Do you want a professional agency? Invest in your trainers and training.

There are still too many agencies that think of training as a necessary evil, a tool to allow them to meet the mandated minimum standards.

There are still too many agencies that see training as an expense, not an investment.

There are still too many agencies that think minimum training standards are the goal instead of the starting point.

There are still too many agencies that fail to understand the importance of training in shaping culture and developing and sustaining a professional law enforcement agency.

There are still too many agencies that fail to realize the critical role that training commanders and trainers play in their organization and as a result do not give enough thought as to who they put in those positions.

There are still too many agencies that fail to recognize that Training is a specialty area and as a result they rotate command staff in training every couple of years to provide “developmental opportunities” for those in supervisory roles. 

There are still too many agencies that select trainers based on who is the most skilled, rather than who will be the best trainer. 

There are still too many agencies that fail to invest in ongoing professional development training for trainers beyond instructor certification and recertification. 

There are still too many agencies that are focused on front-loading education and provide little or no mandatory, ongoing, professional development training after people graduate from the academy. 

Training is a specialty area like SWAT, Hostage Negotiations, and Canine. As a result you need to be very intentional about selection of both the Command staff and the Training staff. Once selected you need to invest in ongoing professional development training for all those people. 

Trainers are in one of the most influential leadership positions in any agency. They have the opportunity to touch almost every person in an agency throughout the year.  Properly selected, well trained, well led trainers serve as creators and curators of culture in your agency. They can continuously reinforce the core values of the agency in support of the mission and vision of that agency. They can instill leadership principles and an understanding that within the agency everyone is in a position to lead. 

If you want to have a professional agency with a great culture, then embrace the critical role of Training and Trainers. Select your trainers carefully and continually invest in their professional development. Ensure they have strong leadership who see the value in them and what they do every day. This is also how you best serve your community. 

Take care.

Brian Willis

Winning Mind Training –  Dedicated to serving the heroic men and women of law enforcement.  

The Excellence in Training Academy – A membership site created for law enforcement trainers willing to invest in their ongoing professional development.

Dare to Be Great Leadership – Committed to helping aspiring and frontline leaders on their leadership journey through a weekly leadership blog and the online Dare to Be Great workshop.