Safe Call Now

Saturday, November 28, 2015

The #1stresponder & Trauma...

By Safe Call Now®'s Dr. Laura Brodie


As I work in treatment with individuals who have a reaction to trauma that is debilitating, I have found that there is a core issue that appears to be evident in many of these individuals.  That is the issue of a poor or absent support system prior to the trauma.  Many who I see afflicted with trauma worked as the strong support system for others prior to their emotional damage. They report to me that they received little comfort for leaning on others for support. They were seen as strong and capable so others assumed they could handle anything. Giving guidance, support and help to others comes so naturally to these people, but being the person in need is many times the greatest fear. Why?



People who are caretakers in the world do not take kindly to being taken care of. This comes from a sense of identity that formed quite early in life where giving was much more comfortable than receiving. Being the low maintenance child was the role in the family and wanting to make parents proud, because little problems and keeping anxieties secret were the M.O.  Many times these people are high achievers who are the ones others turn to for support. What is not realized is caretaking becomes a great skill for caring for the other, but caretaking of the self is a very foreign concept. Not wanting to be an emotional burden is a feeling that developed early in life and as an adult it becomes the attitude of “I’m fine” even when he or she knows things are not fine at all.



Handling trauma when you have previously been used to a life of self-sufficiency is like asking to be the patient when you have always been the therapist. It does not work well. The isolation of being “fine” at all times does not work as memories and thoughts attack. Now trapped in his or her own mind, all the advice and counseling given to others is forgotten and the person is left vulnerable. Again I ask why?




Friday, November 27, 2015

8 Steps to Becoming a Better #1stresponder

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler


I found that technology has made it difficult to find time to unplug and recharge, to tap into my inner creativity and wisdom. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Virginia did an experiment in which they gave people a choice to be alone in a room for one hour without anything – devices, books, phones – or to get an electric shock. 67% of men chose an electric shock.  Women were much better… 25% choosing being shocked.
The capacity to be alone, and in quiet solitude is essential for a #1stresponders emotional and spiritual wholeness. I've practiced a ritual hour for years, but I'm now including a few minutes for meditation. For me it is a spiritual practice. I'm retreating to our living room for 5 to 10 minutes and focusing my thoughts on just one theme:
  • Peace
  • Grace
  • Joy
  • Purity
  • Excellence
  • Gratitude
I try to attach a visual image to that day’s theme, quiet my mind, and focused deeply. I'm also trying to be aware of my breathing and slowing my heart rate.
Question: What new habit can you start?
Habits aren't instincts, they are acquired actions or reactions. They don't just happen, they are caused.
The following steps will assist you in changing bad habits and the good ones:
  1. List your bad habits.
  2. What was the original cause?
  3. What are the supporting causes?
  4. Determine a positive habit to replace the bad one.
  5. Think about the good habit, its benefits and rewards.
  6. Take action to develop this habit.
  7. Act upon this habit daily for reinforcement.
  8. Reward yourself by noting one of the benefits from your good habit.
*Special thanks and gratitude to Jay Ballinger, Janelle Cronk, and Earl Hightower for your inspiring example. I am already feeling the positive benefits from meditation.
Here's to building better habits!
~Steve



Monday, November 23, 2015

The Female Undercover Officer...

By Safe Call Now® President & Founder - Sean Riley


Some of my favorite conferences to speak at are the female undercover schools.  Why you ask?  Because I don’t have to fight through the testosterone, they call you on your crap and they’re much more engaging than their male counterparts.  The female UC’s are also faced with different challenges than their male counterparts too.  I often hear administrators say that the female UC’s are treated the same as men.  I don’t buy that for a second and administrators if that’s what you’re telling people, STOP!!!

Hollywood and television portray the female undercover officer in sexy lingerie, sipping high end liquor in very high class settings.  This could not be further from the truth.  It is down and dirty street level crime…  In the gutter with things you can’t even imagine.

Recently at one of these conferences, two separate schools were running at the same time separating the genders.  There’s a good reason for this, the females have different challenges to overcome and you need more time to concentrate on those challenges that would not be addressed in a joint conference.

At registration I overheard a male supervisor advise us that his female UC was unable to attend the conference because she was the only female in the unit and they needed her to stay behind and help the unit.  Really???  Are her male counterparts required to do the same???  I don’t think so because they were all at the conference.


Saturday, November 21, 2015

Emotionally Intelligent Self-Leadership

By Safe Call Now®'s Steve Gutzler


Have you noticed how it's nearly impossible for a politician to admit a mistake? How about a football coach who calls a really bad play?
When did we make leadership the art and science of perfection?
We often react like the young Navy pilot who is engaged in flight maneuvers. The Admiral had acquired absolute radio silence. However the young pilot mistakenly turned on his radio and was heard muttering "Boy, am I fouled up!"
The Admiral was furious and ordered all channels to be open and said, "Will the pilot who broke silence identify himself immediately!" After painful pause, the young pilot's voice was heard again, "I'm fouled up, but not that fouled up!"
It's a silly story that illustrates a painful reality. It's hard for many of us to admit wrongs. I'd like to suggest every time we admit error, misjudgment, mistakes, or poor calls, we don't go down in our leadership… We go up. People don't demand perfection from their leaders, but they do admire and follow honesty.
I've observed 5 responses to mistakes:
  1. The "Blow Up" - Leaders who play the blame game and react in anger. 
  2. The "Cover Up" - Leaders who try to hide or conceal mistakes to protect their self-image. 
  3. The "Back Up" - Leaders who isolate and withdraw and hope no one notices. 
  4. The "Give Up" - Leaders who quit on themselves and others. 
  5. The "Go Up" - Leaders who admit mistakes and grow their leadership, influence, impact, and inspire others with unvarnished honesty. They don't go down, they go up!
Part of being an Emotionally Intelligent leader is being real, honest, and even vulnerable. I know I admire leaders who admit wrongs. I never think less of them in fact, my view goes up!
It's okay to admit mistakes and realize leaders are flawed human beings that are simply called to lead. What can you admit today that just might make you stronger as a leader in the eyes of others? 
Here's to "going up" in your leadership!

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Why Safe Call Now® Training Rises to the Top

Safe Call Now® Director of Curriculum & Training - Captain Brian Nanavaty


Our own Safe Call Now® Director of Curriculum and Training, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Captain Brian Nanavaty is the 2015 recipient of the Destination Zero Project Award. The Destination Zero Project is a cooperative effort between the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). The Destination Zero Project serves to acknowledge effective safety and wellness initiatives that help drive down the risk factors that are proven to lead to officer injuries and deaths. Captain Nanavaty and his agency will be presented the award at a ceremony in Washington DC during National Police Week. From all of us at Safe Call Now, Congratulations Captain Nanavaty!

For more information on the NLEOMF and the Destination Zero Project Click here

 

Captain Brian Nanavaty
·         Indianapolis Metro PD Professional Performance Manager
·         30 year police veteran
·         Director of Curriculum and Training- Safe Call Now (safecallnow.org)
·         Instructor PATC Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute (PATC.com)
·         Instructor PATC Leadership Institute Healthy Hire-Healthy Retire
·         Former Adjunct Faculty- Indiana and Purdue University 1994-2003
·         Conference Presentations:
o   International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) 2014
o   FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) IN 2014, WI 2015
o   International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) 2012, 2013, 2015
o   International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) 2015
o   National Organization of Black LE Executives (NOBLE) 2015
·         Author and Creator:
o   Why Officers and Agencies Fail PATC Legal and Liability Institute
o   Instructing in a Gen Y Classroom Law and Order Magazine
o   Officer Suicide: Law Enforcements Kryptonite FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
o   The Bulletproof Training Series© (Safe Call Now)
o   The My Legacy Mentoring© Program for First Responders (SCN)
·         Video: Captain Brian Nanavaty on Wellness: Police One. Com Training Series
·         FBI NA Session 255