Kyle Shoberg and Mark Redlich are both experienced cops and the hosts of the popular Shots Fired Podcast. They have both been in officer-involved shootings and deadly incidents. As instructors for our Patrol Survival Tactics seminar, they challenge the conventional paradigms of how officers are trained to perform in such life-threatening incidents. I sat down with both instructors to learn how they are preparing the next generation of officers to survive on the street.
Kyle Shoberg is a police sergeant in Northern California where he has served since 2006. Mark Redlich recently retired from the Sacramento Police Department after serving 13 years. Mark was injured in the line of duty during a training mishap but remains committed to the profession. I asked them whether officers were receiving the right kind of training from their departments. Shoberg was quick to say oftentimes not, noting, “The conventional way that police officers are trained is flawed because agencies are only required to provide the basic level of training to fulfill what is required by the state in which they serve.” Redlich echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the disconnect between training material and the real-world environment officers face.
To combat this, Shoberg and Redlich designed the Patrol Survival Tactics seminar to mitigate the often-overlooked nuances of deadly force encounters. Shoberg emphasizes the emotional roller coaster officers experience post-shooting, remarking, “Most officers are not provided training on what happens following a shooting, what the criminal and administrative investigation is like, and how your body will react. Once the shooting is over, that is only the beginning.” Redlich added, “The thing I found most surprising when I was in a shooting was I had no concept of the extremely stressful process that would follow,” Redlich shares. “Meeting with an attorney, being interviewed by a detective, the internal affairs review, and the lengthy process for the District Attorney’s Office to make their determination were all overwhelming and unfamiliar.” These seldom discussed aspects of being in a shooting are the things the instructors share with students in class.
Redlich further emphasizes the importance of preparing officers for the complexities that extend beyond the actual incident. “The thing that a lot of officers may not understand about being in a shooting is that when your body camera footage is released, your friends and family are going to watch it. The officer should be prepared to talk to them about it because they are not cops—so that conversation will be different.”
Driven by their dedication to enhancing officer safety and preparedness, Redlich emphasized the portion of their seminar that deals specifically with tactic saying, “I want to help them be safer in the field, to utilize good tactics, and be confident in their decision-making.”
Their instructional methodology is an important part of what makes their training effective. Shoberg explains, “This seminar is not death by PowerPoint. Instead, we engage with the students by providing scenarios and allowing them to come up with the answers through critical thinking and problem-solving. We use our real-life experience, both good and bad, and allow the class to provide feedback with open discussion.”
Ultimately, their shared goal is for students to leave Patrol Survival Tactics feeling empowered. “When students come to our class, what I hope they will walk away with is the ability to make confident decisions, to think outside the box, and to share what they learned with their partners.”, said Redlich.
In summary, Patrol Survival Tactics, co-taught by Instructors Kyle Shoberg and Mark Redlich, transcends the conventional training landscape by offering an insider’s look into the complexities officers face during and in the aftermath of a shooting. Students leave the seminar with not only tactical skills but also with the emotional resilience and knowledge necessary to navigate the multifaceted challenges they’ll face after an officer-involved shooting.
If you are a sworn law enforcement officer, click here to learn more about the Patrol Survival Tactics training seminar.
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