CATHY KNAPE
Training Coordinator
PORAC

Want to learn more about the top-notch training available to PORAC members? In this series of articles, Training Coordinator Cathy Knape offers a crash course on the educational opportunities offered through the PORAC Training Institute.

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Think back to when you applied to be a peace officer. You went into the academy the smartest, toughest SOB, and when you looked in the mirror you knew you could outrun and out-push-up, pull-up and sit-up everyone else. You were ready!

You’d never heard of the 10 psychological job dimensions, but what was there to worry about? You were unstoppable! You were ready!

As the years flew by and the stress started to pile on, the criminal justice system was working against you … repeated court dates, repeated arrests. You felt like you lived in the movie Groundhog Day, and as you tried to find a way out, the burnout set in. You were experiencing a lot of sleepless nights (or days), getting consistent calls in to work overtime and personally seeing a decline in the support from your community.

Police work is an emotionally demanding career. At one time or another, every officer will experience every single human emotion. This emotional roller coaster can take a toll on your health.

How do you prevent this? How do you get back to that officer who chose this profession to make this world a better place, give back to their community and keep the citizens safe?

But you don’t need another program; you need a comprehensive road map.

The ABC’s of POWER: Peace Officer Wellness, Ethics and Resilience provides that map to understand the relationship between wellness and ethics, a plan to recommit and recalibrate your moral compass, and gives the guidance to foster optimal physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual health to create a wellness plan for you. And you are ready!

Your Instructors

Sarah Creighton is the director for law enforcement services at the Institute of Health. She is a retired assistant chief of police for the city of San Diego and was a captain with its department when she was selected to create its first wellness unit. Sarah has been an instructor at the CA POST Management Course for GTA and for PORAC on peer support, and she volunteers for CopLine, an international 24-hour crisis hotline for law enforcement.

Dr. Daniel M. Blumberg is a licensed clinical psychologist who has spent the past 34 years providing all facets of clinical and consulting psychological services to numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. In addition to his expertise in workplace stress prevention and trauma recovery, Dr. Blumberg is an authority on the selection, training and supervision of undercover operatives. His research interests include police integrity, the moral risks of policing and programs to improve relations between the police and the community. He is the co-editor of POWER: Police Officer Wellness, Ethics, and Resilience and co-author of the book, The POWER Manual, which is part of the curriculum for The ABC’s of POWER course.

Testimonials

PORAC hosted this course for the officers/staff at the Menifee Police Department. Here’s what a few of the officers said about this class:

• “Sarah kept the class engaged, and she used her LEO experience to help impact her teachings.”
• “This course should happen at every agency. Awesome!”
• “Great course to get everybody on the ‘same page’ and build on teamwork.”
• “I felt we spoke about some difficult topics that are very real in this profession.”
• “Great topic for officer wellness development. It’s encouraging to know that PORAC understands officers’ health.”

President Brian Marvel also shared his thoughts on the course: “With traumatic incidents, routine stressors and the toxic nature of police work, the ABC’s of POWER: Police Officer Wellness, Ethics and Resilience dives into the psychological wounds created by this environment and how departments and officers can promote wellness. Now, more than ever, departments need to make wellness a top priority.”