Resilience, Perspective, and the Global State of Policing with Erik Hein

In this deeply thoughtful episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Patrick Flannelly is joined by Erik Hein, a resilience expert and international trainer from the Netherlands, whose journey from hardship to high-performance leadership offers lessons for police professionals everywhere.

Erik opens up about his difficult upbringing — losing his father to cancer, growing up on the streets, and building himself up through martial arts and academic discipline. From these roots, Erik has forged a career in law enforcement training that blends resilience, mental skills, and tactical fitness with a global outlook on modern policing.

Together, Patrick and Erik examine:

• Mental toughness and the “soul over force” philosophy

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• How learned helplessness shows up in policing

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• Lessons from European police academies

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• The U.S. attrition crisis and recruitment gaps

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• How to foster supportive environments that build officer resilience

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• The value of mentorship, wisdom transfer, and lifelong fitness

Erik also shares details about his book and his commitment to helping the next generation of law enforcement leaders build strength from the inside out.