Gold Medal Policing: Operational Readiness and Performance Excellence

by Judy M. McDonald

Overview

This straightforward, easy-to-understand textbook inspires tools for improving job performance, productivity, and morale in law enforcement. The groundbreaking first edition of Gold Medal Policing, inspired by work with Olympic athletes, confirmed the importance of mental readiness in frontline policing excellence. Partnerships with policing and related fields positioned Gold Medal Policing principles across recruitment, multilevel training, web-based learning, and field assessment.

The second edition consolidates two decades of peer-reviewed research and training, reflecting new trends, lessons, contemporary issues, and proven tools. Drawing on insights from frontline officers recognized for their excellence, including coach officers, it introduces an Operational Readiness Framework rooted in scientific principles. This framework systematically assesses physical, technical, and mental readiness, creating a detailed police-specific profile. A comprehensive literature review informs current police preparedness practices. Mental readiness is upheld to strict, measurable standards, akin to traditional physical and technical readiness. Best practices from exceptional officers are isolated, and operational benchmarks and strategies are established. The ultimate result is to empower officers to excel in the practice of their profession.

Gold Medal Policing is indispensable for law enforcement leaders, scholars, students, and aspiring officers.

Questions about the research? Contact the author Judy McDonald at [e-mail]

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367702878
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/23/2025
Series:	Routledge Series on Practical and Evidence-Based Policing
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	648
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Judy McDonald is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ottawa and former Associate Director at the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment. She earned her PhD from University of Westminster, UK, specializing in operational readiness for high-risk professions. Her applied research over the past three decades has focused on understanding readiness strategies in diverse population groups working in high-risk and demanding professions where excellence carries serious life-or-death consequences. Study populations have ranged from Olympic athletes to surgeons and air traffic controllers. Her initial study with Ottawa Hospital surgeons revealed parallels between surgical and Olympic athlete mental-readiness practices, acclaimed as a landmark in the medical community. Subsequent research illustrated the need for systematic mental training in the high-stress world of air traffic control, leading to mandatory trainee courses and an "Advanced Situational Awareness Program" for seasoned controllers, flight service specialists, and trainers in Navigation (NAV) Canada. This pioneering perspective underpins her work in operational risk assessment, now successfully applied in policing, as well as other high-performance occupations such as dentistry, financial auditing, and Sherpa high-altitude guiding. McDonald extends her expertise globally, supervising, lecturing, and conducting workshops. Her efforts advance operational readiness for high-risk professions, safeguarding lives.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Redefining Readiness: A Blueprint for Peak Performance in Policing

Chapter 2. Insights From Current Research on Police Performance

Chapter 3. Police Under Pressure

Chapter 4. The Readiness Equation

Chapter 5. Physical Readiness in Policing

Chapter 6. Technical Readiness in Policing

Chapter 7.  Mental Readiness in Policing

Chapter 8.  Police Leadership at All Levels

Chapter 9.  Knowledge Transfer: Conclusions

Chapter 10.  What Next? Recommendations and Leadership Directives  

Chapter 11. Executive Summary

Appendices