SI81 – Surviving the Job/Stuff You Never Learned at the Academy-Program 1

Included: DVD+ 1 Digital Download
Run Time: 40 minutes

THE PROGRAM

In many cases, education often truly starts AFTER one gets his or her high school or college degree and enters the workforce. Perhaps, that is truer in law enforcement than most career choices. No academy can provide a recruit all knowledge and tools that he or she can, ultimately, only get from experience on the street.

There is so very much potentially career-saving or, yes, even life-saving information and experience an officer gets AFTER leaving the academy, we have decided to produce a multi-part series. We’re calling it ‘Surviving the Job/Stuff You Never Learned at the Academy-Program 1.

In this first program, you will meet two veteran officers, one of whom is also a nationally-renowned trauma surgeon.

The overriding question we wanted to know from both of them was: Exactly what do you feel were some of the most important experiences and lessons you only got once you put on the uniform of a full-time law enforcement officer; experiences that, despite all academies very best intentions, can only be learned through the grittiness and stark reality of The Job?

You will find many opportunities throughout this program (and those yet to come) for excellent interaction with your fellow officers, recruits, your trainers and instructors and the veterans who, we feel, will also find this and upcoming programs to be of great interest.

Please pay special attention to the comments made by both officers in reference to mental health and wellness and their own journeys towards the light at the end of their, sometimes, dark tunnels.

We hope their stark honesty with all who watch the program will be a beacon for one and all first responders who, hopefully, will learn, too, that reaching out for help is a good, normal, and absolutely positive thing in this day and age where as much as ever, no one should go it alone.

KEY POINTS

Are you fully aware much of your real ‘education’ will begin once you have left the academy environment?

Much of the work of first responders, medics and emergency room doctors is not “normal”, and you need to expect PTS to an extent.

You must have the mindfulness tools to decompress from the constant hypervigilance.

Dr. Andrew Dennis (referring to e-mail from police colleague): It’s a ‘shit sandwich’ for cops; if you talk, they take away your livelihood, if you don’t, you face it alone and might drown. We’ve already had three suicides in our department and don’t need another one.

No one should go it alone.

Conversations regarding mental stress must be normalized.

Dr. Dennis urges you to have a first responder-trained psychologist of therapist.

You have (likely) been scarred with PTS injuries—whether you choose to believe it or not.