Profile
Office: (417) 353-0147
bobbysmith@visionsofcourage.com
DEA Training Seminar in Minnesota
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE & CAREER OBJECTIVE
In 1986, working as a Louisiana State Trooper, I was shot in the face and blinded in the line of duty. As a result of my shooting and the aftermath of trauma, I realized the need for law enforcement officers to have assistance in dealing with post trauma. In 2001, I founded and currently serve as the Director of FORTE (Foundation for Officers Recovering from Traumatic Events). My on-going goal is to provide training and counseling for law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency services personnel, and their families going through various traumatic events. Based on my education and experience, I have become a renowned author and speaker, providing training and motivating people to overcome adversity. I have spoken in every major city across the United States and in several countries abroad. I average approximately 150 speaking engagements yearly and have addressed over one million people in my career.
Calgary, Canada
FBI National Academy- Quantico, VA DEA Training Academy- Quantico, VA Federal Law Enforcement Training Center-Glynco, GA Narcotic Officers Associations Employee Assistance Program Star Jones for the People Show, NY U.S. Customs U.S. Marshals National Public Radio interviews- featured guest University of Louisiana at Monroe & Louisiana University at Baton Rouge, Division of Public Health Department of Corrections Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms U.S. Attorney General's Office U.S. Park Police Police Academies (state and local) State Troopers Associations Time Warner Stock Holder Annual Conference U.S. Postal Service State Farm Insurance Northeast Louisiana Physicians Association U.S. Capitol Police IRS U.S. Department of Defense Cox Medical Center South Central Bell Federal Express International Police Chaplains Association and other chaplain associations Second Baptist Church, Bethany Full Gospel Church, Church of the Nazarene, and many others National DARE Program at high schools across the nation Law Enforcement Television Network, DallasACCOMPLISHMENTS
National/International motivational speaker and trainer focusing on dealing with the aftermath of trauma Certified Law Enforcement Trainer, American Society of Law Enforcement #0577 11 year police veteran Retired LA State Trooper shot in the face and blinded by a drug offender, 1986 Ph.D. Counseling/Psychology; Masters of Education, emphasis in Exercise Physiology Certified Exercise Specialist, Kenneth Cooper Aerobics Institute Crisis Negotiator Critical Incident Stress Debriefed Author of "Visions of Courage" & "The Will to Survive" Commissioned Police Chaplain Founder/Director FORTE (Foundation for Officers Recovering from Traumatic Events) Police Peer Counseling Trooper Assistance Program Conflict Resolution, Career Track, Inc. Professional Residence, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Chemical Dependency Services Trauma, PTSD Military Order of the Purple Heart National Law Enforcement Citation, 1988 Kiwanis International "Lawman of the Year", 1984, and U.S. Trooper of the Year, 1987
CAREER EXPERIENCE
| 2008 - Present | Established Trooper Assistance Program Peer Support, Chaplaincy and CISM |
| 2005 - Present | AUTHOR OF "The Will to Survive" Suggested by readers to serve as a manual all law enforcement officers need to read Click Here |
| 2001 - Present | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FORTE FOUNDATION (Foundation for Officers Recovering from Traumatic Events) Member of the Society of Police & Criminal Psychology. Click Here |
| 2001 - Present | MEMEBER OF THE SOCIETY OF POLICE & CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY |
| 1999 - Present | NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTRUCTOR DEA Training Academy (Quantico, VA) |
| 1998 - Present | AUTHOR OF "VISIONS OF COURGAGE" THE BOBBY SMITH STORY In it 3rd edition, The book describes the shooting and dealing with the aftermath of trauma. Sold over 20,000 copies. Click Here |
| 1987 - Present | NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER, AUTHOR |
| 1987 - Present | PRESIDENT OF Visions of Courage, Inc. |
| 1997 - 2002 | LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR- Multi-Jurisdictional Counter Drug Task Force Training (St. Petersburg, FL) |
| 1998 - 2000 | RADIO TALK SHOW HOST KLIC The Wind (Monroe, LA) |
| 1996 - 1997 | LIEUTENANT- PERSONNEL DIVISION Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office (Monroe, LA) |
| 1995 - 1996 | TELEVISION TALK SHOW HOST Louisiana Cablevision (West Monroe, LA) |
| 1990 - 1995 | TRAINING COORDINATOR/PUBLIC RELATIONS West Monroe Police Department (West Monroe, LA) |
| 1983 - 1986 | LOUISIANA STATE TROOPER Louisiana State Police - Troop F (Monroe, LA) |
| 1979 - 1983 | POLICE OFFICER- NARCOTIC DIVISION West Monroe Police Department (West Monroe, LA) |
| 1975 - 1979 | PATROLMAN Monroe Police Department (Monroe, LA) |
EDUCATION
Pacific Western University, Los Angeles, CA.
Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychology
November 2000
University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA.
Masters in Education, Exercise Physiology
August 1991
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice
May 1981
Training and Certification
Highlights:
Police Peer Counseling Training, Meadow Wood Hospital, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Police Training
Trauma of Police Officers, Shreveport, Louisiana
Director of Peer Support, Chaplaincy and CISM through the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Office of State Police
Certified Advanced Critical Incident Stress Debriefed, Baltimore, Maryland
FBI Hostage Negotiation Seminar
Louisiana State Police Academy (690 hours), Baton Rouge
North Delta Regional Law Training Academy (490 hours)
Certified Law Enforcement Trainer, American Society of Law Enforcement #0577
Certified Exercise Specialist, Kenneth Cooper Aerobics Institute
Crisis Negotiator
Critical Incident Stress Debriefed
Police Peer Counseling
Conflict Resolution, Career Track, Inc.
Professional Residence, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Chemical Dependency Services
Trauma, PTSD
Commissioned Police Chaplain
AWARDS & HONORS
Highlights:
Personal meeting with President Ronald Reagan for Courage and Determination in the face of adversity
Louisiana State Police "Trooper of the Year"
Louisiana Lawman of the Year
Military Order of the Purple Heart National Law Enforcement Citation
Charter Member of the Republican National Committee Presidential Victory Team
United States Capitol Police: Contribution to Law Enforcement honored with U.S. flag flown over the Capitol
Military Order of the Purple Heart National Law Enforcement Citation, 1988
Kiwanis International "Lawman of the Year", 1984, and U.S. Trooper of the Year, 1987
U.S. Trooper/Police "Trooper of the year"
U.S. Karate Association Police Award for Valor
DEA certificate for courage and valor
Law Enforcement Commendation Medal presented by the Enemund Meuillion Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
State of Louisiana Service Injury Ribbon
State of Louisiana Meritorious Service Award
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Pacific Western University, Los Angeles, CA. Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychology November 2000 University of Louisiana, Monroe, LA. Masters in Education, Exercise Physiology August 1991 Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice May 1981Training and Certification
Highlights:
Police Peer Counseling Training, Meadow Wood Hospital, Baton Rouge, Louisiana Police Training Trauma of Police Officers, Shreveport, Louisiana Director of Peer Support, Chaplaincy and CISM through the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Office of State Police Certified Advanced Critical Incident Stress Debriefed, Baltimore, Maryland FBI Hostage Negotiation Seminar Louisiana State Police Academy (690 hours), Baton Rouge North Delta Regional Law Training Academy (490 hours) Certified Law Enforcement Trainer, American Society of Law Enforcement #0577 Certified Exercise Specialist, Kenneth Cooper Aerobics Institute Crisis Negotiator Critical Incident Stress Debriefed Police Peer Counseling Conflict Resolution, Career Track, Inc. Professional Residence, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Chemical Dependency Services Trauma, PTSD Commissioned Police ChaplainAWARDS & HONORS
Highlights:
Personal meeting with President Ronald Reagan for Courage and Determination in the face of adversity Louisiana State Police "Trooper of the Year" Louisiana Lawman of the Year Military Order of the Purple Heart National Law Enforcement Citation Charter Member of the Republican National Committee Presidential Victory Team United States Capitol Police: Contribution to Law Enforcement honored with U.S. flag flown over the Capitol Military Order of the Purple Heart National Law Enforcement Citation, 1988 Kiwanis International "Lawman of the Year", 1984, and U.S. Trooper of the Year, 1987 U.S. Trooper/Police "Trooper of the year" U.S. Karate Association Police Award for Valor DEA certificate for courage and valor Law Enforcement Commendation Medal presented by the Enemund Meuillion Chapter of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution State of Louisiana Service Injury Ribbon State of Louisiana Meritorious Service AwardREFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST