What I Learned from a SWAT Team Leader and Crisis Negotiator on How to Plan and Prepare for Any Situation as a LEO

As a law enforcement officer, you never know what kind of situation you might face on any given day. You could be dealing with a routine traffic stop, a domestic dispute, a hostage situation, or an active shooter. Be ready for anything and everything.

But how do you plan and prepare for such unpredictable scenarios? How do you ensure that you have the skills, tools, and mindset to handle any challenge that come your way?

I’ll share some lessons I’ve learned from listening to 25-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department,?Jonathan Pultz?on Police1 Podcast.?He is a tactical team leader on the LAPD’s SWAT team and a crisis negotiator.

These lessons can help you plan and prepare for any situation as a law enforcement officer, whether it’s tactical or relational.

Plan Ahead

One of the most important things you can do as a law enforcement officer is to plan ahead. Planning ahead means anticipating potential problems, risks, and opportunities, and having a strategy to deal with them. Planning can help you:

• Save time and resources by avoiding unnecessary actions or mistakes
• Reduce stress and anxiety by having a clear vision and direction
• Increase confidence and competence by knowing what to do and how to do it
• Improve communication and coordination by sharing your plan with your team and partners
• Enhance safety and security by minimizing exposure and vulnerability

Some of the ways you can plan ahead are:

• Conduct research and gather intelligence on the situation, the location, the people involved, and the possible outcomes
• Identify your goals, objectives, priorities, and criteria for success
• Develop a contingency plan for different scenarios and alternatives
• Prepare your equipment, resources, and backup
• Review your policies, procedures, and protocols
• Train and practice your skills, techniques, and tactics

Prepare Yourself

Another key thing you can do as a law enforcement officer is to prepare yourself. Preparing yourself means ensuring that you are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready for any situation. Preparing yourself can help you:

• Boost your performance and productivity by optimizing your health and wellness
• Enhance your resilience and adaptability by coping with stress and change
• Strengthen your relationships and reputation by showing respect and professionalism
• Maintain your integrity and ethics by aligning your actions with your values
• Preserve your well-being and happiness by finding balance and purpose

Some of the ways you can prepare yourself are:

• Eat well, sleep well, exercise well, and hydrate well
• Manage your emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes
• Seek support from your family, friends, colleagues, or mentors
• Learn from your experiences, feedback, or mistakes
• Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats

Being medically certified in emergency medical technician (EMT) training is another way to prepare yourself for any situation as a law enforcement officer. With EMT training, you can provide immediate and effective care to yourself, your partners, or the public in case of injury or illness. You can also reduce the risk of complications, infections, or disabilities by applying proper techniques and procedures. Moreover, you can increase the chances of survival and recovery by stabilizing the condition and transporting the patient.

EMT training also helps you collaborate and communicate with other medical professionals and emergency responders by using common terminology and protocols. It demonstrates your commitment and professionalism by enhancing your skills and knowledge. Getting medically certified in EMT for law enforcement is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. It can give you an edge over other officers and make you more valuable to your department and community. It can also save lives, including your own.

Planning and preparing for any situation as a law enforcement officer is not easy. It requires dedication, discipline, and diligence. But it’s worth it. It can make the difference between success and failure, life and death.

If you're interested in advancing your law enforcement career with emergency medical training, I would encourage you to register for our upcoming EMT-B course. Through an intense, time-compressed but comprehensive schedule of instruction of basic knowledge and skills, students will be prepared to stabilize and safely transport patients of various medical needs, ranging from non-emergency and routine medical transports to life threatening emergencies.

Email [email protected] by July 10th to secure your spot.

I hope these lessons help you plan and prepare for any situation as a law enforcement officer. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. And if you found this post helpful, please like and share it with your network. Thank you for reading!