In the old days of public service street survival meant avoiding death and injury, while making sure the suspect didn’t get away. Back then there was a waitlist to get into the profession, and public perception and confidence was high.
“When you think about quitting, remember why you started.”
Times are changing, is an understatement. But remember why you started and keep your chin up. If you know how to roll with it, your chance of surviving the street will increase dramatically.
Officer street survival keys:
- Keep a low profile
- Stay off social media
- Maintain protocol on body cam
- Limit use of force or restraint
Recently, 700 officers were asked about their biggest concerns in doing their jobs… Officer retention was #1.
List and responses from that poll:
- Recruitment and retention: 52% (Staffing)
- Risk of prosecution for on-duty actions: 17%
- Officer wellness and morale: 15%
- Media coverage of police issues: 9%
- Ambush attacks: 4%
- Crime spikes: 3%
Now more than ever, public servants (police, fire, Ems, corrections and 911 operators) are being judged in a split-second. Before you can call your supervisor to explain the situation, someone has already posted on social media their perception of what they saw.
This is stressful time for officer mental health and wellness. Officers can’t stay in a state of negative resistance and still treat the public in a professional way. When we teach officers how to use the RITE Ladder of Emotions, they realize what has been holding them back. Starting here becomes a great place to improve their mental wellness.
Living at the bottom of the emotional ladder while trying to perform your duty in public service, can be career ending when dealing with agitators on the street. When you realize they are just trying to push your buttons and see if they can make you ANGRY, you can take a breath and change your response.
Take ownership of your mental wellness and watch how it will improve your street survival for a long-lasting career.
4 Ways to Improve Street Survival
1. The DAILY Check-In:
Become aware of your emotions throughout the workday. Remind yourself at different times of the day when your buttons are being pushed…
- What am I feeling right now in this moment?
- If feeling stressed, take a deep breath to let it go.
If you find yourself staying angry or frustrated for long periods of time, then checking in more often may be needed.
2. PIVOT from Toxic Behavior:
Whether at work or in your personal life, if someone is bringing you into a state of anger, blame, or frustration, take a step back. If possible, spend less time with them, make a clear decision to PIVOT and walk away.
No one can you MAKE you angry. And don’t give them your power, allowing them to think they can!
We choose to be angry by what they said or did. They can’t actually get inside our head and flip the angry switch.
3. GRATITUDE takes Practice, and more Practice
Every day on your way to work, ask yourself what are (3) things you are grateful for, as that will put you in a better state of emotion, living at the top of the ladder.
Then on your way home from work, ask yourself what are (3) things you are thankful for. This helps you think of some good things happening in your life. Thinking this way sure beats complaining.
4. RELEASE the Negative
Start every day as if it were a brand NEW DAY. If you are still worried about yesterday, then you are missing TODAY. Keep moving forward and release the bad moments from the previous day. It’s your NEW DAY, so make a difference with this NEW DAY.
If you apply these (4) techniques listed above you will be well on your way to improving your mental wellness, as well as a long-lasting career in public service.
Your Street Survival depends on YOU working every day on your mental health and wellness.
It is important to note that if you find yourself in a negative emotional state, unable to ‘break out’ of it while working on yourself then reaching out to your peer support group, counselors, and other mental health advocates is extremely important.
It is ok, to NOT be okay. Saying we are fine is going thru the motions of surviving, when we could be thriving.
Getting mental health counseling is not a sign of weakness but rather of strength. Street survival means taking care of your mental wellness, so utilize the techniques above and be safe on the street.
Stats and information referenced from Police1 article December 2022
RITE Training helps ALL public servants improve Emotional Response communication that improves officer wellness and ultimately street survival.
When you learn to control your emotions, you control every situation. Building career resiliency is key survival, on and off the street. Contact us for information on getting RITE Training into your agency.