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Resilience is no longer just a buzzword in policing — it’s an officer safety skill. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a public safety psychologist, former dispatcher and police officer, and author of “Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel: Strengthening Your Mental Armor.” Drawing from her unique perspective as both practitioner and researcher, Dr. Conn explains why resilience must be deliberately developed and how officers can use small, practical tools to safeguard their health and performance.
Dr. Conn was born into a police family, served as a dispatcher and later as a Fort Worth police officer before transitioning into psychology. After witnessing the lack of culturally competent mental health support for officers, she became a psychologist to fill that gap. Today, she works with public safety professionals across the U.S. and Canada, combining lived experience with research-based strategies to help officers and agencies build resilience, improve wellness and strengthen organizational support.
Tune in to discover
- Why resilience isn’t a buzzword but an officer safety skill — and how to build it before the crisis hits
- The #1 factor that makes cops quit — and it’s not the calls
- How “mental armor” works in real life — and the small habits that keep you in the fight
- Why sleep is the most underrated tactical tool in your arsenal
- The one mindset shift recruits need now — and why it can save careers and lives
Key takeaways from this episode
- Resilience is built through adversity: Officers must face and process challenges to strengthen their mental armor — it’s not about avoiding stress but learning from it.
- Sleep is foundational: Poor sleep undermines decision-making, emotional regulation and long-term health, making it a priority resilience tool.
- Organizational support matters most: Research shows officers tolerate high call volume and trauma exposure if they feel cared for by their agency.
- Identity balance is critical: Maintaining relationships, hobbies and roles outside of policing helps prevent “police identity disorder.”
- Practical tools work: Breathing techniques, visualizations and consistent small habits like exercise and downtime create a baseline of resilience and improve performance.
About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.
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