Betsy Brantner Smith

Survival Insights

Sergeant Betsy Smith has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, retiring as a patrol supervisor in a large Chicago suburb. Contact Betsy here.

LATEST ARTICLES

Command Staff - Chiefs / Sheriffs

Why conflict between officers helps the team

Using conflict can reduce the departmental politics that tend to plague our organizations and keep us from getting real work done

November 05, 2024 01:19 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

5 keys to retiring from police work with a healthy body

Police work is hard on the body, but you can take preventative measures to help avoid permanent damage

June 28, 2016 07:46 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

3 safety concerns female cops have (and how to address them)

Some of the primary concerns of women crimefighters include controlling larger subjects, avoiding a “police brutality” accusation and finding realistic training programs

September 29, 2015 04:16 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

Major Incidents in Law Enforcement History

Police History: The evolution of women in American law enforcement

The story of women in law enforcement continues to evolve as police departments discover that female officers bring particular gifts and abilities to the profession

June 30, 2015 07:12 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

Ex-cop’s absurd “police are racist and violent” claims are dead wrong

The bottom line is that Redditt Hudson is a wannabe politician who, despicably, seems determined to use the Ferguson situation to try and jump-start his stalled career

December 15, 2014 08:07 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

Women in Law Enforcement

27 reasons for women in law enforcement to celebrate

Have some fun, enjoy a few laughs, and be grateful that you — and your brothers and sisters — are part of greatest profession in the world

November 06, 2014 03:16 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

Police Jobs & Careers

3 keys to planning for retirement after a police career

I wish I could go back and tell my 21-year-old rookie self, “Hey kid, make sure you start planning for retirement”

August 13, 2014 03:30 PM

Betsy Brantner Smith

Entertainment

8 ‘Mom-isms’ that can make you a better cop

If you get hurt at work and have to go to the ER, do you really want the trauma nurses talking about your tattered underwear?

May 15, 2014 05:23 AM

Betsy Brantner Smith

Women in Law Enforcement

Women in policing: 9 tips for mentors and mentees

With three generations of women firmly established in policing, women mentoring other women should be a given

February 25, 2014 04:53 AM

Betsy Brantner Smith

10 truths of police training

Police1 Columnist Richard Fairburn’s excellent piece titled 10 truths of police leadership inspired me ponder what “truths” police trainers need to think about

January 14, 2014 09:01 AM

Betsy Brantner Smith