Walking with the Wounded: Presented by The Wounded Blue Organization

LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATION AND PEER RESPONSE TO LIFE CHANING, LINE-OF-DUTY INJURY

One of the tenets of The Wounded Blue’s S.E.A.L. Team mission is to provide Education.  It is not the position of The Wounded Blue to ridicule any agency or its leadership.  To be a positive voice for change, your message must be honest, respectful, productive and self-aware.  Many law enforcement agencies invest a great deal of time and resources in developing their command staff.  Some states and agencies are extremely proactive in improving the lives of law enforcement officers injured on duty, while sadly, there are others for which it is not a high priority.  This is almost certainly a leadership problem that can be solved.  We understand that there are many pieces to the problem, including:

1. The rotational nature of leadership in some agencies, and the size of others, suggests that only on rare occasions will a leader have the opportunity to supervise someone seriously injured or ill.  A leader can ascend several rungs of the organizational ladder without such an experience.
2. Many leadership development programs do not provide specific training on issues surrounding support of an injured/ill member.
3. Absent previous experience or training often a leader is only able to refer to policy for guidance.  What is outlined in that policy?  The time to learn is NOT after an officer is injured and becomes ensnared in “Red Tape”.

WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED:  LEADERSHIP, ORGANIZATION AND PEER RESPONSE TO LIFE CHANGING, LINE-OF-DUTY INJURY is an educational workshop created by survivors – for survivors, to raise awareness to the struggles of an often overlooked group of law enforcement officers - those who have been severely injured while actively employed.  This four-hour workshop is ideal for Agency Chiefs & Sheriffs; Command Staff; Municipal, County, State and Federal Government Policymakers; Rank/File Officers; Academies & Criminal Justice Schools; and Peer Support Programs.

Attendees will hear first-hand how command decisions and agency policy can affect the vocational value of an agency member, bring stress to a member's family, and impact agency morale.  This program discusses the realities of Post Traumatic Stress Injuries, as well as the growing tragedy of police suicide.  Workshop presenters are veteran law enforcement officers, supervisors, trainers and survivors of critical injury or illness who travel the country to share their experience and bring positive change to our profession.

For more information on how you can host WALKING WITH THE WOUNDED at your next event, contact The Wounded Blue Organization.