Training dipshittery
Renowned firearms instructor and gun writer Dave Spaulding coined the term “dipshittery” to describe the plethora of nonsensical behavior he saw from society in general and the firearms community specifically. […] Read More
September 2025
Time and distance
The tactical principles that save lives off the street
Every officer understands the value of time and distance in a dangerous encounter. You slow the situation. You create space. You buy those crucial seconds that allow backup to arrive, […] Read More
Meditation is hard because it’s not what you think
For most cops, being told to meditate lands somewhere between laughable and frustrating. You’re trained to stay alert, watch your surroundings and never let your guard down — not sit […] Read More
Life off the clock
Rediscovering yourself beyond the badge
Somewhere along the line, we started thinking that wearing the badge meant surrendering our identity. That if you weren’t “always on,” you weren’t dedicated enough. That being a cop wasn’t […] Read More
Self-help for anxiety
When you can’t stop the waves, learn to surf
There is a quick way for you to find out if you have anxiety, and you can do this without anyone knowing. Google “Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)” and you should […] Read More
The warm path and the hot path
Two types of police suicidality and how peer support can help
Recently, I was requested to write a plea to ask for help, to be delivered at the funeral of a police officer who died by suicide. My message was as […] Read More
A candid chat with law enforcement Explorer scouts
Today’s traits in the development of tomorrow’s leaders
I am among those executives who have always worked hard to develop and enhance police Explorer programs. I know the exhilaration of great programs and great achievements, as well as […] Read More
Understanding chronic pain and depression
How they fuel each other, how to respond and what doesn’t help
Behind the physical and emotional armor, many police officers quietly endure chronic pain and depression. These two conditions can fuel each other in ways that are difficult to untangle. From […] Read More
Suicide and first responder retirement
Addressing a crucial concern
The role of first responders — federal agents, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and prosecutors — is undeniably noble and vital to maintaining community safety and health. […] Read More
A golden key to suicide prevention
The importance of personal relationships to officers’ well-being
Editor’s note: This article is reprinted with permission from the April issue of FOP Journal, the official publication of the National Fraternal Order of Police. We frequently share statistics from […] Read More
Building positive media relations
One breakfast burrito at a time
Her camera guy was hunched over, fidgeting away at his settings, when I walked over and offered them breakfast burritos. My offer stopped him moving, like a spotlight on a […] Read More
The urgency to protect those who protect us
The latest research on head trauma and suicide
One year ago in American Police Beat, we raised an alarm with “Repetitive Head Impacts: The Missing Piece in Suicide Prevention” (Samuels, 2024). That article examined how head trauma intersects […] Read More
Wellness for warriors: C.O.P.S. can help
C.O.P.S. has supported and served surviving family members and co-workers for over four decades. We now serve over 85,000 survivors nationwide. What you may not realize is the resources we […] Read More
When knowing isn’t enough
A peer supporter dies by suicide, and the helpers become the hurting
October 9, 2024, was arguably one of the worst nights of my life. It started right after I fell asleep. The kids had been tucked in and the house picked […] Read More
Honoring the Fallen Heroes of 9/11
On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four passenger planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York, the pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a […] Read More
Team Romeo
The retired cops who searched for the 9/11 fallen
On September 11, 2001, the Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey was decimated as it fought the first battle of the Global War on Terror. PAPD […] Read More
