“Routine, continued Most law enforcement officers receive the majority


of their training in the academy, which is just not enough training to last an entire career. Law enforce- ment training involves developing proficiency in case law, firearms, and defensive tactics, to name a few. These are all perishable skills that must be continually maintained and practiced. Law enforcement leaders need to seek out training that enhances their officers’ level of awareness. Officers need to develop and transition into the process of using informed aware- ness, which I call “situational awareness on steroids.” This requires training designed to assist officers in identifying both verbal and nonverbal clues that are proven characteristics and/or pre-incident indicators of potential fight or flight. The premise behind this training is that no matter the religion, nationality, sex, or age, people share a common physical language that can be learned and interpreted by anyone. The idea is to instill a proactive mind-set within our offic- ers by enhancing their observational skills. Law enforcement leaders must provide their offic-


ers with training that focuses on the following core concepts: The dynamics of officer-citizen encounters. Characteristics of weapon concealment. Tactics to assist in defusing difficult encounters. Pre-incident indicators of assault. What to do during an assault to increase safety. The importance of both physical and mental wellness. The bottom line is that law enforcement leaders


must provide training that increases their officers’ awareness, improves their ability to maintain a tacti- cal advantage, and helps them be mentally present on each and every call. The safety of your officers is one of your greatest responsibilities. Far too many law enforcement leaders have faced the tragedy of losing one of their own. I know that we may never be able to reach our goal of having a year when no officers are killed in the line of duty. What we can do is slow the pace of placing names on the National Law En- forcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. That process starts with you. Developing an organiza- tional culture of officer safety has to be more than something that we say to make ourselves feel better. It must be action. So, where do you start? Let me offer some poten-


tial solutions. The BJA VALOR Program is a compre- hensive officer safety and wellness effort that in- cludes classroom and Web-based training, research, and resources for sworn state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. VALOR training provides critical nationwide, no-cost officer safety training to all levels of law enforcement. Both on-site and online training modules are developed using the latest expertise, analysis, tactics, techniques, and response methods to address alarming trends. VALOR provides all levels of law enforcement with tools to help prevent vio- lence against law enforcement officers and to en- hance officer safety, wellness, and resiliency. For more information, please visit www.valorforblue.org and learn how VALOR can help you promote and maintain an organizational culture of officer safety.


References: PoliceOne.com, “Texas Deputy Shot Multiple Times While Responding to Theft Call,” February 2, 2018, https:// www.policeone.com/officer-shootings/articles/470466006 -Texas-deputy-shot-multiple-times-while-responding-to- theft-call/?NewsletterID=828300&cub_id=%5Bcub_id%5D. Officer.com, “New York Police Officer Shot in the Face,” September 26, 2017, https://www.officer.com/on-the- street/news/20976888/yonkers-new-york-police-officer- shot-in-the-face-while-responding-to-call. Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), July 27, 2017, https://www.odmp.org/officer/23334-lieutenant-aaron- william-allan.


Mr. John Bouthillette is a senior research associate with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research. He retired as chief of police with the South River, New Jersey, Police De- partment in 2012. Mr. Bouthillette works with the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance’s VALOR Initiative and has been a featured speaker of the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network and has lec- tured on behalf of the US Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FBI National Academy As- sociation. Mr. Bouthillette has a master’s degree in human resources training and development from Seton Hall University, a mini-master’s certificate in public administration from Rut- gers University and a bachelor’s degree in the administra- tion of justice from Thomas Edison State College. He was also selected to attend the prestigious FBI National Acade- my and is a member of the 236th Session.


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