Train Ready delivers a critical examination of the outdated and fragmented state of law enforcement training in the U.S. Built on more than two decades of firsthand experience, the book argues that today’s training methods—largely unchanged for over 75 years—fail to prepare officers for the psychological and tactical realities of modern policing. Instead of building competence, many training programs focus on administrative compliance, check-the-box certifications, and exposure-based instruction that lacks depth, stress application, and real-world reinforcement.At the heart of the problem is a system that prioritizes political mandates and high-profile topics (“project classes”) over high-frequency, critical skills like de-escalation under pressure, tactical decision-making, situational awareness, and communication. Officers are often trained for rare events while receiving minimal reinforcement in the daily competencies that affect their safety and public trust. The imbalance between compliance and operational readiness has created a culture where training becomes a passive obligation—breeding complacency and contributing to avoidable performance failures.Train Ready introduces a transformative solution: the O.P.T.I.M.A.L. Training Model—Organized, Progressive, Tactical, Integrated Methodology for Advanced Learning. This model replaces exposure training with a four-phase, scenario-based approach that teaches the What (legal and academic foundations), the How (hands-on tactical skill-building), the When (real-world application), and the Why (articulation and leadership development). Each phase is designed to inoculate officers against stress, reinforce behavioral science principles, and strengthen their ability to perform under pressure. Officers are also taught to articulate decisions clearly—crucial for internal reviews and courtroom accountability.Another core argument of the book is that effective training cannot exist without leadership. The divide between administrative leadership and operational training is a “silent killer” of law enforcement readiness. Administrators often lack firsthand knowledge of training demands, while operational trainers are burdened by logistics, funding gaps, and mandates they didn’t choose. The solution lies in aligning these groups through shared decision-making, communication, and a unified mission that values training as a daily investment, not a periodic inconvenience.Train Ready advocates for embedding leadership and training into every shift through field-based refreshers, supervisor-led mentoring, and integration of body-worn camera (BWC) footage for after-action reviews. Supervisors are encouraged to serve not only as managers but also as active trainers and evaluators, using real-world encounters to reinforce skills and correct deficiencies. The book offers implementation strategies for BWC analysis, scenario development, field documentation, and a performance-based training feedback loop.Finally, the book calls for the establishment of a Leadership Academy, based on the Five Pillars of Leadership Without Direct Supervision, to develop consistent leadership across ranks. This approach addresses one of the most pervasive issues in law enforcement: leadership inconsistency, which undermines both training and morale.The unifying credo throughout Train Ready is simple but profound:Training without leadership is incomplete. Leadership without structured training is ineffective. Only when the two function as one can an agency achieve true operational excellence. Read more
