Trainer's Bullpen

Summary: In this episode of Trainers Bullpen, host Chris Butler speaks with Dr. Jennifer Prohaska from Tactical Longevity. Dr. Prohaska is a clinical psychologist specializing in law enforcement mental health. They discuss the concept of anti-fragility, the importance of resilience, and the six elements that contribute to developing an anti-fragile mindset. Dr. Prohaska emphasizes the need for proactive mental health strategies in law enforcement, focusing on self-awareness, self-regulation, mental flexibility, accurate thinking, values, and connection. The conversation also highlights the importance of ongoing training and support for officers and their families to foster a culture of wellness within agencies. This interview ought to get trainers and agency leaders thinking deeply about how to take officer wellness beyond well-meaning words and intentions into strategies that equip officers and supervisors with helpful and effective tools to build anti-fragility. Takeaways: • Anti-fragility is about thriving through adversity. • Resilience is bouncing back; anti-fragility is growing stronger. • Self-awareness is crucial for making better choices. • Mental flexibility allows for adaptability in stressful situations. • Curiosity over judgment fosters a better learning environment. • Connection with others significantly reduces PTSD risk. • Training should be ongoing, not a one-time event. • Values guide decision-making in challenging situations. • Proactive mental health strategies are essential in law enforcement. • Involving families in mental wellness is vital for overall support.

Summary In this episode of Trainer's Bullpen, host Chris Butler welcomes Professor Adam Nichols back to the Bullpen to discuss the concept of mental toughness, particularly in the context of law enforcement training. They explore the definitions of mental toughness and resilience, the importance of developing these traits in high-pressure situations, and the role of coaches in fostering a supportive environment. The conversation delves into practical strategies for enhancing mental toughness through training, including creating pressure situations, balancing stress levels, and promoting a mastery climate. Additionally, they discuss the significance of self-reference goals and the impact of mental imagery on performance readiness. In this conversation, Adam discusses the intricate relationship between mental toughness, sport intelligence, and performance. He emphasizes the importance of mental imagery, feedback, and the role of optimism in enhancing mental toughness. The discussion also covers the significance of creating a mastery climate in training environments, where individuals can focus on improvement rather than merely meeting minimum standards. Adam outlines practical strategies for teaching mental skills, including coping effectiveness training, concentration techniques, and the importance of self-determined goal setting. Takeaways • Mental toughness is the ability to manage stress and perform well under pressure. • Mental toughness and resilience are closely related constructs. • Law enforcement officers may face sudden high-pressure situations requiring mental toughness. • Mental toughness can be developed through training and exposure to pressure. • Creating pressure situations in training helps enhance mental toughness. • Trainers should monitor individual responses to pressure during training. • A supportive trainer-performer relationship is crucial for developing mental toughness. • Fostering a mastery climate promotes self-improvement and reduces anxiety. • Self-reference goals focus on personal improvement rather than comparison to others. • Contextual accuracy in training environments enhances performance readiness. • Mental toughness is linked to mental imagery. • Higher levels of ‘game intelligence’ correlate with mental toughness. • Feedback is essential for developing mental toughness. • Optimism enhances performance and reduces pessimism. • Creating a mastery climate encourages improvement. • Coping effectiveness training helps manage stress. • Challenge appraisal positively affects performance. • Concentration can be improved with cue words. • Self-determined goals lead to better performance. • Minimum standards can limit performance; intrinsic motivation is key.

Summary: All human responses are the result of the interplay of aperson’s thinking, emoting and behavior. In this episode of the Trainer's Bullpen, host Chris Butler interviews Dr. John Azar-Dickens, a licensed clinical psychologist and police officer, about the important aspects ofoperationalizing realistic and effective deescalation tactics.  They discuss the development and application of the TEB model, which focuses on assessing thought, emotion, and behavior in crisis situations, and how it can quickly improve communication and decision-making for officers. Dr. Azar-Dickens emphasizes the importance of understandingthe unique challenges faced by police officers and the need for tailoredtraining that integrates these fundamental psychological principles with tactical skills. The conversation also touches on the complexities of dealing with individuals in crisis, including the phenomenon of suicide by cop, and thenecessity for officers to maintain emotional regulation during high-stress encounters. Takeaways • Dr. Azar-Dickens transitioned from psychology to law enforcement to better understand policing. • The TEB model assesses thought, emotion, and behavior to inform crisis communication. • Crisis communication should focus on reducing emotional intensity. • Directive communication is necessary for compliant individuals, while crisis communication is for those in distress. • Officers have been seriously injured and killed by incorrectly discerning the type of subject they are dealing with and using the wrong communication strategy. • Officers must assess the situation quickly to determine the appropriate communication style. • Suicide by cop often involves individuals with contaminated thinking and high emotion. If officers can rapidly assess they are potentially dealing with a suicide by cop subject, they may be able to implement better control strategies to manage the encounter. • Training must integrate communication strategies within tactical skills. • Emotional regulation is crucial for officers during high-stress situations, and this can be taught when done correctly. • The TEB model provides a framework for officers to quickly assess a person and navigate the complex interactions.

Summary: In this episode of Trainer's Bullpen, host Chris Butler speaks with Dr. Geoffrey Desmoulin about the critical research on prone restraint techniques in law enforcement.They discuss the conflicting views on the safety of these techniques, the physiological risks involved, and the implications of the Bronstein case, which serves as a cautionary tale for law enforcement practices. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the biomechanics and physiology behind restraint techniques, particularly the role of CO2 buildup in medicalrisks. In this conversation, Dr. Desmoulin discusses eight critical risk factors for sudden death in prone restraint cases. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding the physiological responses duringrestraint and offers strategies for law enforcement to mitigate risks associated with respiratory compromise. Takeaways: • Physiological effects of prone restraint can lead to serious medical risks. • The recent Bronstein case highlights the dangers of prolonged prone restraint. • Communication of medical risks is crucial for law enforcement training. • The urgency of repositioning subjects in restraint is critical. • Biomechanics play a significant role in understanding restraint techniques. • Training should incorporate findings from recent research on restraint risks. Obesity increases pressure on lungs and reduces tidal volume. • Drugs like meth and opioids disrupt carbon dioxide regulation. • Anxiety can lead to hyperventilation and increased airway resistance. • Downward force during restraint can compress thoracic vessels. • Time is a critical factor in managing respiratory risks. • Reducing the duration of struggles can minimize health risks. • Research should focus on dynamic immobilization scenarios. Listeners should check out the online courses available at GTD Scientific https://gtdscientific.com/

Summary In this conversation, Chris Butler and Lon Bartel discuss the critical intersection of human performance research and law enforcement training. They explore the importance of understanding the time it takes for officers to stop shooting in high-stress situations. The conversation includes the critical human factors involved in the stop-shooting process. Bartel shares insights from his research, highlighting the need for training methodologies and analysis of officer involved use of force events to evolve based on empirical findings. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of bridging the gap between academic research and practical application in law enforcement, ultimately aiming to enhance officer safety and public trust. Takeaways • Understanding the time it takes to stop a shooting response is crucial for ensuring fair and neutral investigations take place. • The psychological refractory period affects decision-making in high-stress situations and can slow down decision making. • The ‘Flankers Effect’ demonstrates how attention can be diverted in critical moments when important decisions need to be made. • Training methodologies in law enforcement need to evolve based on research findings. • Real-world conditions differ significantly from controlled lab settings. Lab research is helpful but should not be transferred directly to operational incident analysis. • The study found an average of two additional shots fired after a stop signal. • Future research should focus on realistic threat scenarios for better training outcomes. For more information about the research or the amazing technology and research by Virtra, contact Lon Bartel at lbartel@virtra.com