Resilience is survival — and the key to keeping cops in the fight

Resilience is no longer just a buzzword in policing — it’s an officer safety skill. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Dr. Stephanie Conn, a public safety psychologist, former dispatcher and police officer, and author of “Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel: Strengthening Your Mental Armor.” Drawing from her unique perspective as both practitioner and researcher, Dr. Conn explains why resilience must be deliberately developed and how officers can use small, practical tools to safeguard their health and performance.

Dr. Conn was born into a police family, served as a dispatcher and later as a Fort Worth police officer before transitioning into psychology. After witnessing the lack of culturally competent mental health support for officers, she became a psychologist to fill that gap. Today, she works with public safety professionals across the U.S. and Canada, combining lived experience with research-based strategies to help officers and agencies build resilience, improve wellness and strengthen organizational support.

About our sponsor

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.