In 2005, I went to the K9 unit in Las Vegas for the first time. I had no idea that working a dog would literally change the course of my life. Before K9, my goal was to become an undercover officer. My father had spent years in Narcotics, and I grew up hearing stories about undercover deals, dangerous operations, and large amounts of drugs being taken off the streets. I took every class I could to prepare for that path and even became a Spanish interpreter to make myself a st

In my new book, The Courage to Live , I explore what fear really does to the mind and body, drawing on both past and current research....

Today is one of those rare milestones I’ll never forget.  After years of writing, wrestling with memories, and working through emotions I...

When I first sat down to write a book, I thought it would be simple. Open a Word document, outline a few chapters, and start typing out...

When I was a young officer, a sergeant once told our briefing room the story of the boiling frog. He said that if you drop a frog into...

I have wanted to write a book for a long time. It was one of those goals I started and stopped many times, usually because life’s...

On the way to teach a Police Resiliency Class in Missouri, a semi-truck passed me with a decal that read: “We Hire You to Retire You.”...

When we hear the word “courage,” most people picture police officers, firefighters, or soldiers. The image is usually someone in uniform...

Closing Gaps and Building Confidence with an Experience-Led Tabletop Exercise Josh leading a tabletotop in Oxford, Mississippi Each...

Right after I graduated from the police academy, I was sitting at the kitchen table with my dad. He had been a cop since 1975 and was...

Command presence isn’t a new concept in policing. In fact, it was one of the rating categories on my daily observation reports during...

After teaching a recent class, I was approached by the wellness director of a large police department that was starting a wellness...

The first time I attended a tabletop, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was a new lieutenant tasked with being the incident commander for...

During my career in law enforcement, there are moments I still replay in my mind. Mistakes I made under pressure. Decisions I wish I...

Police leaders across the country are starting to prioritize officer mental health. I’ve taught at countless conferences and have seen...

Every time you turn on the TV or scroll through social media, it feels like there is another active shooter incident somewhere in...

On the Bitsko Consulting blog, I’ve focused heavily on first responders and the challenges they face, both tactically and mentally. I...

I remember my first week as a new officer out of the academy. I was excited to start my career and was eager to learn from my field...

How Would You Respond to More Than 20 Active Shooter Calls at Once? That’s exactly what we faced during the Route 91 Harvest Festival...

When people think of failure under stress, they often picture someone running away. Fleeing from danger is a natural human response, and...