Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Workshops

This program was designed and developed with Jaycee Dugard’s case in mind. It aims to increase the awareness skills and broaden the perspectives of law enforcement personnel. The program offers an interactive alternative approach through a daylong workshop utilizing equine therapy and drawing upon the experience of the Dugard family. The focus of the workshop is on law enforcement officers responding and working with victims of all types of abductions, familial and non-familial. These cases require a particular skill set which we have incorporated into the curriculum. The workshops serve 12-16 participants in each 6 hour workshop. A noon meal is provided. We are certified in the state of Missouri for POST (Police Officer Standard Training) accreditation, so officers receiving services can apply for continuing education credit. Accreditation in the state of California is pending. Inquire about the possibility of us gaining certification in other states.

Our goal is to help overworked officers bring compassion, joy, pride and thoroughness back into their work. Communication, teamwork, self-care, and intuition all play an important roll in this program. The Leo program was created because Jaycee felt we can all learn something from what happened in her case. This interactive approach, using equine therapy, requires Leo participants to take an active role in how they use certain skills such as empathy for those they protect; enhances better awareness while doing their job; and encourages taking care of themselves emotionally while on the job and prevent burnout. The officers will partner with horses in activities similar to those in a challenge course and will focus on skills such as awareness, problem solving, leadership and communication.

This unique training is one of the first that has been implemented in the country. The JAYC Foundation offers the LEO Awareness Development program to law enforcement organizations for the purpose of enhancing the protection of victims through the cultivation of awareness based law enforcement practices. If officers “Just Ask Themselves to Care” they will discover that a life can be saved by taking the extra time to search a house or backyard. Being completely familiar with a client an officer/worker can learn to identify behavioral clues that will heighten their sensitivity to unseen situations and complications. Complacency can lead to missed clues and potential actions that can mean life or death.

The workshop is not designed to be “therapy” but can be “therapeutic” in nature. Past participants have expressed that they gained a better understanding of themselves and in so doing became more conscious while on the job. Again, focus is on: • Awareness • Critical Thinking • Cooperation • Safety • Attitude, Communication, Situational Awareness and Thoroughness.

The LEO Awareness Development Program is an engaging and interactive full-day workshop dedicated to helping law enforcement officers reach their full potential by integrating situational and emotional awareness into the performance of their work. The LEO Self-Assessment of Awareness Competencies tool–specifically designed for use by law enforcement officers–lays the foundation for a unique learning opportunity, which includes equine-assisted learning activities and other experiential modes of professional development. Through expert facilitation, the training is fun and energetic, and provides fresh ideas and practical, concrete approaches to effectively protecting the public and working with offenders while providing for one’s own needs.

Learning Through Horses

Learning Through Horses (LTH) is an experiential and interactive approach to professional development. LTH involves setting up activities involving horses and requiring the client or group to apply certain skills. LTH participants learn about themselves and others through taking part in these activities and discussing their reactions and observations with each other. Nonverbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, leadership, engagement, accountability, teamwork and relationships, assertiveness and right attitude are several examples of the professional competencies addressed and developed by LTH. The program utilizes LTH in an experiential manner to encourage a new approach to all types abduction cases and cases requiring a specialized victim and family focused approach. The incorporation of horses allows for an experiential component which enhances the learning experience for participants. Evidence based material is presented in a refreshing and accessible manner. Participants report having fun at the same time as learning throughout the day.

Our workshops target Probation, Parole agencies, workers and supervisors from Law Enforcement agencies, Judicial officers, and Social Service agencies. If you are interested in discussing a workshop for employees in your agency or department, please see the form on our Contact page. If your request for service is granted, the Foundation could possibly cover the cost of all professional leaders/facilitators/and facility fees.

For more information about hosting LEO workshops:

leo guidelines – updated