Trainer's Bullpen

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

Summary In this episode of the Trainers Bullpen, Chris Butler interviews Brian Moon, a leading expert in naturalistic decision making (NDM). They discuss the importance of NDM in law enforcement, the role of experience and intuition in decision making, and the challenges experts face in articulating their decisions. Brian shares insights from his journey in the field, emphasizing the need for cognitive task analysis to bridge the gap between implicit knowledge and explicit articulation, ultimately enhancing training and decision-making processes in high-stakes environments. In this conversation, Brian discusses the importance of expertise management and cognitive task analysis in training, particularly within law enforcement. He emphasizes the need to capture the knowledge of experienced professionals before they leave organizations and how structured conversations can elicit valuable insights. The discussion also covers the integration of these insights into training scenarios and decision-making games to enhance learning and performance. Takeaways * Naturalistic decision making (NDM) is essential for effective law enforcement. * Experience plays a critical role in decision making, but does not guarantee infallibility. * Cognitive task analysis can help articulate implicit knowledge in decision making. * Experts often struggle to articulate their decision-making processes after high-pressure situations. * Recognition of familiar cues is key in naturalistic decision making. * Training should focus on learning from experiences rather than the school of hard knocks. * Anticipation of outcomes is crucial in decision-making processes. * Expertise is developed through experience and reflection on past decisions. * Designing systems that support cognitive work is vital for effective decision making. Expertise management focuses on retaining knowledge from senior professionals. * Cognitive task analysis helps in understanding decision-making processes. * Story elicitation techniques can capture valuable experiences from experts. * Training should incorporate real-world scenarios to enhance learning. * Decision games allow for experiential learning and skill development. * Mentorship plays a crucial role in knowledge transfer. * Imagination can create high-fidelity training experiences. * Understanding context is vital in decision-making. * Facilitated conversations can uncover deeper insights. * Organizations must prioritize capturing expertise before it walks out the door. For more information about Brian Moon, Cognitive Task Analysis and Naturalistic Decision Making training opportunities as well as other educational resources, check out Perigean at https://perigeantechnologies.com/

Summary: In this episode of the Trainers Bullpen, host Chris Butler welcomes Professor Mark Williams, a leading expert in perceptual cognitive expertise and performance. They discuss the intersection of academic research and law enforcement training, focusing on the most pervasive ‘myths’ surrounding learning and performance. Key topics include the debunking of the 10,000 hour rule, the importance of deliberate practice, the transferability of skills, and the nuanced relationship between pressure, stress, and performance. The conversation emphasizes the need for evidence-based approaches in training to enhance officer and public safety. In this conversation, Mark explores the intricate relationship between stress, performance, and training in high-pressure environments, particularly in law enforcement. They discuss how anxiety affects information processing and decision-making, the importance of experience in managing stress, and the need for training specificity to enhance resilience and self-efficacy. The dialogue emphasizes the distinction between performance and learning, highlighting that good performance in practice does not mean that learning has occurred, nor does it equate to the desired behavior in the real world. The conversation concludes with insights on the balance of pressure in training and the significance of specificity over repetition. Takeaways: • The 10,000 hour rule is a misinterpretation of research. • Deliberate practice is essential for developing expertise. • Mistakes in training are a critical component and pathway for growth. • Pressure can enhance performance if managed correctly. Finding the right pressure balance is essential for learning. • Specificity in training environments is crucial for effectiveness. • Practice should be designed to challenge weaknesses by creating pressure at those points. • Anxiety can improve focus and performance, but only up to a point. • A growth mindset fosters continuous improvement in performance. Stress alters our cognitive processing abilities. • Anxiety can disrupt previously automated behaviors. • Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in managing pressure. • Training environments must reflect real-world scenarios. • Performance in practice does not always indicate learning. • Specificity in training is more beneficial than mere repetition. • Psychological resilience can be developed through exposure to stressors. • Excellent coaching requires a skillful blend of both art and science.