC.
Lea is always the first to step up and volunteer to assist with community projects and to collaborate with various committees and projects to improve the safety and security of staff, inmates and the community.