Dr. Nicole Cain
Full-Time Assistant Professor, Security and Global Studies
Education
- Ed.D. in Education - Organizational Leadership
- Southeastern University
- M.S. in Criminal Justice
- Saint Leo University
Research Interests
While pursuing my Ed. D. in organizational leadership, I became interested in effective leadership. The focus of my research is to examine effective and influential leaders within police agencies with bureaucratic rank structure. The current climate in the United States presents new challenges for law enforcement and requires exceptional leaders to navigate through them. My research explores which leadership styles are the most effective for managing today's law enforcement officers in challenging times. Law enforcement administrators and line supervisors must possess leadership skills that allow them to connect with a wide-ranging demographic within their police agency while remaining dedicated to their primary mission of serving the public. The success of a police agency is dependent upon the effectiveness of its leaders. My central research goal is to learn which specific leadership skills, qualities, or styles are most effective for encouraging officers to serve the public to the best of their ability.
Positions Held
2011 - Present
Lakeland Police Department
Detective - Part-time
2006 - 2014
Everest College Phoenix
Adjunct Online Instructor
1997 - 2007
Lakeland Police Department
Police Officer
1996 - 1997
Winter Haven Police Department
Police Officer
Intellectual Contributions
Chapter 12. The law enforcement workforce crisis: Developing targeted recruitment and retention strategies for future generations
Nicole A Cain
October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 2, 2024
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
Walking the Ethical Line: The Use of Deception by Police Detectives During Investigative Interviews
Nicole A Cain
June 2004
The Florida Police Chief
Presentations
The Use of Body-Worn Cameras in Policing: Transforming a Profession One Video at a Time 2.0
Southern Criminal Justice Association Conference
September 10, 2025
The Use of Body-Worn Cameras in Policing: Transforming a Profession One Video at a Time
International Criminology Hybrid Conference
September 27, 2023
From Criminal Justice Practitioner to Scholar: Paths and Perspectives from the Concrete Blocks to the Ivory Tower
International Criminology Conference
November 4, 2022
The Present and Future Law Enforcement Workforce: A Generational Comparison of Motivators for Entering and Remaining in the Profession
International Criminology Conference
November 5, 2021
The Present & Future Law Enforcement Workforce: A Generational Comparison of Motivators for Entering and Remaining in the Profession
Southern Criminal Justice Association Conference
September 10, 2021
The Present & Future Law Enforcement Workforce: A Generational Comparison of Motivators for Entering & Remaining in the Profession
Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
April 13, 2021
The Value of Using Case Studies in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Disciplines: The Jussie Smollett Case
Southern Criminal Justice Association
September 12, 2019
The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Our Communities and The Fight to Save Them
Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society, Kappa Kappa Chapter
November 27, 2018
The Reality of Opioid Abuse & Rising Death Rates
Southern Criminal Justice Association Conference
September 12, 2018
The Reality of Opioid Abuse & Rising Death Rates
Brown Bag Speaker Colloquium
May 1, 2018
Selection process for a career in law enforcement or crime scene investigation
Alpha Phi Sigma, Kappa Kappa chapter Honor Society
March 16, 2018
Black Lives Matter: Social Justice 2.0
Oxford University Lecture
September 26, 2017
Media Contributions
Recruiting and Hiring the Next Generation of Police Officers
In Public Safety
November 18, 2020
Social Media - Blog
Solving the Law Enforcement Retention and Recruitment Problems
In Public Safety
October 9, 2020
Social Media - Blog
Lessons from Chicago's Recent Increase in Violent Crime
In Public Safety
September 8, 2020
Social Media - Blog
Politicizing Policing Will Not Foster Safer Communities
In Public Safety
August 12, 2020
Social Media - Blog
A Profession in Crisis: Proactively Recruiting in Schools and Minority Communities
InPublicSafety
April 1, 2019
Internet
A profession in crisis: Proactively recruiting in schools and minority communitiesLaw enforcement agencies must transform recruitment strategies to identify overlooked pools of candidates
Police One
March 18, 2019
Internet
A Profession in Crisis: Addressing Recruitment and Hiring Practices in Law Enforcement
In Public Safety
January 14, 2019
Social Media - Blog
A Profession in Crisis: Addressing Recruitment and Hiring Practices in Law Enforcement
PoliceOne
December 08, 2018
Internet
The Benefits of Law Enforcement Agencies Transforming into Learning Organizations
InPublicSafety
May 24, 2018
Social Media - Blog
Making the Most of Working Over the Holidays
In Public Safety
December 19, 2017
Social Media - Blog
What Makes an Effective Leader?
InPublicSafety
August 11, 2017
Social Media - Blog
Police Use of Deception During Interrogations
In Public Safety
December 8, 2015
Social Media - Blog
Strong Teamwork Needed to Solve Violent Crimes
In Public Safety
August 20, 2015
Social Media - Blog
Coping with the Stress of Police Work
In Public Safety
May 12, 2015
Social Media - Blog
Interview Strategies for Sexual Assault & Rape Investigations
In Public Safety
April 20, 2015
Social Media - Blog
Case Analysis: The Teamwork Involved in Catching a Serial Burglar in Florida
In Public Safety
August 12, 2014
Internet
The Ongoing Debate About Collecting DNA After Arrest, but Before Conviction
In Public Safety
March 24, 2014
Social Media - Blog
Certifications and Licensure
January 1996
Police Officer
Polk State College
March 1, 2023
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program)
February 25, 2019
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program)
Awards & Honors
July 15,
2022
Unsung Leader Award
APUS
For those whose contributions to Academics come not from title, but from their hard work and their inspiration of others to become better leaders. This individual shows initiative, demonstrates motivation, and makes Academics a more inclusive organization.
June 30,
2021
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
June 16,
2021
2020 University Strategic Initiative – Catalyst – Learning Management System Migration
APUS
During 2020, the earner of this badge made significant contributions to the migration of courses to a new online classroom to improve user experience, promote student-to-student and faculty-to-student interaction, enable a robust mobile classroom, and further differentiate APUS as a leader in online learning.
June 18,
2020
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
August 4,
2019
Outstanding Leadership
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
Acknowledgement for serving as the advisor for Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
June 28,
2019
Outstanding Leadership
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
Acknowledgement of serving as Advisor to Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society