Build for Impact
Patrick Flannelly
Podcast Host @ The Coptimizer Podcast | Retired Chief of Police, Father, Husband, Son, Brother, Veteran, Thinker, Tinkerer, Learner, Leader, Follower, Fitness Fanatic, Coach.
Leading the Charge on Officer Wellness through Nutrition
It was one of those comments that I wish I had thought of myself, and it has stuck with me since my conversation with Inspector Lynae Chadot. "Build for Impact." Clever and poignant. In policing, it is not a matter of "if" the impact will come but "when" and how hard it will hit. Building has a proactive feel, but most cops continue to brace instead. Like hope is not a plan, bracing is waiting, while building is seeking.
When discussing optimizing officer performance, discussions often center around training, tactics, and technology. But what if the real foundation of resilience and peak performance starts with nutrition and holistic health? Inspector Chodat from the Delta Police Department in British Columbia has been pioneering this conversation—and she’s leading by example.
With 26 years of experience in high-stress roles like homicide and internal affairs, Lynae understands the immense physical and emotional toll of policing. After a traumatic incident in 2018, Lynae discovered how critical nutrition was to her recovery. This realization inspired her to become a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, and today, she serves as the Delta Police Department’s in-house nutritionist.
In a recent episode of The Coptimizer Podcast, Lynae shared insights from her journey—and her mission to transform officer wellness. Here are three key lessons I took away:
Lynae’s example demonstrates through action that investing in wellness is not just good for officers—it’s critical for public safety. Healthy, resilient officers perform better, experience fewer injuries, and are more effective in serving their communities.
As public safety leaders, we all have a role to play in building a culture that prioritizes well-being. Lynae’s work inspires us to take action—one healthy choice at a time.
What steps are you taking to promote wellness in your organization? Let’s continue this conversation in the comments below.
Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.
Entrepreneur / Inspector, Delta Police Department / Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner, CHN, Healthy Living with Lynae / Certified Mindset Coach
21hThank you so much Patrick for the opportunity to sit down with you and discuss optimizing officer wellness. Holistic health is such a critical piece to our mental and physical wellbeing in this job. It is incredible to see so many departments and organizations getting behind Employee Wellness Programs and seeing the impact it can make. "Build for Impact"! Patrick, when I get the t-shirts made, you will be the first to receive one! Keep spreading the important message and doing the incredible work that you do! Thank you!
Knowledge Transfer Advocate I Security Risk Consulting I Strategic Application of AI for Risk Management I Crisis Management I Insurance Risk Management I Director-Level Executive I Active Shooter Prevention Project
1dGreat article Patrick Flannelly! Significant insight to wellness for - body and mind. For optimized performance. Unfortunately, with the way departments are budgeted, the onus goes on the individual officer - but well worth the investment. Looking forward to listening to the podcast! Well done!
People First Leadership | Information Governance and Compliance | Training Management | Law Enforcement Professional | Adult Learning | Agile | Secret Clearance The posts on my account reflect my views and opinions.
1dPatrick Flannelly For years, I’ve led the grassroots efforts within my agency, navigating every creative budget, project, and program challenge along the way. While we’ve achieved significant victories, there’s still so much more work to be done. One of the toughest hurdles is when agency leadership doesn’t fully prioritize wellness. Without that commitment from the top, even the best-intentioned initiatives can feel insurmountable. It’s essential to recognize that pushing leadership and command staff to embrace wellness initiatives—if they see it as a “rabbit hole”—won’t foster long-term success. Wellness efforts need to be championed from the very top of the organization, with appropriate funding, support, and resources to make them sustainable. Here’s a glimpse of one of our victories: the gym my team built. It’s a small example of what can be achieved when leadership supports the vision. Let’s keep pushing for better wellness solutions that benefit everyone—starting with the top.
Executive Director at Leadership West
1dWe have a few employees trained for this and physical training plans, but very few are taking advantage of it. I'm looking forward to listening to this podcast.
Podcast Host @ The Coptimizer Podcast | Retired Chief of Police, Father, Husband, Son, Brother, Veteran, Thinker, Tinkerer, Learner, Leader, Follower, Fitness Fanatic, Coach.
1dIf you have an "in-house" nutritionist, comment and let me know how it is working. Having services available doesn't mean that officers will use them, so I'm curious if anyone has tangible results they can share.