The Mindful Officer

The Mindful Officer class was developed by an officer to teach officers about the hidden impacts of the job and teaches them several mindfulness techniques that they can incorporate into their daily work and personal lives. The class has been taught at the Colorado Springs Police Department since 2016 and to thousands of officers across the United States. This presentation incorporates discussion about issues facing law enforcement that often go overlooked and how mindfulness can help officers maintain mental wellbeing. The speaker will also guide attendees through several mindfulness exercises.

  • Upon completion, participants will learn about the mental and physical health impacts of stress on their daily lives.
  • Identify the definition of mindfulness, what practices develop mindfulness, and how mindfulness techniques can help mitigate the negative impacts of stress.
  • Participants will cultivate a mindful awareness and learn to apply this deeper connection to enhance relationships with others.

Jason Newton

Sergeant

Colorado Springs Police Department

Jason Newton began his law enforcement career in 2004 with the Sherwood Police Department (SPD) in Sherwood, Oregon. During his time with the SPD, Newton received two lifesaving awards, the medal of valor, the medal of honor, and in 2008 was named one of the top officers by Parade Magazine and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

In 2008 Newton joined the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). In 2010 the CSPD partnered with Colorado College (CC), a private college to pilot a program having a police officer on campus. Newton became the first Campus Resource Officer (CRO). During his time as the CRO, Newton created several successful programs and was instrumental in helping improve the college’s emergency preparedness. For his work, Newton received the 2015 International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) Award for Innovations in Community Oriented Policing.

Newton holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. During his time at Northwestern University, he focused his research on mindfulness in law enforcement and developed the “The Mindful Officer” class. The class is now taught as the self-care portion of the CSPD's Crisis Intervention Training.

In 2021, Newton was named the Public Service Hero of the Year in the American Business Awards®. He was awarded it for his dedication and leadership in community relations. His new and innovative ideas in engaging with the community helped strengthen the bond between CSPD and the community throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2020 protest. He also continued his teaching in the area of mindfulness, partnering with the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund bringing a portion of his mindfulness class to officers across the nation during the 2021 Police Week, helping officers stay physically and mentally resilient.

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