Bless The Badge Ministries
TRT Core Evidence
Research Reference Library
Tactical Relationship Training™
Understand the Job. Strengthen the Relationship.
Version 1.2 | July 2026
Strengthening Those Who Serve.
Core Evidence Summary
Published research, TRT participant profile data, and TRT program outcome data.
Purpose: This library provides a consistent reference point for TRT books, instructor materials, presentations, grants, website content, and partner communications. Published findings, TRT internal participant data, and TRT program outcomes are intentionally separated.
Published Research
These findings summarize published research used to inform Tactical Relationship Training™. Associations are described as associations and should not be interpreted as proof of causation unless specifically supported by the cited research design. (Click each for details)
1
Cumulative Critical-Incident Exposure
Officers from small and midsize police agencies reported a mean cumulative critical-incident exposure score of 188.5.
Source:
Chopko, B. A., Palmieri, P. A., & Adams, R. E. (2015). Critical Incident History Questionnaire replication: Frequency and severity of trauma exposure among officers from small and midsize police agencies. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(2), 157–161.
Measurement source:
Weiss, D. S., Brunet, A., Best, S. R., et al. (2010). Frequency and severity approaches to indexing exposure to trauma: The Critical Incident History Questionnaire for police officers. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(6), 734–743.
TRT application:
Establishes that occupational stress in policing often builds through repeated exposure over time.
2
PTSD Prevalence
Across studies in a systematic review, PTSD prevalence among police officers had a mean of 14.87% and a median of 9.2%, although estimates varied substantially.
Source:
Wagner, S. L., White, N., Fyfe, T., et al. (2020). Systematic review of posttraumatic stress disorder in police officers following routine work-related critical incident exposure. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 63(7), 600–615.
TRT application:
Shows that post-traumatic stress is a meaningful occupational concern while recognizing substantial variation across studies and police populations.
3
Sleep Quality
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that approximately 51% of police officers had poor sleep quality.
Source:
Garbarino, S., Guglielmi, O., Puntoni, M., Bragazzi, N. L., & Magnavita, N. (2019). Sleep quality among police officers: Implications and insights from a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(5), 885.
TRT application:
Connects sleep disruption with fatigue, emotional regulation, patience, communication, decision-making, and resilience.
4
Cumulative Exposure and PTSD Symptoms
Greater cumulative exposure to critical incidents is modestly associated with greater PTSD symptom severity among police officers.
Primary empirical source:
Weiss, D. S., Brunet, A., Best, S. R., et al. (2010). Frequency and severity approaches to indexing exposure to trauma: The Critical Incident History Questionnaire for police officers. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 23(6), 734–743.
Supporting review:
Marmar, C. R., McCaslin, S. E., Metzler, T. J., et al. (2006). Predictors of posttraumatic stress in police and other first responders. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1071, 1–18.
TRT application:
Supports TRT teaching that pressure can accumulate across a career rather than resulting from only one critical event.
5
Marriage as a Protective Factor
Across surveys conducted in 24 countries, being married was the most consistent protective factor associated with traumatic-event exposure.
Source:
Benjet, C., Bromet, E., Karam, E. G., et al. (2016). The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: Results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychological Medicine, 46(2), 327–343.
TRT application:
Positions healthy relationships as an important resilience resource, not merely an outcome to protect.
6
Pre-Service Startle Response
Acoustic startle responses under low-threat conditions during police academy training were identified as a direct putative causal factor in a computational model of post-traumatic stress symptoms after one year of police service.
Source:
Saxe, G. N., Ma, S., Ren, J., et al. (2020). Computational causal discovery for post-traumatic stress in police officers. Translational Psychiatry, 10, Article 233.
TRT application:
Provides a research bridge to TRT teaching about physiological reactivity, remaining on alert, and recognizing early vulnerability.
TRT Internal Participant Data
These findings come from de-identified TRT live-event participant surveys. They describe the surveyed participants, including occupational exposures and job-conditioned behaviors reported at home.
56%
Participant reportTraumatic exposure involving fatalities.
TRT relevance
Demonstrates the prevalence of significant loss and death-related exposure within the surveyed TRT audience.
38%
Participant reportTraumatic exposure involving shootings or other firearm-related incidents.
TRT relevance
Shows the frequency of firearm-related trauma represented among participants.
100%
Participant reportAt least one form of heightened vigilance and/or hypervigilance showing up at home.
TRT relevance
Supports direct discussion of how job-conditioned behaviors can cross into family life.
64%
Participant reportDisengaging from decisions at home.
TRT relevance
Identifies withdrawal from household decision-making as a common relationship pattern in the surveyed group.
62%
Participant reportExcessively scanning for threats while off duty.
TRT relevance
Provides a concrete example of occupational vigilance continuing beyond the shift.
Disclaimer: TRT findings are based on internal live-event participant surveys and should not be interpreted as representative prevalence estimates for the entire law enforcement population.
TRT Program Outcomes
These findings come from de-identified TRT live-event participant surveys in 2026. They describe same-day participant response, learning, intended use, and relationship perceptions, not long-term relationship change.
4.9 / 5
Participant reportAverage participant satisfaction with TRT conferences.
TRT relevance
Shows consistently strong immediate participant response to the TRT experience.
99%
Participant reportAverage likelihood participants would recommend TRT to another law enforcement couple.
TRT relevance
Indicates strong participant confidence in the relevance and value of TRT.
72%
Participant reportSelected better communication and conflict resolution as a most valuable takeaway.
TRT relevance
Confirms that communication is the clearest and most consistently retained curriculum outcome.
60%
Participant reportSaid they were most likely to use Tactical Conversations within the next 30 days.
TRT relevance
Shows strong immediate intent to apply TRT’s signature communication framework at home.
3.9 / 5
Participant reportAverage rating for “I feel understood by my spouse.”
TRT relevance
Establishes the relationship baseline.
Barrier Shift
Participant reportPrimary barrier shifted from lack of time to difficulty changing habits.
TRT relevance
Supports follow-up, practice, and coaching designed to help couples turn learning into lasting habits.
Outcome interpretation: Same-day surveys measure participant experience, learning, intended application, and immediate relationship perceptions. They do not establish long-term behavior change or lasting relationship improvement.
Research Principles
Pressure accumulates.
Police stress is often cumulative rather than limited to one defining incident.
Occupational adaptations can persist off duty.
Vigilance, startle, scanning, and emotional control may continue after the shift ends.
Sleep affects relational capacity.
Poor sleep can reduce patience, emotional regulation, attention, and communication.
Awareness creates options.
Recognizing a conditioned response allows couples to respond intentionally rather than personalize it.
Connection supports resilience.
Healthy relationships can function as an important protective resource during and after occupational stress.
Follow-up supports integration.
Immediate learning and intent matter, but durable change must be evaluated through later check-ins and observed use of the tools.
TRT RESILIENCE PATHWAY™
Pressure
>
Awareness
>
Connection
>
Resilience
Bless The Badge Ministries | Strengthening Those Who Serve.
