Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith - Career Survival

Career Survival
with Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith

Sergeant Betsy Smith has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience and recently retired as a patrol supervisor in a Chicago suburb. A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's School of Staff and Command, Betsy is a police trainer, author and instructor for the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar. Visit Betsy's website at www.femaleforces.com.

Contact Betsy Smith and Follow Betsy on Twitter

The supervisor's role in officer survival - 11/02/2009 Police Article Comments

Keys to surviving high-risk traffic stops - 09/10/2009

Fatal fatigue - 08/21/2009

Conflict resolution, being a team player, and other stupid cliches - 07/31/2009 Police Article Comments

Edged weapons, bullets, and blunt trauma - 07/17/2009 Police Article Comments

On July 4th, a wake up call for American cops - 07/01/2009 Police Article Comments

Trainer's reflection: Who is it really all about? - 06/12/2009 Police Article Comments

National Police Week: Taking time to remember - 05/11/2009 Police Article Comments

The last call: Reflections on retirement - 05/08/2009 Police Article Comments

News from ILEETA: A week of teaching and learning - 04/26/2009

News from ILEETA: Street Survival instructors in action - 04/25/2009

News from ILEETA: Train your troops with Federal stimulus funds - 04/24/2009

News from ILEETA: Police Trainer of the Year is Chief Jeff Chudwin - 04/23/2009

News from ILEETA: Lou Ann Hamblin is the Iron Cop - 04/22/2009

News from ILEETA: Starting before it starts - 04/21/2009

News from TREXPO: A patrol officer's guide to terrorism prevention - 04/02/2009 Police Article Comments

News from TREXPO: Teaching at TREXPO - 04/02/2009

News from TREXPO: A day of training, information, and camaraderie - 04/02/2009

News from TREXPO: Tips to stay at your peak - 04/01/2009

News from TREXPO: Field trauma care for LEOs - 04/01/2009

News from TREXPO: Day one was BIG! - 04/01/2009

Questions to ask yourself in the wake of the N.C. active shooter incident - 03/30/2009 Police Article Comments

I cried: One community’s tragedy is a profound loss for us all - 03/23/2009 Police Article Comments

I will win because... - 03/13/2009

Self-talk and your survival - 02/27/2009 Police Article Comments

Handling an officer after an officer-involved shooting - 02/06/2009

What Makes a Hero? - 01/02/2009 Police Article Comments

Teaching by storytelling - 12/19/2008

“I want to become a trainer” Part 2 - 11/21/2008

A bad year for female officers - 11/07/2008

Politics, terror, and patrol: Time for renewed vigilance - 10/24/2008 Police Article Comments

No excuses to not carry - 10/01/2008

"I needed to be able to do something" - 09/11/2008

Routine Traffic Stops Aren't - 09/04/2008

What do the mid-year stats mean for American cops? - 08/15/2008

"I want to become a trainer" - 07/11/2008 Police Article Comments

Are You on Patrol This Weekend? - 07/04/2008

Lessons from the street: “I thought I was dead” Part 2 - 06/05/2008 Police Article Comments

The healing power of giving ..."It's a matter of honor" - 05/16/2008 Police Article Comments

Lessons from the street: “I thought I was dead” - 05/02/2008 Police Article Comments

What makes a successful career? - 04/02/2008 Police Article Comments

Do you have a life outside law enforcement … really? - 02/29/2008 Police Article Comments

Visiting the Wall - 01/21/2008

In this season of gratitude, I'm grateful for…you! - 12/28/2007

How do you really feel about your job? - 11/21/2007 Police Article Comments

The Real Stars - 09/20/2007 Police Article Comments

What advice would you give a female rookie? - 09/19/2007 Police Article Comments

Career survival: The evolution of a police column for women - 08/22/2007 Police Article Comments

Surviving your relationships - 08/14/2007 Police Article Comments

"Nobody ever said life was going to be fair" - 07/23/2007 Police Article Comments

The "love/hate" relationship between cops and their dispatchers - 06/12/2007 Police Article Comments

Never let them walk alone: Learning from those who sacrificed - 01/19/2007

Guns & Kids: Feedback from the field - 01/18/2007

Remember that you're included in "To Serve and Protect" - 01/18/2007

Justifying off duty preparedness to your family: A Street Survival Q & A - 01/18/2007 Police Article Comments

Guns & Kids - 01/17/2007

Time to winterize yourself - 12/11/2006 Police Article Comments

Eight Officers in Four Days - 10/27/2006

Officer ambush: Risks and awareness - 09/21/2006

Justifying off-duty preparedness to your family - 05/10/2006 Police Article Comments

Tip: Technology that helps you catch retail thieves - 07/17/2009

Tip: Off-duty clothing awareness - 07/10/2009

Tip: Off duty belts - 05/08/2009

Tip: Female Challenges: The Uniform - 05/01/2009

Tip: Simulation training with TASERS - 04/24/2009

Tip: Warrior families - 04/10/2009

Tip: Off duty carry - 03/20/2009

Tip: Take 20 minutes - 03/16/2009

Tip: Monitor your habits - 03/02/2009

Tip: Online social networking for LEOs - 01/29/2009

Tip: Gear and career maintenance for the new year - 01/05/2009

Tip: A sergeant's tip for holiday giving - 12/17/2008

Tip: Make sure home gun safety is on your holiday list! - 11/24/2008

Tip: Gear up for winter survival - 11/12/2008

Tip: Capture the moment - 10/28/2008

Tip: Patrol gloves - 10/20/2008

Tip: Cell phone control - 09/10/2008

Tip: Cold is coming...prepare now! - 09/03/2008

Tip: Stay hydrated - 08/18/2008

Tip: Check your tac vest - 09/05/2007

My column is undergoing a bit of an identity crisis. I’ve been writing for the Street Survival "Newsline" and the P1 Newsletter for several years. As a Street Survival seminar instructor, I write about officer safety and survival, but I’m also a supervisor, a mom, a trainer, a cop’s wife, and dare I say, a woman, so I’ve got a lot to say about any number of topics (what woman doesn’t?!), and I’ve always received great feedback from our readers. So when Police One approached me and asked me to author a monthly column dealing with women's issues, I enthusiastically agreed. "What a great opportunity" I naively thought “to bring issues to light that both women and men in law enforcement could all relate to, perhaps discuss at roll call, and ultimately learn something from each other."

Yeah, just call me Sergeant Pollyanna…I forgot that by calling it a "women's" column, not only will most of our male readers skip over it, but so will at least half our female readers. What?! Why in the world wouldn’t women read a "women's" column?! Because, there are a lot of female crimefighters out there like me who have spent a lot of years just trying to blend in, to be "one of the guys" if you will…to be perceived as and conduct ourselves as "warriors," not "victims." We don’t want special treatment; we just want to be cops. Read more

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