By Dave Malone
There are many characteristics that make a person a good police officer, but nothing is as important as mental toughness. I spent nearly 33 years in law enforcement, with 10 of those as the Chief of Police in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I found that the most successful officers, the ones who thrived in the profession and handled the stress most successfully, were those who actively worked to make themselves mentally tough. While many officers realize the importance of mental health and wellness, it can be a difficult skill to learn and even more difficult to put into practice.
Although I am now retired from law enforcement, I wanted to take a moment and share a seminar series that I have recently had the opportunity to attend. “The Winning Mind Seminar” is a unique review that gives men and women in law enforcement the mental edge they need to not only face threats on the street but also how to manage the stresses they confront in their daily lives, both on and off duty.
This one-day seminar is presented by Dave “J.D. Buck Savage” Smith and sponsored in part by American Military University.
Dave, who is a legend in law enforcement training, teaches attendees a warrior mentality by emphasizing:
- What makes someone a winner
- Why survival is minimalistic and how we must train to “Win”
- Understanding the role beliefs play in winning
- What is true “optimism?”
- The “Not Today” mindset, every day, on every shift
- Preventing panic, “the archenemy of survival”
- Being truly resilient after a setback!
Most everyone who attended this seminar agreed that the mental imaging Dave emphasized provided information that can be used on their day-to-day duties. This is a critical skill for all law enforcement officers and something I would highly recommend for new and veteran officers alike.
To find out if there are future seminars near you, check out Dave’s website.
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