Contribution to policing earns alumnus distinguished professional achievement award
Posted: September 25, 2017 6:00 a.m.
Dr. Greg Kratzig is recipient of the University of Regina Alumni Association Distinguished Professional Achievement Award. U of R Photography
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Greg Kratzig has earned an international reputation for cutting-edge research that is helping first responders worldwide prepare better for volatile and dangerous situations.
The application of his psychology research in law enforcement has resulted in safer policing and is contributing to overall greater public security.
In his position as Director of Research and Strategic Partnerships at Depot Division, the RCMP’s Training Academy in Regina, Kratzig designed and developed a comprehensive research program and a sophisticated simulation lab that attracts interest from academic researchers and police agencies nationally and internationally.
Over the past seven years, he has initiated and led research projects in areas such as firearms training, emergency vehicle driver training, use-of-force decision-making – including the resulting psychological effects on officers – and officer health and well-being.
He is also the mental health champion for Depot Division and is part of a research team in a large-scale project investigating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that periodically tests a select group of police officers over a 10-year period. The simulated firearms research he developed has been adopted by the US Federal Law Enforcement Training Centre (which handles 70,000 trainees annually) and by the police force in Singapore.
In all of his research projects in the lab, Kratzig draws from a broad network of colleagues, although he particularly seeks out students, faculty, and staff from the University of Regina. His research into decision-making, for example, involves faculty from Kinesiology and Health Studies, and from Psychology. He is in the early stages of developing – in collaboration with faculty and staff from the Faculty of Media, Arts and Performance – a virtual reality area within the simulation lab.
When he is asked for his thoughts about being selected for the professional achievement award, Kratzig admits he didn’t know what to say when he received the phone call. He relates it to a psychological concept he and his fellow grad students felt – the Imposter Syndrome – where they weren’t sure they were smart enough to be there.
“This is the biggest award I’ve ever received. It was not ever within my thoughts,” he says. “There are a lot of great people out there doing outstanding work. To have my work recognized by my peers in this way is overwhelming.”
The University of Regina recognizes the achievements of our most accomplished graduates through the Alumni Crowning Achievement Awards (ACAA), one of the highest honours that can be bestowed on distinguished University of Regina alumni. Join us on October 5th at the Hotel Sask to celebrate five outstanding alumni. Learn more about the ACAA dinner here.