Don’t wait until “retirement” to begin doing the things you plan to do in retirement.

I heard this advice just days ago while I was attending a training seminar presented by a local San Francisco Bay Area police agency. Previously, I’d heard it from Tim Goergen last fall while attending the Street Survival Seminar up on Lake Tahoe. And of course, I’d heard the same thing — time and again — from my beloved father, Chuck Wyllie. Like I said, it’s déjà vu, all over again.

Write it Down All too often we talk about how great it will be to do “fill-in-the-blank” once we’re retired and have the time. Problem is, we don’t know what’s going to happen this afternoon, much less what is going to happen in the years between today and the day after we strap on that proverbial gold watch.

Visualize something you see yourself doing — something you’ve always wanted to do but have not even begun because you’re too busy with the job, the family, the day-to-day stuff that seems to gobble up all your time. For me, it’s seeing all 50 states by the time I’m 50 years old. I’ve been to 41 and have nine to go, but the years remaining ‘till I hit that milestone age of Five-Oh are dwindling quickly.

Now, think of one thing you need to do to make that “dream” come to fruition. For me, it’s researching how I might be able to string together one big road trip — maybe a family vacation in a rented RV that would make the Grizwolds green with envy? — to include Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, and Idaho. That, plus a flight to Alaska and I’ve hit my goal.

If it’s helpful, print this tip out and use the below “form” to begin the process. Or don’t.

All that really matters is that next year, when Punxsutawney Phil pokes his little nugget head from that cage in Pennsylvania, we can all say that we’ve taken some meaningful steps toward improving the richness of our lives outside of “the job.”

I want to _______________________________________________.

In order to do that, I need to _______________________________.

Consequently, I should _____________________________________.

This time next year, I will have _______________________________.

Don’t let the duties of today prevent you from working toward the dreams of tomorrow.

1.) Be sure you’ve refreshed yourself on the dos and don’ts of skid control and take the time to practice a bit in an empty parking lot. You may fully believe that you can easily handle a skid but when the slick hits the fan, so to speak, you’ll want to be very sure your reflexive response is quick and appropriate.

2.) Remember the reality of reduced traction during snowy, slippery weather and stay doubly alert for sharp turns and curvy roads, particularly if you’re driving at an increased rate of speed while responding to a call.

3.) Don’t assume that you’ll be able to stop within a normal distance when approaching that stop sign. Plan ahead and test your braking ability in slippery weather.

4.) How’s the tread on your tires? The fleet manager takes care of that for you? Check anyway!

5.) Remember that snow banks are tempting for sledding kids. If you see a pack of mini-lugers, don’t assume that they’ll be smart enough to avoid taking the street side route down the pile that could send them right into your path.

6.) Don’t assume that other drivers are prepared to deal with slippery road surfaces appropriately. They very likely aren’t... you’ve seen the accidents! Keep your distance as much as possible when driving gets slick.

Periodically, Steve does live webinars on LEOSA issues, and I attended the November 19th session. Mr. Mannion has been personally involved in a couple of legal cases that have helped refine our understanding of LEOSA. More than 300 police agencies have attended one of the Sheepdog Academy’s webinars, so I believe he IS the national expert on the subject and recommend his webinar, especially if you are responsible for training legal issues related to police use of deadly force.

Visit the Sheepdog Academy website, where you can read a free quarterly newsletter, sign up for an upcoming webinar or even buy an electronic copy of the webinar handout materials for a very reasonable price.

Researchers from Bellarmine University and Oregon State University objectively examined the association between physical activity and sleep in a representative sample of more than 3,000 U.S. adults, ranging in age from 18 to 85. Each participant wore an electronic movement-measuring device on the right hip for seven days, and then was questioned about sleep quality during a personal interview.

Analysis of the findings shows that 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise a week — just 2 ½ hours, the national guideline — produced a variety of important sleep benefits. The risk of feeling “overly sleepy” during the day decreased by 65 percent. Experiencing leg cramps while sleeping was nearly 70 percent less likely. Difficulty concentrating when tired showed a 45 percent decrease. Also, those who were more active tended to fall asleep quicker.

Overall, the National Sleep Foundation reported, consistent exercise at the recommended level “provided a 65 percent improvement in sleep quality,” decreasing wakeful sleepiness and heightening the ability to “pay attention.”

The Foundation estimates that among U.S. adults, 35 percent to 40 percent have problems falling asleep and combating drowsiness when awake — circumstances many cops know all too well. Increasingly, the researchers report, the scientific evidence is pointing to regular physical activity as “a non-pharmaceutical alternative” for overcoming many sleep problems.

Study co-author Brad Cardinal, a professor of exercise science at OSU, says, “It may be easier when you’re tired to skip working out and go to sleep, but it may be beneficial for your long-term health to make the hard decision and get your exercise.” Not only is your sleep likely to improve, but the physical activity will be good for your waistline and heart as well.

Wow! This has been one heck of a year — the officer down page is once again above 100. I’m not going to tell you in this article about watching your six, checking your weapon for good operation, or keeping your tactical self in order, or even about wearing your vest.

Nope, not at all.

What I'm going to ask you is, since you left the police academy 1-4 years or 4-8 years ago, have you been taking care of you? Are you getting annual physicals, are you checking you heart, are you smoking a pack a day, drinking more than two drinks a day?

You older guys how about that colonoscopy (ouch!) actually doesn’t hurt at all, and you might even have your eyes checked at the same time! LOL...

All kidding aside here, you don’t get healthier doing this job. As you get older — you just gain more street experience — the healthy part is up to you. Get to the doctor, you have insurance. The biggest fear is not knowing what is lurking under that uniform, not the guy who is trying to take your head off. Collectively we can deal with the bad guys, but only you can take care of you. So what are you waiting for get to your doctor ASAP, get that machine you call a body on track. Ladies, this goes for you too.

Merry and Healthy Christmas and Happier New Year too. Happy Holidays to all.

Tempers flared, the exchange “grew heated,” and the officer allegedly shoved one of the participants in the spat, injuring that subject’s wrist.

“At some point during the incident,” the news story states, the off-duty cop “identified himself as a police officer.” And that’s when his problems potentially escalated to a whole different level.

In an emotional off-duty confrontation, it can be tempting to invoke your police status and “take care of business” in an effort to bring matters to an emphatic halt. But that’s a temptation founded on quicksand. You’re far better off taking a deep breath and backing off, even if you have to take some lumps to your ego in the process, says Chief Louis Dekmar of the LaGrange (Ga.) P.D.

Dekmar, chairman of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, participated in a panel on “Current Issues in Use of Force” during the IACP conference and elaborated on his remarks afterward in an interview with PoliceOne.

“As soon as you say ‘police’ when you’re off duty, you are now acting ‘under the color of law,’ ” Dekmar explains. “This potentially creates liability for you and your agency and, among other things, may open up the opportunity for a federal 1983 Civil Rights action. If there’s an injury, you can be sure there’s going to be a lawsuit.

“The burden will be placed on you to articulate why you had a compelling reason to act in your official capacity. If your judgment was impaired because of emotion or alcohol, your position becomes all the more difficult. In court, you’ll have to defend your conduct and you’ll be on trial rather than the person who perhaps should be.”

If you find yourself in an emotional confrontation off duty — and “everyone does, going through the course of life,” Dekmar says — “you need to recognize that this is a personal matter, not a police matter.

“If there’s a violation of law involved, you are not the right person to make the decision on how to enforce the law if you are a party to the dispute. If you act, you jeopardize the integrity of the investigation, in effect. Unless you’re in imminent danger of serious injury or death, you’re best off doing what ordinary citizens should do: call the police.”

Agencies, Dekmar says, “need to communicate their off-duty expectations” to their personnel in the form of official policy. His department’s policy states, in part, that off-duty officers “must consciously evaluate whether [their] involvement is necessary or desirable, given the circumstances, and after determining the importance and urgency for officer intervention.”

He has had “very candid conversations” with his officers on the subject and they understand that the agency will not be supportive when they overstep boundaries in personal clashes.

As for the Colorado officer mentioned in the news report, he has been charged with third-degree assault. If convicted, he could face up to 18 months in jail and/or $5,000 in fines. At this writing, no civil action has yet resulted.

Needless to say it was an eye opener. Never let your guard down!