Trainer's Bullpen

Summary: This insightful conversation on the Trainers Bullpen delves into the most recent critical research on knife attacks, particularly focusing on the dynamics of close-range concealed knife assaults and their implications for law enforcement training. Dr. Michael Kantor discusses the study he and colleagues conducted - 'Close Quarter Concealed Knife Attacks: How Much Time Do You Have? which was published in Police journal: Theory, Practice and Principles in 2025. This important study examines the speed and effectiveness of knife attacks, the importance of understanding attack distances, and the types of knife attack biomechanics and their effect on lethality. The findings highlight the need for law enforcement to adapt their training to better prepare for the rapid nature of these threats, emphasizing the significance of concealment, the close distance, and the speed of response.Takeaways:• The average attack time for concealed knife attacks from 8 feet is about 1.4 seconds. The fastest person in the study completed the attack in 1 second.• Males are significantly faster than females in executing knife attacks.• The thrust attack is the fastest and most lethal method of knife assault.• Concealment of the knife changes the dynamics of the attack significantly.• Training should simulate real-world scenarios to prepare officers effectively.• The 21-foot rule may not fully represent the dynamics of knife attacks.• Understanding the time it takes to respond is crucial for law enforcement training.• Knife attacks can occur within five to six feet, often within the first step.• The act of concealment is a critical factor in the timing of knife attacks.

Summary:Dr. Steve Smith is Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Psychology Programme Leader for Sport Coaching and Physical Education and Head of Elite Sport Programme Department of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University of Winchester. Steve’s professional focus is exploring how practice environments shape competitive performance. He is especially passionate about sharing the principles of ecological dynamics with coaches and practitioners. His work spans multiple sports, and he is committed to bridging the gap between theory and applied coaching, helping athletes and coaches better understand the environments that support learning, resilience, and excellence in competition.In this conversation, Steve states that a ‘major reset’ is needed in how coaches and trainers think that people actually learn. He discusses the importance of shifting coaching and training to a nonlinear approach using the ecological dynamics and constraints led methods. Coaches and trainers need to guide intentions and use constraints to create self-organizing, adaptable and agile performers – especially those who must function in highly ambiguous, challenging and high consequence environments – such as law enforcement. Dr. Smith wants coaches to understand how people actually learn, and he emphasizes that genuine performance improvement non-linear and will normally involve periods of ‘struggle’ where performance will suffer before achieving peak results.Takeaways• Intentions – what needs to be accomplished – needs to guide performer actions. • Constraints are essential components of any system.• The best performance improvement is not linear.• Performer development needfully involves setbacks before peak performance.• Understanding the system – the performer, the task and the environment - is essential in achieving learning goals.• The journey to meaningful improvement will be complex and non-linear.• Effective training requires acknowledging constraints present in the performance domain and ensuring those are engineered into the learning environment.• Self-defense techniques are influenced by realistic situational constraints.• Long-term development often leads to better outcomes.

Summary: In this episode of the Trainers Bullpen, host Chris Butler speaks with John Schmitt, CEO of Shadowbox LLC, about the critical aspects of training in law enforcement, particularly focusing on decision-making and training fidelity. They explore the nuances of training fidelity, the importance of cognitive skills, and the role of Tactical Decision Games (TDGs) in enhancing decision-making abilities. John emphasizes the need for a safe and engaging training environment, the management of cognitive load, and the significance of experiential learning. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced in current training approaches and the importance of adapting training to meet the needs of law enforcement professionals.Takeaways:• John Schmitt emphasizes the importance of decision-making in training for tactical populations.• Training fidelity is more nuanced than just high-fidelity training.• Different types of fidelity include physical, functional, psychological, and cognitive fidelity.• Cognitive fidelity is crucial for effective decision-making training.• Cognitive load must be managed to enhance learning.• Current training approaches often overemphasize physical fidelity.• Repetition and experience are key to developing decision-making skills.• Tactical Decision Games (TDGs) can be used to enhance cognitive skills.• Creating a safe and engaging training environment is essential.For more information about Shadowbox Training, check out these great resources:Website - https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/Learning Center - https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/learning-center/Masterclass in Practical Decision Making Course - https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/courses/masterclass-in-practical-decision-making/The Cognitive Dimension Course - https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/courses/the-cognitive-dimension/Join Shadowbox list - https://www.shadowboxtraining.com/contact-us/

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/

SummaryIn 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

SummaryIn 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.TakeawaysNaturalistic 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.

Summary: In this episode of the Trainer's Bullpen, host Chris Butler engages with Scott Sievewright, a leading figure in the field of skill acquisition and coaching in martial arts. They discuss the ecological dynamics approach to training, contrasting it with traditional information processing methods. Scott shares his journey from a conventional coaching background to embracing a technique-less, principles-based training philosophy. The conversation delves into the importance of guiding athletes' intentions and attention, the concept of representative learning design, and the challenges of managing diverse skill levels in training environments. They also explore the constraints-led approach, emphasizing how coaches can manipulate various constraints to optimize learning and performance in athletes. In this conversation, Scott also explores the principles of ecological dynamics and the constraints-led approach in coaching, particularly in martial arts and law enforcement training. They discuss the importance of understanding constraints, the concept of affordances, and how individual perception affects training outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the need for authentic movement, balancing safety with realism in training, and the significance of representative design even in warm-ups. Scott shares insights on creating a culture of care in training environments and the necessity of adapting training to individual capabilities. Takeaways: • Traditional coaching often relies on a prescriptive, technique-based model. • Ecological dynamics emphasizes the interaction between organisms and their environment. • Guiding intention and attention is crucial for effective coaching. • Training should start with representative learning designs from day one. • Managing diverse skill levels in training requires a generalist approach. • The constraints-led approach is synonymous with effective coaching. • Coaches can manipulate constraints to elicit desired behaviors in athletes. • Understanding the challenge point is essential for optimal learning outcomes. Coaching has always been constraint-based. • Understanding constraints can elevate coaching effectiveness. • Affordances are opportunities for action in the environment. • Authentic movement reflects the personality of the athlete. • Safety in training must balance realism and injury prevention. • Representative design should be integrated into warm-ups. • Self-organization allows the body to adapt to tasks naturally. • Game intelligence is crucial for quick decision-making in combat. • Cultivating perception-action relationships is essential for skill development. • Creating a supportive training culture enhances learning and safety. For more great info visit Scott's podcast at 'The Primal MMA Coaching Podcast'

Summary: In this conversation, Chris Butler and Dr. Nick Winkelman, author of 'The Language of Coaching: The Art and Science of Teaching Movement', explore the intersection of coaching language and motor learning, particularly in the context of law enforcement training. They discuss the importance of effective communication in coaching, the impact of language on performance, and the balance between internal and external cues. Winkelman shares his journey in coaching and the development of the Coaching Communication Loop, emphasizing the need for flexibility in coaching approaches. The discussion also highlights the significance of allowing learners to experience struggle and mistakes as part of the learning process. In this conversation, Winkelman discusses the intricacies of coaching and learning, emphasizing the importance of understanding an athlete's learning capacity and mood. He explores the role of coaches in motivating learners, setting clear expectations, and providing engaging feedback. The discussion also highlights the significance of language in performance and the balance between internal and external focus for optimal learning and execution. Takeaways: • Nick Winkelman emphasizes the importance of language in coaching and motor learning. • Effective coaching requires understanding the intersection of what a coach says and what an athlete hears. • Learning is defined as the ability to express a change without reminders or prompts. • Analogies and external cues enhance learning and performance in movement skills. • The Coaching Communication Loop consists of describe, demonstrate, cue, do, and debrief. • Internal cues focus on body mechanics, while external cues focus on outcomes. • Allowing learners to struggle is essential for developing skills and understanding. • Feedback and cues are crucial for improving performance and ensuring safety. • Flexibility in coaching approaches is necessary to meet individual learner needs. Learning capacity can plateau, requiring new cues. • Athletes have different learning moods that affect performance. • Coaches can create conditions to lower barriers to learning. • Clear expectations reduce anxiety and improve focus. • Positive reinforcement enhances learning retention. • Language used in coaching impacts athlete's mindset. • Internal cues can hinder performance by overthinking. • External cues enhance reaction time and performance. • Celebrating successes reinforces positive learning experiences. • Effective coaching involves guiding rather than dictating. For further information to enhance your understanding of the concepts talked about during this podcast, please visit Nick’s “The Language of Coaching’ YouTube page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHhoYw3yIsw&list=PLjcHdvjMxsv5a5Za57ciJBopVUeoXul4P

Dr. Hunter Martaindale is the Director of Research at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University and an Associate Research Professor within the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. In this role, he oversees all research activities for ALERRT, including analyzing active shooter events, conducting active shooter training program evaluations through experimental design, and testing methods/interventions to improve law enforcement decision-making and overall performance. Beyond that, Hunter actively supports other researchers with applied policing projects in an effort to get actionable results to practitioners. In this podcast, Dr. Martindale discusses his research on virtual reality (VR) training in law enforcement. The purpose of the study was to determine if VR training scenarios can elicit a similar stress response as realistic scenario-based training. The study involved two phases: a scenario-based training phase and a VR training phase. Participants went through a high-fidelity scenario involving professional actors and simulated injuries. The same scenario was then recreated in VR. Salivary measures of stress were collected before and after each training phase. The results showed that VR training was able to elicit  similar physiological stress responses as realistic scenario-based, or high-fidelity training. VR can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies and trainers to replicate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent training for all officers. However, VR should not replace in-person training entirely and should be used as a supplement. VR technology has improved significantly, and agencies should actively investigate and incorporate VR into their training programs.   Takeaways Virtual reality (VR) training has the potential to bridge the gap between law enforcement training and academic research. VR training can supplement in-person training and help retain skills that may not come up in an officer's day-to-day job. Measuring heart rate alone is not a reliable indicator of stress response; other measures, such as salivary markers, can provide more accurate results. High-fidelity scenarios with professional actors can enhance the realism of training and elicit a stronger stress response. The study found that VR training was able to elicit a similar stress response as realistic scenario-based training. VR training elicited similar physiological stress responses as high-fidelity scenario-based training. VR can be a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies and trainers to replicate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent training. VR should be used as a supplement to in-person training and not as a replacement. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of VR training on skill development and retention. The technology has improved significantly, with better refresh rates and reduced motion sickness. Agencies should actively investigate and incorporate VR into their training programs.

Welcome to Episode 24 of the Trainer’s Bullpen, ‘Relationships Between Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Occupational Performance, and Fitness for Tactical Personnel’ with Colin Tomes. For years law enforcement trainers have sought to understand the relationship between heart rate and officer performance and have frequently, and incorrectly, applied a linear application from heart rate to performance decrements under conditions of high stress. If you are interested in refining your understanding of cardiovascular function and human performance, this interview is for you. In this interview, Colin outlines the findings of his Systematic Review that was published in Frontiers in Public Health. This interview touches on: ·     The important differences between HR and HRV and how they correlate, or don’t correlate, to human performance in tactical populations. ·     Understanding the often misunderstood ‘stress response’ and the relationship between stress arousal and performance. ·     The role that sleep plays in maintaining a healthy HRV and improving the arousal / performance relationship. ·     The important interaction between PNS and SNS as they relate to cardiovascular function and performance. ·     The relationship between ‘cognitive load’ and the adverse affect on HRV. ·     How HRV monitoring by agencies can provide an accurate indication of the stress arousal state of the performer. ·     Concepts for agencies to explore in implementing HRV monitoring in both candidate selection for specialty tactical units as well as in-training monitoring of HRV. ·     And many more important takeaways! Reminder - you can access and download a copy of the cited research paper at www.trainersbullpen.com

With thousands of policing agencies scrambling in recent years to change use of force policies and provide 'deescalation' training to their officers and millions if not billions of dollars being spent to provide this training, do we know if it is even making a difference to impact officer performance on the street? Interestingly, despite widespread promotion and proliferation of deescalation training, no research has empirically demonstrated that this training is reducing use of force frequency or severity in the field. In addition, it is unknown if these policy reactions and unproven deescalation training programs are having unintended negative consequences that may increase injuries to officers or citizens. In this fascinating and instructive interview, we speak with Dr. Robin Engel who led a research project with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) to evaluate the impact of their agency's deescalation program. This study,  'Assessing the Impact of Deescalation Training on Police Behavior: Reducing Police Use of Force in the Louisville Metro Police Department' (published in Criminology & Public Policy) determined that the LMPD deescalation program significantly reduced the frequency of use of force incidents as well as led to reductions in citizen and officer injury rates and severity. This interview contains very important policy and training implications for agencies implementing deescalation or seeking to evaluate the effectiveness of their existing deescalation program. Dr. Engel serves as Senior Vice President at the National Policing Institute, following over 25 years in academic positions within higher education institutions. As an award-winning researcher, she has partnered with dozens of police agencies in the U.S. and internationally, served as Principal Investigator for over a hundred research studies and projects, and ranked among the top academics nationally in criminal justice/criminology. From 2015 – 2019, she served as Vice President for Safety and Reform at the University of Cincinnati, where her executive duties included oversight of daily operations and successful implementation of comprehensive police reforms in the aftermath of a fatal police shooting of an unarmed motorist. As a top scholar and trusted leading authority in police science, Dr. Engel oversees the Institute’s vast scientific investments designed to translate and integrate research into practice.

In this insightful interview, human factors expert Gareth Lock discusses the critical aspects of how we should understand sense-making and decision making especially in ambiguous and high-consequence environments. The research shows that if performers have 'successful' outcome following a near-miss, then our perception of the risk is lowered and therefore we are more likely to erode vital safety margins (training, equipment, standards and policy). Gareth explores the importance of distinguishing 'could happen' events from 'almost happened' events, understanding levels of uncertainty, mental models, and avoiding the normalization of deviance. What can law enforcement trainers and supervisors do about this? Gareth explains how we can develop counter-factual thinking to raise understanding of how our perception of risk can shift and how to make probabilities more visible. Finally, Gareth explains his DEBrIEF model of how we can strategically guide our people to build important self-reflection skills to improve decision-making and deeply learn from all incidents and near misses. Gareth Lock is the founder of The Human Diver, an organization set up to deliver education and research into the role and benefit of applying human factors, non-technical skills, psychological safety, and ‘just culture’ in sports, military, and scientific diving. He has published the book ‘Under Pressure’ and produced the documentary ‘If only…,’ both focused on improving safety and performance by looking at incidents through the lens of human factors. Show Notes from Gareth Lock:  www.thehumandiver.com - where everything I do in the world of diving sits!  www.humaninthesystem.com - this is where I put my non-diving programmes! DEBrIEF framework - www.thehumandiver.com/debrief  Under Pressure: Diving Deeper with Human Factors - Gareth Lock - www.thehumandiver.com/underpre 

Shawn Myszka is a Movement Skill Acquisition Coach for NFL players, having worked with numerous All-Pro and Pro Bowl team members. He is also the Founder of the Sport Movement Skill Conference and author of articles and educational materials on mastering movement in sports. Shawn discusses the relevance and value of Bruce Lee's coaching philosophy in movement skill acquisition for law enforcement, as explored in the research paper 'Being Water: how key ideas from the practice of Bruce Lee align with contemporary theorizing in movement skill acquisition' authored by Myszka, Yearby and Davids and published in Sport, Education and Society (2023).  Topics covered in this podcast are the ecological dynamics framework and its differences from traditional linear movement training in law enforcement, the importance of representativeness in learning design. As well as the background, art, style, coaching style, and philosophy of Bruce Lee. The concept of becoming “formless” is also mentioned and its relationship to current ecological dynamics pedagogy.  This interview contains practical insights on how law enforcement training officers should teach, specifically in terms of building emotional intelligence, increasing self-awareness, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within law enforcement agencies. In addition, Listeners will gain practical insights on how law enforcement trainers can use Bruce Lee's philosophy and ecological dynamics to help their students acquire skillful movement, adapt to dynamic and unpredictable violent encounters, and become more efficient and powerful in their movements. Listeners interested in finding out more about the incredible services and training offered by Shawn and his colleagues as well as information on the highly anticipated 'Sport Movement Skill Conference' can get all the information at Emergence https://emergentmvmt.com/

Law enforcement officers know that their mental toughness is of critical importance on the job. The ability to remain focussed and maintain emotional regulation, to overcome adversity and conflict, and even injury and pain, in order to professionally and effectively manage situations is extremely important. But how do we understand effective ways in which to intentionally and strategically incorporate mental imagery into the law enforcement training paradigm? In this interview, the third in our series on the use of mental imagery in training, Brian Willis from Winning Mind Training will talk about his extensive experience in over 33 years of law enforcement training, in using performance enhancement imagery in law enforcement training, as well as in other domains such has elite level athletic performance, overcoming anxiety, and recovery from serious injury and illness. Topics covered in this interview include what imagery is, how it is different from ‘visualization’, the use of imagery to enhance physical performance as well as mental cognitive skills, the different types of imagery and where and when to use them, how to use language effectively in imagery,  and keys to using imagery to enhance learning and make it ‘stick. In addition, Brian will discuss lessons learned from years of using and reforming performance enhancement imagery as a method of effecting powerful change in officers and athletes performance.

This is the second episode in our exciting three-part series on the use of performance enhancement imagery to improve officers skill aquisition, decision making and mental resilience. Dr. Arne Nieuwenhuys is Senior Lecturer in Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology. He obtained his PhD from VU University Amsterdam. Dr Nieuwenhuys and colleagues published the study “Positive Effects of Police Officer Shooting Performance Under Threat in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology.  In this interview, Dr. Nieuwenhuys explains strategies to consider in order to develop evidence-based interventions that help law enforcement officers improve their performance in those rapidly unfolding, ambiguous and extremely high-pressure situations where it counts the most. Topics reviewed in this podcast are the positive effects of performance enhancement imagery on police offer shooting capability under stress, and how the research supported PETTLEP imagery model effectively achieves functional equivalence. In addition, he discusses the importance of task representativeness in training and how it correlates with the Constraints Led Approach or CLA training method. This interview contains practical insights on the importance of law enforcement trainers using evidence-based interventions such as imagery, PETTLEP model, and task representativeness, to enhance police officers' performance and shooter capability under stress, ultimately improving their ability to handle high-pressure situations on the job.

This part 1 of an exciting 3-part series in which we explore the effective use of performance enhancement imagery. In law enforcement it is generally accepted that officer mental toughness and mental focus is critical for great decision making and performance. Despite this, very few trainers utilize any type of formalized mental training program. In multiple other domains, the use of mental imagery instruction to increase learning, enhance performance and improve adaptive decision-making has been used for years with proven positive effects. In this interview, Dr Adam Nicholls discusses the research findings of the effectiveness of using mental imagery training in sport. He discusses the proven benefits of mental imagery, the content of effective mental imagery, internal vs external perspectives, the imagery ability of the performer and how it can be enhanced. In addition, Adam discusses the PETTLEP imagery model and considerations for applying it in your training and coaching. Dr Adam Nicholls is a professor of psychology at the University of Hull, UK. Adam’s main focus of research is on psychosocial support to athletes and coaches ranging from grassroots to elite level. Adam is also an accomplished BJJ competitor and in 2021 he won silver at the British Open in gi and bronze at the 2022 no-gi British Open. Dr Nicholls is the author of the textbook ‘Psychology in Sports Coaching’ published by Routledge press. In this important book, Dr Nicholls devotes an entire chapter to the effective use of mental imagery.

Law enforcement officers are often faced with having to make critical shoot or no shoot decisions in rapidly occurring, ambiguous and high-consequence environments. The potential consequences of a decision-making error involving the use of lethal force carries serious implications. What rolecan training play in helping to develop more accurate decision making? In this interview Dr. Taylor explains that his study,  ‘Engineering Resilience into Split-Second Shoot / No Shoot Decision Making’ which was published in Police Quarterly, was driven by the need to improve decision-making in the split-second environments that police officers face during potential deadly force encounters. He discusses how the study examined the impact of muzzle position on officer response time to legitimate threats and the likelihood of misdiagnosis shooting errors when no threat was present. Topics discussed in this podcast include the importance of accurate decision-making skills in law enforcement, the role of improved judgment and tactical capability among officers, and how does an officers muzzle position impact the accuracy of decision making This interview contains practical insights on how engineering resilience into split-second decision-making environments through factors like muzzle position, officers can improve their decision-making and reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis shooting errors. Additionally, Paul discusses how continued research into other factors that may affect officer decision-making in these environments is necessary to improve law enforcement training.

The use of the vascular neck restraint by law enforcement officers has been the topic of recent, intense, debate. Special interest groups have equated the use of the vascular neck restraint with ‘near-death’ experiences and have called for outright bans. Policy makers have been very critical of agencies that train and permit the use of the VNR, and some agencies have been influenced by heavy political pressure to discontinue its use. All of this debate has taken place in the absence or ignorance of what the research actually says about the safety of the VNR when applied by officers in the operational setting. In this interview, Dr. Craig Bennell, professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, where he also serves as Director of Carleton’s Police Research Laboratory, talks about the important findings from research conducted by an incredibly talented cast of international researchers. The paper is titled ‘Safety of Vascular Neck Restraint Applied by Law Enforcement Officers’ and was published in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Topics covered in this interview regarding the VNR research findings include, the significance and frequency of use of force, the application and consequences of the Vascular Neck Restraint, how many agencies teach the proper use of it, the methodology of the VNR, the effectiveness of its technique, and, of course, the actual empirical safety of the technique. This interview contains practical insights on how agency administrators and trainers should consider the technical, training and political implications of the VNR method and its impact on police training and policy. In addition, in this interview, Dr Bennell strongly exhorts police leaders to use an evidence-based approach to critical decisions that broadly impact officer and public safety. A copy of the paper can be accessed and downloaded at www.trainersbullpen.com