Most instructors do what they do because they have found something they’re passionate about and want to share their enthusiasm with other officers. The majority want to help officers perform better in whatever skill or task is being trained. Field training officers, defensive tactics instructors, firearm instructors and other instructors in specialized areas can have a tremendous impact on students, training programs and equipment purchase decisions. This influence ultimately affects the overall culture of a department, illustrating how trainers can have long-term effects on their students.

The officers we teach can run the gamut from new officers who are full of energy and can’t believe someone is paying them to do this job to street-savvy but cynical veteran officers. The instructor’s role is to get these two groups, and everyone in between, trained up to perform to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately, too many instructors get the coveted “instructor certification,” let the title go to their head and suddenly begin treating their students poorly. This is an example of what I refer to as nothing more than a “red shirt and a Sharpie.” Out in the field, especially during post-shift get-togethers, we share a terminology to accurately describe these individuals. They’re universally known as “dicks,” right?

Law enforcement instructors must recognize they are leaders and work to promote leadership skills and behaviors.

I don’t know where or when this problem started, but I know it was prevalent long before I became a police officer. For some reason, there are a lot of instructors who appear to want their students to dislike them. I don’t understand it, but I can’t think of another reason why so many instructors mistreat their students. Is it possible they believe it’s motivating? I’m not sure, because throughout my career, I simply tuned them out. As I got older and less patient, I walked out the door or left the range. If I wanted to be treated poorly, I’d just go to the airport and deal with the airlines.

It’s not just within law enforcement

During my career, I was lucky enough to have several knowledgeable and patient mentors. I had a firearm instructor at the police academy named Bill Garland Sr. who obviously cared deeply about his students. He showed compassion and empathy and was willing to go the extra mile to help everyone succeed. Bill is a very talented shooter, but he never appeared to be showing off.
He treated everyone with respect and dignity, taking time outside class to help when he could. Even the students who struggled at the range really enjoyed the experience because this instructor made it enjoyable. His attitude rubbed off on the other firearm instructors, ultimately strengthening the program, and he served as an example of professionalism for the young officers he trained.

Conversely, I suffered through a few instructors who were total jackasses. This wasn’t just within law enforcement. It carried over to other classes. Back in 2015, I attended a rifle class with a very well-known instructor and retired Army master sergeant who served most of his career in special operations. During this class, another student, who was in his mid-60s, was having trouble getting into a seated shooting position due to physical limitations. This student was an exceptional shooter, but he had some mobility issues that did not affect safety at all. The instructor came up behind the student and forcibly pushed him into a position, causing injury. That student and I left the range and didn’t return. Come on. When there are so many good instructors who are good people and strong leaders, why spend money training with someone who’s a dick?

The rule

In order to confront this reality head-on, my friend Ron Taylor, who is an instructor with Combative Firearms Training, has a simple rule: “Don’t be a dick.” The rule applies on the street, at home and on the range. When Ron teaches on the range, he tries to have at least one conversation with everyone in class aside from the normal teacher–student interactions. Even when he’s hot and tired, he understands it isn’t about him. It’s about the students.

Using Ron’s Rule as a guideline, we try to make every student feel like they’re an integral part of the class. There are many instructors who are good at the nuts and bolts of their training material. They have great physical skills, and they’re knowledgeable. Unfortunately, many of these same instructors treat their students like trash and become, well, complete dicks. Consequently, their students fail to learn the material and it gets shoved in their mental recycle bin with other check-the-box training.

Start with leadership

Instructors need to set a positive example during classes and in our daily lives. This includes continuously working to improve our skills, modeling the behavior we want to see from our students and practicing what we preach. How we treat others is a direct reflection of our core values. If we treat students with respect and empathy, use positive encouragement and give praise when it is earned, we will get better results from our training programs.

Modeling behavior isn’t just for learning in the academy or in-service training. An instructor’s reach extends well beyond the training environment. It goes even further, because when your students become leaders and instructors, much of what they learned about those positions comes from their experiences. The respect, empathy and patience from training will be reflected by our students.

This is especially true of younger officers, so instructors should take great care in how we speak, act and treat others in their company. Law enforcement instructors must recognize they are leaders and work to promote leadership skills and behaviors. Instructors who fail the leadership litmus test are worse than useless. They actively work against our officers, our departments and the values of our profession.

Raise expectations

Ron’s Rule doesn’t mean we fail to hold people accountable for bad behavior or poor performance. Leaders enforce standards and hold people accountable. Over and above holding others accountable, we must hold ourselves accountable. No matter what we say or what is written on the wall, if substandard performance is allowed and no one is held accountable, that substandard performance becomes the new standard. So, bluntly put, just don’t be a dick about it.

If you take the position of law enforcement instructor, you are responsible for others’ well-being. It’s not about you. It’s about the people you train. It’s about the spouses, children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins of the people you train. You owe it to the families of the people you train to help make their loved one the best officer possible. Be the example you want to see in others. And remember, don’t be a dick.