By Benjamin Toderico
O2X Specialist & Career Law Enforcement Officer
I know a police officer that turned down a job from a higher paying agency to work in a city for less pay because it was the right thing to do.
I know a police officer that left an executive position in a Fortune 500 company.
I know many police officers that had masters degrees or law degrees before they became a police officer.
I know a police officer that lost his life protecting citizens after responding to a call for help.
I know a police officer that ran into a burning house to rescue the people inside.
I know a police officer that cried investigating the death of a three year old at the hands of the babysitter.
I know a police officer that bought groceries for a family after learning that the kids didn’t have milk or fresh fruit.
I know a police officer that pushed a man home in his wheelchair after the battery died.
I know a police officer that saw so much domestic violence that helped to change domestic violence laws.
I know a police officer that arrested hundreds of child sex predators.
I know a police officer that arrested hundreds of drunk drivers.
I know a police officer that has found lost, scared or runaway children.
I know a police officer that used his own money and vacation time to get more training to do his job better.
I know a police officer that taught kids how to box to provide a safe place for sportsmanship.
I know a police officer that brought a kid to school instead of truancy.
I know a police officer that calmed a person having a mental crisis and got the person help, saving their life.
I know a police officer that was called for a trespasser and gave that homeless person some water and showed them where to sit in the shade instead of arresting them.
I know a police officer with a newborn at home that climbed a scaffolding over a river to calm a stranger intent on jumping.
I know a police officer that was shot when he used his body to shield a child.
I know a police officer that worked for 40 years to continue to help the community.
I know a police officer that bought some of his own equipment so that he could do his job.
I know a police officer that gave some of his own furniture to a family that didn’t have anything.
I know a police officer that would stand out in front of a store when he wasn’t working to help prevent robberies.
I know police officers of all races that did all of these things for people regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or identity.
Ever forward.
Benjamin Toderico is an O2X Resilience Specialist. Benjamin earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise and a Master’s of Science in Muscle Physiology and Biochemistry from Virginia Tech. After graduating, he went to work for a busy urban police department for 18 years in various assignments including patrol, street level gun and drug investigations, property crimes, robberies, aggravated assault and sex crimes, crimes against children, Crime Stoppers, as well as being assigned to the department SWAT Team for over 7 years. Benjamin has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association for over 20 years. He has also held certifications in personal training, kettlebell instruction, natural movement, functional movement screening, and blood flow restriction training.
Benjamin’s career and life path were drastically altered when his wife, Denise, was struck from behind by an SUV while she was running. Once she was discovered in a farmer’s field and EMS was summoned she was flown by helicopter to the regional trauma hospital. Denise spent the next 40 days in the hospital recovering from several strokes, a severe traumatic brain injury, a severe brachial plexus injury (paralyzing her arm), several broken vertebrae in her neck and back, and other orthopedic injuries and internal traumas.
Benjamin’s unique background in strength and conditioning, coaching, mindset and discipline enabled him to become the best advocate, coach, trainer, and partner for his wife and their family. With the lessons learned and skills developed, Benjamin changed his career path to be able to help tactical athletes become 1% better through resiliency, strength and condition and mindset.
