Gordon Graham

Risky Ramblings: Risk Management for Public Safety

Gordon Graham has been actively involved in law enforcement since 1973. He spent nearly 10 years as a very active motorcycle officer while also attending Cal State Long Beach to achieve his teaching credential, USC to do his graduate work in Safety and Systems Management with an emphasis on Risk Management, and Western State University to obtain his law degree. In 1982 he was promoted to sergeant and also admitted to the California State Bar and immediately opened his law offices in Los Angeles.

While serving as a field sergeant, he started to combine his legal education and experience along with his graduate education in Risk Management to develop processes designed to improve the quality of law enforcement. His early work included developing the “Five Pillars of Success” – which today serves as the foundation of Lexipol. Additionally, he was instrumental in developing the Drug Recognition Expert program and the “daily training bulletin” (DTB) concept. In 1995 he promoted to captain and retired from active duty in 2006.

He regularly serves as an educator and trainer to public safety professionals from around the world. He was the first recipient of the California Governor’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement training in 1995, and in 2005 received the “Presidential Award for Excellence” from the International Association of Fire Chiefs for his lifelong work in improving firefighter safety and performance. He is constantly in pursuit of “the next best way” to do things. And most importantly, he has assisted his beautiful wife in raising two great children who have given them great happiness.

Full list of Gordon Graham results

Pre-attack indicators in jails
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We know attacks happen in jail facilities. Your challenge is to recognize the warning signs and, when possible, use de-escalation to prevent an attack or the need for force
The role of PREA in correctional facilities
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PREA regulations and resulting policies are extensive and can involve a lot of work. So, why should we go through all this trouble?
Avoiding deliberate indifference in corrections
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Are you familiar with your agency’s policies that give you the tools to aid or protect vulnerable inmates?
The correctional officer's duty to intervene
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The duty to intervene in an excessive force situation is your legal and moral responsibility
The risk of fentanyl in correctional facilities
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Everyone has reason to be concerned as reports of fentanyl exposures and overdoses in correctional facilities are increasing across the country
How inmates use isolation techniques to manipulate correctional officers
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Are you situationally aware enough to know if this is happening to you or one of your colleagues?
Correctional officer response to fights
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When the alarm is sounded, there is an impulse to drop everything and respond at warp speed, but there must be some type of structure to the response
Inappropriate relationships with inmates
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PREA criminalizes any sexual relationship between correctional officers and inmates because of the “imbalance of power”
Why radio placement is important for correctional officers
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There is a relationship between radio placement and the potential for officer injury during a violent encounter with an inmate
Consequences of filing a false report
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Knowingly filing a false report could lead to termination and criminal charges
The importance of inmate classification
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Performing the classification process early, and continuously, helps ensure a safe and secure facility
The dangers of the food port in corrections
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Whatever you call it, the food port presents risk to all corrections personnel
Effective public safety report preparation
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Remember to follow three simple principles: preparation, organization and clarity
Overcoming the mental health stigma in public safety
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Why first responders should seek treatment as soon as mental health symptoms appear
The importance of mentoring
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Mentoring can be one of the most valuable professional relationships we experience
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