CENTRAL ILLINOIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER
Brian Fengel, Director
Phone: (309) 690-7350
Fax: (309) 690-7359
Jean Swan: jswan@icc.edu
Heather Grove: hgrove@icc.edu
The Winning Mind for Women
Instructor: Betsy Smith
October 16, 2024
8am – 5pm
Class will meet at: CIPTC, ICC Peoria Campus, 5407 N. University, Poplar P101, Peoria
Enrollment Deadline: October 9, 2024
Course Size: Minimum –15 Maximum – 30
Course Objective
We begin each session by honoring the sacrifices of our fallen, celebrating the law enforcement profession and asking each attendee to inwardly assess their own career. We define true “Warrior Ethos” as well as the “Guardian Mindset” as we talk about the history of women in policing and celebrate our winners and role models. We then introduce gender-specific science and leadership principles that anyone can use to enhance their career and improve their life on and off the job. The multi-media format keeps students engaged and entertained while we provide officers, agents, dispatchers, trainers, supervisors, managers and all other personnel with a realistic view of gender differences and how these can be harnessed in both men and women to improve performance, morale, communication, relationships, and especially officer safety.
Course Content
- The “Not Today” mindset, on every call, on every shift
- Why “survival” is minimalistic and we must train to WIN!
- Embracing your responsibility for your own tactics, training, safety and career
- What “Guardianship” really means to you, your career and your community
- Why and how to embrace Warrior Ethos regardless of your career path
- Preventing and preparing for officer ambush
- How to leave behind the “victim-based” mentality and take control of your own future
- Recognizing and taking advantage of the differences between men and women
- Learning to communicate effectively with everyone in your agency and beyond
- How to bring your family into your world to enhance off duty safety and your relationships
- Finding and using the best female-specific equipment available
- Learning to “lead, mentor, and inspire” others regardless of your assignment or tenure
- How to increase your awareness and overcome the effects of “routine”
- Dealing with pregnancy in a high risk profession
- Assessing your own career and coming up with a plan for real success
- How “Post Traumatic Growth” can improve your career and your life
- How to truly embrace “the family” of law enforcement and stand together
This training is like no other in that it encourages women, and those who train and supervise them, to look beyond the anecdotal, “that’s-the-way-we’ve-always-done-it” world of learning and utilize science, physiology and proven methods and information that will help anyone in law enforcement improve their career and their survival. Sgt. Smith’s philosophy of “teaching by storytelling” cites real-world, inspirational examples of courageous men and women whose stories stay with the attendees long after the class has concluded. The atmosphere created in the classroom encourages students to network and gain strength and information from each other, making this session a powerful day for all involved. This course will inspire, motivate, and encourage women to excel and to win, regardless of assignment!
About the Instructor
Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith retired in 2009 as a 29-year veteran of a large metropolitan police department in the Chicago suburbs. Beginning her career as a police dispatcher at age 17, Betsy became an officer four years later and has held positions in patrol, investigations, narcotics, juvenile, hostage negotiation, crime prevention and field training. She received her four year degree from Western Illinois University in 1991, and was a class officer and graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Staff and Command in May of 2001.
As a sergeant, she supervised her department’s K-9 Unit, served as a field training sergeant, recruitment team sergeant, bike patrol coordinator, Crowd Control Bike Team leader, and supervisor of the Community Education/Crime Prevention Unit. Betsy served on the Elderly Services Team, the Crisis Intervention Team, and was a proud founding supervisory member of NPD’s Honor Guard Unit. Betsy received numerous awards and commendations from her police department as well as many local and national awards for her performance as a police officer and supervisor.
From 1999 – 2003 Betsy hosted various training programs and was a content expert for the Law Enforcement Television Network (LETN), is currently an on-air commentator and advisor for the Police One Academy and was a featured character in the Biography Channel’s “Female Forces” reality show.
She has been a law enforcement trainer for over 20 years and was a content expert and senior instructor for the Calibre Press “Street Survival” seminar from 2003 through 2012 where she also created the “Street Survival for Women” seminar. Betsy is a popular keynote speaker at conferences and events throughout the United States and has trained in various international venues. Since 1995, Betsy has authored hundreds of articles for law enforcement, government and civilian publications including Innovations in Government, Police Marksman, Law and Order, Police Chief, Law Officer, PoliceLink.com, PoliceOne.com, LawOfficer.com and various civilian firearms magazines through Harris Publications including “Combat Handguns.” She served on the advisory board of Police Marksman magazine, was a featured columnist and video contributor on both Officer.Com and PoliceOne.Com, and serves on the advisory boards of The Wounded Blue and Law Enforcement Today. Betsy is the spokeman for the National Police Association and appears frequently as a media analyst on radio, television and in print.
Betsy is the creator of the only course of its kind for women in law enforcement, “The Winning Mind for Women” and is the owner of The Winning Mind LLC. Together, Betsy and her husband Dave develop and instruct cutting edge courses and travel extensively, bringing their inspirational messages throughout the world. Betsy can be reached through her website at www.femaleforces.com.
Mobile In-Service Training Team # 7 Illinois Enforcement Training and Standards Board
MTU #7 request for certification of this course has been approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
Meets the following mandatory training criteria: Const. Use of LE Authority 1 hour, Officer Wellness/Mental Health 1 hour, De-Escalation Techniques 1 hour, High Risk Traffic Stops 1 hour, and Officer Safety Techniques, including cover concealment and time 3 hours.
