Resilience, Perspective, and the Global State of Policing with Erik Hein
In this deeply thoughtful episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Patrick Flannelly is joined by Erik Hein, a resilience expert and international trainer from the Netherlands, whose journey from hardship to high-performance leadership offers lessons for police professionals everywhere.
Erik opens up about his difficult upbringing — losing his father to cancer, growing up on the streets, and building himself up through martial arts and academic discipline. From these roots, Erik has forged a career in law enforcement training that blends resilience, mental skills, and tactical fitness with a global outlook on modern policing.
Together, Patrick and Erik examine:
Mental toughness and the “soul over force” philosophy
How learned helplessness shows up in policing
Lessons from European police academies
The U.S. attrition crisis and recruitment gaps
How to foster supportive environments that build officer resilience
The value of mentorship, wisdom transfer, and lifelong fitness
Erik also shares details about his book and his commitment to helping the next generation of law enforcement leaders build strength from the inside out.
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1:25:13
The Science of Staffing: A Conversation with Pat Heffner on Police Resource Allocation
In this episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Patrick Flannelly sits down with Pat Heffner, a retired police officer and seasoned instructor for the Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command, to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of modern policing — resource allocation.
With decades of experience in law enforcement and education, Pat brings a pragmatic and data-driven lens to a topic that often flies under the radar of command staff. Together, we discuss the critical importance of staffing analysis, beat redesign, workload balance, and how failing to properly allocate resources can undermine even the most well-intentioned policing strategies.
Whether you're a chief, a line supervisor, or a community member trying to understand how police services are delivered, this episode offers an honest, practical deep-dive into what it takes to align staffing with service demands — and why it matters more than ever in today’s public safety environment.
🔑 Topics include:
The fundamentals of police resource allocation
Why many departments struggle with staffing analysis
Real-world examples from Pat’s work with police agencies
How data can drive better decision-making for deployment
The connection between morale, burnout, and misaligned staffing
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1:38:58
David Riedman: Founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database
David Riedman is the founder of the K-12 School Shooting Database and a graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School. He conducts research on gun violence in schools and authored multiple peer-reviewed articles on homeland security policy, critical infrastructure protection, and emergency management.
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1:11:03
Mental Health Response & Hot Air Balloons with Chief Mike Diekoff
In this episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, I sit down with Chief Mike Diekoff of the Bloomington (IN) Police Department to discuss his department’s innovative approach to mental health response. Chief Diekoff shares how his team collaborates with mental health professionals to handle crisis calls more effectively, ensuring that individuals in need receive the right care while reducing the strain on law enforcement. We dive into the challenges and successes of integrating behavioral health resources into policing and the broader implications for community safety.
But that’s not all—Chief Diekoff isn’t just a leader in public safety; he’s also a hot-air balloon pilot! We shift gears to talk about his passion for aviation, his experiences flying over Bloomington, and the unexpected parallels between navigating the skies and leading a police department.
Join us for an insightful and entertaining conversation that blends the serious and the adventurous in a way only The Coptimizer Podcast can. And stay tuned—I’ll be sharing a video of my own ride in Chief Diekoff’s balloon!
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1:23:41
Resilience Through the Ranks: A Cop’s Journey to Purpose ft. David Berez
In this episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, host Patrick Flannelly welcomes retired police officer and author David Berez to discuss his transformative journey through over 20 years in law enforcement. David opens up about his challenging upbringing, the pressures of policing in a changing world, and the profound impact of trauma and resilience. Together, they explore stories from his career, his struggles after retirement, and the pivotal moment that led to his inspiring book, A Resilient Life: A Cop's Journey in Pursuit of Purpose. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about vulnerability, growth, and the tools to navigate life’s toughest moments—both on and off duty.
The Copitimzer program looks to connect today’s officers with leaders and experts who have thrived through life’s most difficult challenges. Each episode is geared around sharing evidence based approaches regarding sleep hygiene, nutrition guidelines, exercise programming, and stress reduction methodologies.
Along the way, we will share stories of success, failure, triumph, resilience, and GRIT! We take real world, first hand experience and use it to teach police officers and others optimal lifestyle habits to enhance personal health and wellness. This will translate to optimal performance at work and in life!
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