Turning Tragedy Into Victory

Book excerpt: The author of influential books such as Force Under Pressure and Stoning the Keepers at the Gate, Dr. Lawrence N. Blum is a renowned expert on the psychology of police officers. With Turning Tragedy into Victory, he returns to and expands on the important subject of how to best help those who have sworn to protect and serve when they are the ones who have fallen. According to Blum, officers' lack of knowledge and skill in controlling the stress of the moment has increased their risk of being killed, assaulted, or making mistakes that cost them dearly in career or family relationships. Through visceral, real-life accounts of officers with whom he has personally worked, he identifies pitfalls, errors, and traps that are created when officers lose control over how their brains and bodies react to unexpected crises; explains why and how this lack of control occurs; and provides mental, emotional, and behavioral tools that have proven highly effective at enhancing performance. Above all, Blum says, officers must learn the important lessons that come from their experiences and commit themselves to the quest for mastery in law enforcement--in other words, to turn tragedy into victory. This book is an indispensable resource for law enforcement officers, those who work with them, and the people who wish to keep them safe among the increasing dangers and challenges of today's society.