A new program aims to better protect officers with the Lethbridge Police Service from trauma-related injuries. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

LPS project aims to reduce trauma-related injuries for officers

Apr 7, 2025 | 11:13 AM

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) and Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) are teaming up to better protect local police officers.

They have created a Down Regulation Skills Training (DRS-T) program, the first of its kind in North America. It is made for police and other responders who regularly face the threat of death, serious injury, or violence.

The agencies say the program equips trauma-informed professionals with simple, practical interventions that they can use both during and after a high-stress call.

Similar to how a high-level athlete needs to take time to rest their bodies following an intense competition, first responders would engage in what LPS calls a “down regulation” of their nervous systems to avoid having their brains and bodies become overly stressed.

At the core of the DRS-T program is the BETR model – Body, Emotions, Thoughts and Relationships. It guides officers through a quick self check-in, helping to down-regulate the body’s stress response after a traumatic event.

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: February 10-16, 2025

Feb 10, 2025

LPS Deputy Chief Gerald Grobmeier says this is crucial because, while half of civilians will experience at least one potentially traumatic event in their lifetimes, police officers are exposed to three to five traumatic events every six months.

“We recognize the importance of proactively supporting our officers by giving them the education and tools to help reduce the risk of trauma-related injuries,” says Grobmeier.

Grobmeier began working with WWC in 2024, aiming to build a resiliency training model that could be implemented as close to an incident as possible.

The first training session took place recently when Dr. Tim Black of WWC spent a full day embedded with the LPS tactical team, observing scenarios to better understand the pressures they faced.

Black says he also took part in classroom-based learning and other training scenarios.

“Collaborating with the Lethbridge Police Tactical Team in developing DRS-T ensures the training has real-world relevance and is being field-tested with the very people who risk the most and who have the most to gain,” says Black.

The DRS-T program will be integrated across all LPS departments going forward.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.