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OFFICER FEEDBACK: ‘SEND EVERYONE. TWICE.’

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WHAT OFFICERS ARE SAYING ABOUT CORE STRENGTH

CORE Strength training has been enthusiastically received. Officer feedback demonstrates the value of the training for the professional as well as personal lives of the officers who have taken it.

In a recent post-program survey, respondents were asked what they'd like to say to their department's leadership about CORE Strength training. Among other comments, officers wrote:

  • A must-attend for all officers regardless of rank.

  • Send everyone. Twice.

  • That everyone needs to attend.

  • Every officer should go to this training! Send 3-5 from the same agency.

  • It was great!

  • Everyone needs to hear these messages and reflect.

  • Each supervisor and commander should go to the training.

  • Everyone should attend.

  • Leadership should attend this training.

  • Make time. Go. Open up. Listen.

ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM OFFICERS

  • I truly appreciate the invite to this class. It will be used personally and professionally to make me think about my CORE in my daily interactions.

  • I came in skeptical but left enlightened. I feel this course would be beneficial to new officers, new supervisors, midcareer guys and possibly police families. I compare it to a mental and emotional street survival. Thank you again!

  • This will have more impact than you will ever know. Thank you.

  • Great course, very professional.

  • Thank you guys so much! The training was great!

  • Hits home with all levels of experience.

  • This is the most detailed and comprehensive mental health training I’ve had in 10 years.

  • Gives a roadmap for processing.

  • Many of [the] problems guys face on job can be addressed by taking back to their core values and why they wanted to get the job. Getting rid of baggage/spam.

  • I want my entire staff to attend this, and I’d like to attend again.

  • I really enjoyed it and I think it will really help me, too! Great program.

  • The overall training was well prepared and presented. The material was current and relevant to each of our jobs and personal lives.

  • The video quality, production and editing have been the best I’ve seen. Awesome!

  • Police officers must follow the CORE Model to stay engaged and positive in the job.

SURVEY DATA POINTS

Following a training hosted by Ball State University Police Department and attended by 17 officers, a 31-question survey was administered. Respondents reported that they found the training valuable on a number of measures, including the following:

Item 01: Impact on officers' professional lives

I believe CORE Strength will have a positive impact on my work.

52.9 %

47.1 %

0.0 %

0.0 %

0.0 %

Question 01.png

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Summary: One hundred percent of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that CORE will have a positive impact on their work. When asked an open-ended question about how the training will help them in this area, officers provided a number of written comments, including these:​

  • Helps me relate better to the public, my peers and subordinates.

  • Many levels—personal life and staying sane; professionally as a policeman, supervisor, part of a team.

  • It will help me gain the trust of my fellow officers.

  • I’ll be more understanding and relatable.

  • Can understand my coworkers from a different perspective.

  • It has value to bring to the shift and discuss being open with the guys I work with.

Indications: The survey results suggest that the officers found CORE to have value to them in their work. They indicated that it helps them better understand and connect with their peers and subordinates, and it equips them with a more positive, hopeful outlook in spite of the current challenges that they face. These findings suggest that CORE can improve staff morale and the overall culture of public safety agencies.

Item 02: Impact on officers' personal lives

I believe the CORE Model will be beneficial to me in my personal life.

Question 02.png

64.7 %

29.4 %

5.9 %

0.0 %

0.0 %

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Summary: Ninety-four percent of the officers agreed or strongly agreed that the CORE Strength program will be helpful in their personal lives. When asked an open-ended question about how the training will help them in this area, officers provided these written comments:​

  • When I feel off center, I can go back and reflect on what I learned from this training.

  • It made me think about my relationships with my family and having open dialogue.

  • This will help me deal with my (teenage) stepson. I’m thankful for the experience.

  • I will be happier at home.

  • Discussing the CORE processes with my significant other and family members may help them with things I know they are currently struggling with.

Indications: One of the principal goals of CORE Strength is to help officers deal with the tremendous amount of stress that accompanies the job and is often “taken home”—sometimes with negative consequences. The survey data strongly suggest that participants thought CORE Strength will make a positive contribution to their lives when they’re “off duty,” particularly in regard to maintaining positive relationships at home.

Item 03: Impact on level of integrity, accountability and personal responsibility

I believe CORE will help me to improve my ability to take ownership of my life, including integrating “mistakes."

Question 04.png

76.5 %

23.5 %

0.0 %

0.0 %

0.0 %

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Summary: One hundred percent of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that this CORE process will help them take responsibility for their lives. When asked an open-ended question about how the training will help them in this area, officers provided these written comments:

  • Owning up to my mistakes is the only way to correct them.

  • I can use my mistakes to help others see that they are not failures.

  • I plan to hold myself accountable.

  • Taking past mistakes and making something positive.

  • The most important aspect. We have to own our mistakes to improve.

  • I think that owning up to my mistakes to my co-workers will show them that it’s OK if they are not perfect. If I’m able to be honest, then they can be too.

Indications: The CORE team found the results on this item to be particularly significant, given the importance of accountability and integrity in policing. The data suggest that CORE training can assist individual officers and their departments as they strive to be transparent, operate with integrity, and build trust in their communities.

PROGRAM INDICATIONS

Per survey results, all of the participants agreed or strongly agreed that they would apply at least three of the key concepts at work and/or in their personal lives. Eighty percent of the participants indicated that they would apply all of the concepts.

Respondents also reported that the program empowered them to:

  • better manage stress

  • take responsibility for personal issues and challenges

  • diffuse tensions with co-workers

  • acknowledge personal challenges to those who could provide assistance

  • better handle challenging situations and disappointments

  • promote improved communication and relationships with co-workers

  • overcome stereotypes and better understand the perspectives of, and improve relationships with, members of local communities

CORE MISSION AND VISION:

​

CORE Policing Strategies is a DBA of CORE Concepts, LLC. Our mission is to strategically and positively impact society through consulting and customized, CORE-based training programs. We aim

to serve a variety of clients, including schools, public safety agencies, corporations and non-profits.

©2019 by CORE Concepts, LLC

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