"Most training tells you the how, this is the why." — VALOR Off the Cuff Attendee
VALOR’s Off The Cuff series frames the issues of why officer safety and wellness is so important throughout a career in law enforcement. Through Off the Cuff—On the Web, VALOR has expanded Off the Cuff’s reach in order for law enforcement officers nationwide to be impacted by powerful stories of resilience, to feel understood, and to remain safe and well throughout their careers and beyond.
Off the Cuff live event recordings are TedTalk-style presentations that were delivered to agencies nationwide in a live forum. Speakers bring to life the realities of this profession by delivering first person narratives of impactful moments in their law enforcement careers. Their stories have been called “raw, real, relatable, and vulnerable.” No matter what your title is or which stage of your career you are in, there is something for everyone.
The hardships of the law enforcement profession have a profound impact on not only you, but those closest to you. Hear from friends and family members of law enforcement officers as they recount the most trying moments in their loved ones’ careers, and how those moments impacted them.
Topic
Resilience/Wellness
Length
26:29
Are you prepared for the emotional toll that this job can have on you? Listen as retired Sergeant Trever Alsup from the Las Vegas, Nevada, Metropolitan Police Department shares his experience with the trauma that he endured after the 2017 Mandalay Bay Shooting in Las Vegas and learn more about surviving trauma.
Topic
Wellness
Length
16:48
Chief Will Balling (retired) describes his journey and identifies four areas that are important for maintaining healthy habits throughout a law enforcement career.
Topic
Mental Wellness
Length
19:35
The stress of the job doesn’t end with you. In fact, it often trickles down and affects your family. Listen as Chief Laura King of the McHenry County, Illinois, Conservation District shares her family’s story about how the stress of the job affected her family as she was growing up and the behaviors that she is passionate about avoiding for the wellness of her own family.
Topic
Critical Incidents
Length
14:19
“None of us get into this job thinking, ‘It’s going to be me.’” Retired Officer Jamie Miller was one of those officers. He was part of an officer-involved shooting in 2012. He shares his experience, how training played a key role in knowing what to do, and his journey getting help after the incident.
Topic
Critical Incidents
Length
14:55
"Surviving looked a little different than I thought." Retired Officer Jesse Hartnett was ambushed and shot in the line of duty in 2016. He shares his story and the aftermath of how that altered the course of his career and life. He stresses that you must always maintain the will to survive and stay in the fight.
Topic
Critical Incidents
Length
23:00
Detective Grubbs shares his experiences in multiple critical incidents throughout his career, highlighting the importance of preparation and resilience for survivability and wellness.
Topic
Wellness
Length
17:00
Chief Luhnow highlights the importance of mental wellness and physical health as a law enforcement professional. She shares her experiences and the changes she made to be healthier, and the ways in which she hopes to guide officers in her agency to do the same.
Topic
Wellness
Length
19:00
Captain Post discusses how he created a path to financial freedom for himself and his family through self-education and practical financial planning, as well as how he implemented a curriculum in his own agency to teach fellow officers similar, positive financial decision making. *Captain Post is not a certified financial planner*
Topic
Casualty Care
Length
16:00
Flight paramedic and former law enforcement officer Brian Lankford shares his lessons learned rendering medical aid in the field, highlighting the need for casualty care in law enforcement, as well as how to implement effective casualty care procedures in agencies.
Topic
Wellness
Length
16:00
Officer Wood recounts a personal story involving two calls that greatly affected him in the months and years to come both professionally and personally. He shares his journey of addressing the stress and trauma faced in these incidents, and how he was able to mitigate the effects.
Topic
Wellness
Length
21:00
Assistant Chief Tchida speaks on his personal health and fitness journey, working to lose over one-hundred pounds. He discusses his motivation, journey, and the positive impact it had on his agency, family, and self.
Topic
Critical Incidents; Officer Involved Shooting
Length
7:57
Retired Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Stacy Lim’s father and sister share their unique perspective on Sergeant Lim’s critical incident in which she was shot exiting her vehicle in front of her home and was critically injured. Hear from them the profound impact of the incident both on Sergeant Lim and their family as a whole.