INCIDENT DEBRIEF

The high-risk nature of specialized police operations frequently immerses officers into a world full of quick, hard-hitting brain chemical dumps followed by an immediate need to drastically de-escalate. As careers progress, the body becomes habituated to the high adrenaline-infused work, which increases risk-seeking behavior to achieve similar "highs" as before while also avoiding the post-action low. Furthermore, officers tend to tolerate operating only within a narrow window of high-stress levels, finding low and mid-level situations intolerable. Without a diligent commitment to self-awareness and healthy habits to stay mentally anchored, a drift can occur in officers, leading to maladaptive coping behaviors. By blending the real-life experience of Det. Brent Cartwright (Ret), with the cutting-edge expertise of Dr. Jennifer Prohaska, this presentation will highlight how silently this shift can occur, detail the underlying mechanisms behind this transformation, and identify methods for prevention and recovery.