Dave Smith

The Winning Mind

Dave “Buck Savage” Smith is an internationally recognized law enforcement speaker, trainer, video personality, and author. He began his police career in the State of Arizona, holding positions in Patrol, SWAT, Narcotics, Supervision, Investigations, Training and Management. Dave holds numerous instructor certifications in firearms, defensive tactics, and human performance and is a proven expert witness and consultant. Dave is a member of the Police1 Editorial Advisory Board.

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Full list of Dave Smith results

How to give your trainees feedback that matters
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Keep learning and studying your specialties so you can give immediate, concise, goal-oriented training
Why the essential element in a winning confrontation is mental preparation
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The key to superior officer survival training is the understanding that no matter how scared or excited officers become, they can still control their response
Video: Doing when/then thinking helps to keep Murphy at bay
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In this video tip, Police1 Contributor Dave Smith discusses why officers need to be constantly doing when/then thinking — preparing for any and every eventuality — while on patrol, because as the o...
Video: Don't play "You bet your badge"
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In this video tip, Police1 Contributor Dave Smith discusses the importance of making thoughtful, conscious decisions about you actions on the job as well as off duty. Every time an officer acts car...
Video: Reminders about winter driving
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In this video tip, Police1 Contributor Dave Smith discusses some of the dangers of winter driving and offers the reminder that as the winter seasons begins it’s important to refresh your memory — a...
How the story of the Columbine gunmen defies any prototype
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Klebold and Harris managed to forever change the way law enforcement looked at active shooter situations
The deadly dangers of 'detraining'
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The negative trainers — such as routine or foolish peers — are relentless in their training and it can only be countered by good training and coaching
2013 in Review: The Conspiracy of Safety, three years on
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What does the idea of ‘Not Today’ mean to law enforcement officers? We asked, you answered
Getting what you 'expect' from your police pupils
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Trainers have the responsibility to have high expectations for all our students, and to learn how to get the best out of each
The best police trainers never stop learning
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Trainers and supervisors can play a key role in ensuring that our officers are properly trained and have high-levels of faith in their skills and abilities
Video: Applying when-then thinking to evasive driving
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When do you need to be prepared to use evasive driving? Always, prepared, right? There’s no such thing as routine. Police1 Columnist Dave Smith discusses the need to have your broad external awaren...
Ensuring your training avoids negative training scars
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Because the artifact we are looking for in our training is a high level of performance designed to win on the street, our training should have a lot more scrimmaging than standing
Is your inner voice a coach or critic?
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What you say when you talk to yourself has an impact on how well you prepare yourself to win, not just on the street but in every aspect of your life
Police trainer's reading list: Recommended books for cops on fear, women veterans and more
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What's on police trainer Dave "JD Buck Savage" Smith's night stand? A bottle of water, a Glock 17, and these five books. 1.) Flourish by Dr. Martin Seligman Flourish illustrates the concept of Pos...
Lose your sight, lose the fight
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If you wear glasses or contact lenses at work, make sure you have a second pair of glasses readily available to you at all times. If your glasses become damaged or you lose a contact lens, you need...
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