Guy Smilie Gear

Put on that power look,
New Year 2026!

When it's late & you're still wearing the swag...

One Day At A Time

Thank you for your support, love, prayers, and participating in Smilie Tours.

Best Regards,
Daniel Arnold, Guy Smilie

Christmas 2023

I like to be weird, the one who stands out impacting a crowd. For five days I dressed Lansing Police Department, FBI, Ingham County Sheriff's Office, United States Marshals Service, and Michigan State Police in the midst of my public safety heroes.

The most compelling moment was sharing my trauma with a Lansing Fire Department public servant. I told him how I support the police but I'm offish towards paramedics. He came over and sat by me in the back of the classroom.

I became entirely tense. I had trouble looking at him. He wanted to hear my story. I walked to the hallway and bawled my eyes out like I'm crying now as I write you. I went back to my seat, but lost control again racing to the bathroom.

Ben invited me to sit up front with him. I joined him for the rest of Tri-County CIT. We are all here to better learn to accommodate mental illness in emergencies. Everything slowed down for 40 hours of training. Some moment seemed accelerated and urgent as they were real life scenarios.

Breathe... Slow it down: "Distance, Time, Precision."
This is about de-escalation.

Every person in the room was involved in first-response this first day except a NAMI Lansing volunteer setting the scene with background details and the presenters. Love and rawness in the room.

I have told you that I am a MoP-- A Member of the Public. A Conscientious Citizen backing the blue. This past week "MoP" took on a new meaning in the midst of heroes.

Mental Operative. Police go into street situations undercover to catch the bad guys totally immersed in a world different than them.

I went into this amazing world of first-responders as a mental health consumer blending in-- clean cut, black shoes and black pants (tan tactical pants on FBI Tuesday). A different law enforcement polo every day with my best level of integrity represented, intermixing with a culture I so admired.

An Undercover Consumer, but telling my story and connecting too with experts in the field of diverse accommodation. The stuff dreams are made of.

When I received my CIT pin and certificate once again I bawled my eyes out. Thank you for your service.

Tri-County CIT (Crisis Intervention Team):
I spent 5 days training with first-responders.

Happy Birthday to me. Today I turn 44. You are good to me on United States Marshals Service Thursday at Tri-County CIT.

Wendy gave me a tremendous early Birthday present before Michigan State Police Friday. (I turn 44 November 30th.)

Smilie Tours with Sister B. & her Mom was a long time coming. Absolutely incredible!