Blue Courage, a new way to protect and serve
June 28, 2016
To protect and serve. This motto, first adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1955, is now a generally recognized mantra for law enforcement. Policing is a necessary, but sometimes extremely challenging, undertaking. Those challenges, especially the mental and emotional aspects of the job, can take a toll on an officer.
A new program, Blue Courage, was recently brought to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement by Chief David Lorenzen. According to Lorenzen, Blue Courage is a process focused on the human development of a police officer. It draws on relevant, proven literature and research on human effectiveness, positive psychology, leadership development, and neuroscience. The goal is personal and cultural transformation through institutionalizing the heart set, mindset, skill set, and tool set of our police officers.