Over the past few decades, I have served as both a full-time and part-time traveling trainer. From days of way too much windshield time, then adding those red-eye early flights, there is more to this than the imagination can fathom. This sounds like an exciting way to make a living or supplement your retirement, but there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. We adopted a name for traveling trainers back in Georgia; we were called the “Road Dawgs.” (Paying homage to the University of Georgia Dawgs —get it?). For those of you who are looking at this as a part-time or retirement endeavor, I want to offer you some tips. These tips will prolong your success as a traveling trainer and hopefully make you successful. This is not a complete list, but some observations that I have learned from the mistakes of others and a few that I may have made myself.
This article appeared in the November/December issue of OFFICER Magazine. Click Here to subscribe to OFFICER Magazine.
Things not to do — Whenever as a trainer you walk into a new agency, keep your mouth shut. During the breaks, students will engage you in casual conversations. They may be shopping for a way out of their current agency. They may ask you about the current wages, equipment, benefits and all the other things of your department. They will quickly become envious, which will create trouble. What I always recommend is never ever discuss your benefits package, retirement packages or any equipment issues. This can create friction, or jealousy, and there is an easy way out-just do not do it. If you do say an inflammatory statement, it will reach the administration, and you will be placed under their scrutiny. Idle words could prevent you getting invited back for that matter. When asked, repeat “I am not at liberty to discuss this,” and leave it alone.
Avoid hot buttons — Never ever offer your opinion on current management issues, union issues or any internal issues that this department is facing. Sometimes you will be pulled into some situational questions, these could be regarding one of those prior mentioned, and this can become a hot button. If you can sense it, don’t respond. Again, tell them that you’re not there to do anything but teach and not to pass judgments or opinion. When you meet with your point of contact, ask for any land mines that you might need to avoid.
Never, ever, compare departments or say anything disparaging about any department. You never know who’s in the audience. If you must use an example of something that was done wrong, try to keep it as generic as possible. You want no connection on vilifying any agency.
Be positive — You want to thank and praise the administration for bringing you there. Nothing says that training is a given in life. Lots of departments only get the state required minimum. Tell the students that their administration has thought enough to bring you and your staff in to train them. This will speak volumes of what the bosses think of their staff. In other words, start with a positive and keep it that way. This earns you valuable points with the administration should they wish to bring you back.
Do not be a mooch — A lot of times when you go to train, they may provide you with meals, take you out, or pay for little odds and ends. Sometimes you go, and they will not give you anything. You’ve got to pay for everything out of your pocket. Always go and be prepared for anything. Budget yourself accordingly, as if you must pay for everything. Not every department has deep pockets to ‘wine and dine’ outside trainers. And do not walk around asking if all you get is a cup of coffee—be grateful.
Be prepared — Always be prepared for all the glitches in life that will face you. Never assume that all their equipment will sync-up with yours. Try to be as self-sufficient as you can on the technological end by syncing your laptop and your programs. Test on their projectors before the students arrive. If you get around enough, you will find out that not everyone has a perfect classroom. Not everybody has the best training facility, and sometimes you’ve just got to ‘wing it’ and make it work.
If possible, e-mail copies of the handouts for your point of contact to have printed up and ready for you. If you have manuals or handouts, then ship them in advance. Always have a backup plan. If nothing else, carry master copies with you so they can be copied off at the local copy place in a bind. Remember the 10% plus rule, if you are told to prepare for 30 students, prepare for 33.
Arrive early — If you arrive early, and you can visit the training site the day before, do so. Setting up early will remove early morning stress. If not, help you get your mind in order on how you will set-up the classroom. While there, if you could possibly do connectivity checks, make sure there’s a strong enough Wi-Fi to support what you’re doing. Double-check the technology and always have backup fresh batteries for your equipment.
The day of training, arrive early to settle the questions or uncertainties. Each class will have a few students who have been “voluntold” to attend. So, students may have questions of you. They may have physical limitations, so you make safety accommodations for them. It could be something as simple as they are on stand-by for court and maybe paged out be there early.
Be prepared to stay late as well. There are going to be some students who will not raise a question in open class may, but may want to talk to you afterward or offline. Also, this is where you will make maybe connections for the next day’s presentation or even refinements for your presentation.
When going from state-to-state, perform due diligence that your presentation matches that state’s laws and procedures. If there are any nuances with this state, your point of contact can give you some guidance on where to adjust to meet the criteria of that agency.
If you are new and get a chance to be mentored by a Road Dawg, take every advantage of it. Not only in learning their tips, but what are the things to bring and not to bring. I have seen some young trainers bring everything they possibly can, or they think they will need. Some think they could be deployed to this place for months. Then there are some of us who are minimalist and through the years have learned to carry what is needful and not get bogged down with the extra frivolities. Remember, sometimes you may be catching flights where you must have carry-on luggage only because that way you know your luggage is with you and not being shipped to some exotic location where you are not going.
Be flexible — It is amazing how every agency has their own culture about training. There are some who will not arrive until 9 a.m. Conversely, there are some who will be willing to come in early. Make sure you understand the cultural nuances, such as do they get a half an hour for lunch or a full hour. I have been in some places where they break every 50 minutes, which breaks up the continuity of a presentation, but you must abide by local rules.
Finally, there are a few more rules I could tell you, such as what needful things are necessary. I want you to realize that you learn more from your students than they will learn from you. One of the true blessings that I have had was every class that I have taught, I have walked away with something that was more applicable for the next class. I’ll look back and think of all the great times and sometimes struggles, but it is all about getting the best information and practices to officers. I want every student to have the best information for them to deliver service and keep them safe. Good luck to all you Road Dawgs and travel well.
William L. Harvey | Chief
William L. "Bill" Harvey is a U.S. Army Military Police Corps veteran. He has a BA in criminology from St. Leo University and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville (103rd AOC). Harvey served for over 23 years with the Savannah (GA) Police Department in field operations, investigations and completed his career as the director of training. Served as the chief of police of the Lebanon City Police Dept (PA) for over seven years and then ten years as Chief of Police for the Ephrata Police Dept (PA). In retirement he continues to publish for professional periodicals and train.
