Blue Grit Radio: the Police Performance Podcast: Mindset, Wellness, Leadership

Police promotion testing can be intimidating, even for those who have been through a process. There's the different components, but the interviews can be the most tricky and daunting. In this episode, retired Seattle Police Capt. Brian Stampfl and I discuss key themes, tips, and strategies so you can own the process and your outcomes.  It includes and goes far beyond: Mindset, reducing anxiet...

Many cops says they would never work for Seattle PD, or any big city because X, Y, Z.  So when I asked if any active cops wanted to come on and rep their agency, I was excited for Britt’s response. I’ve known Britt Kelly for a few years, but I knew her name and story from when I was a new solo cop, when her FTO, Tim Brenton was murdered on duty in their squad car.  Britt shares about her career, a...

Viral police video goes out.. instantly every cop is cringing at what they see OR the comments, usually from people who don't know ____ about _____.  Kenny, created his page to dispel much of the noise, to give straight-talk about what we as police see, train, learn, experience, and perceive. It goes beyond this, to recognize other factors that don't get captured by one single camera ang...

If only people understood what we did.. why we do this job.. what it takes.. what it tests.. If only they knew we were people, doing our best.. I connected with Abby in July 2023 and was humbled to be featured in an interview with her, (ep. 47 of On Being a Police Officer).  In it, she called out my "relentless optimism."  It was one of the coolest compliments I've heard and part of...

We turn on the news (or our socials) and see ALL THIS NEGATIVITY.  It's the state of the union, it's police everything, it's videos, headlines, and a whole lotta yuck.  It's red vs. blue, old vs. new, AI is taking over, and there's no escaping the end of the world as we know it. Whether it's police scrutiny or everything else, veteran Aaron Brown joins me to discuss h...

Sometimes you read a phrase, a sentence a story and you get hit.  With an idea, with resonance.  With jarring feelings -  with feeling seen.  I had many of all those moments reading veteran and retired law enforcement officer, Doug White's book - Hiding in Plain Sight. Although we are quite different people with quite different experiences, Doug's ability to write and share those lessons...

I often get questions and requests for feedback asking if they should test to promote (sergeant, command, etc).  Usually this involves giving the landscape of what they do now, what pros/cons may be, and whether it is "worth it." In this episode, I share a listener question and explore some of the considerations to test again, what things I would ask, things he should think about, and ho...

Wellness.  Those into it "get it" but those who aren't into it roll their eyes and think they "get it" too.  However, those folks are often the one who need it most of all.  I'm joined by my guests with Law Enforcement Coaching, where we discuss the NEED on what our first responder community needs to recognize, share and use to nudge and uplift one another.  We talk a...

A buddy I used to work with sent me a news interview of his chief, commenting on a pursuit of a suspect vehicle, with an arrest.  The chief spoke plainly, unapologetically on the necessary actions of the officers to stop and control this suspect, who was a danger to the community.   These are things that are not lost on us in the first responder (and support) communities, but it's something w...

Bruce Lee… the Dragon! I grew up loving. Bruce Lee, and one of the few things my dad and I were able to bond over in my younger years was learning about him and watching his films.  Much of it had to do with a shared heritage.. while my buddies were watching Arnold, Sly, Jean Claude.. Bruce was MY guy that I could see myself like and really resonate with! Lee was so much more than a martial artist...

Training Day. Sigh. (The movie was great, but the state-mandated, checkbox curriculums, death-by-Power Point, and so on.. is not).  Too many trainers, leaders, bosses knowing teaching "the why" because they may not know "the why." In our discussion, fmr paramedic turned police officer, sergeant, trainer, teacher, student (always!) Scott Savage and I explore how to TRULY use cri...

Several weeks ago I found myself in a funk. There were many logical reasons: normal work stress, abnormal work stress, busy schedule, travel, mounting projects, and other angsty things floating in my head space.  I didn’t feel like doing anything. That’s not normal for me, despite how stressed or tanked I feel.  That’s what feeling like crud can do.   However, I attacked my funk with tangible stra...

We talk about work/life balance (which is an illusion) and the frequent over-identity of our police careers.  Things that help this are recognizing our legit skillsets and that even if we intend for this to be our 20-30+ year career, it doesnt have to be. Whether you are fully engaged with a smile on your face or burned out (to a crisp), the more you recognize your potential in other endeavors car...

The answer isn’t just more protein or eating garbage snacks and fast food… This is a throwback to where much of Blue Grit started- simply sharing some health/fitness/nutrition advice for a first responder (and general) community that needed it!  It usually isn't an issue of not knowing where to look- but how to sift through the noise to simple, practical advice. Those who feel like they are e...

The longer I am involved in the policing industry and first responder communities, the more I believe our biggest threat isn’t what’s “out there…” it’s in HERE. It’s negative attitudes, toxic departments and leadership, corrosive gossiping, a culture that eats its own, and that starts with us individually. The negative self-talk can get out of control for many of us. I’ve heard it from some of the...

After connecting with Sheriff Derek Sanders in episode 44, we have seen a LOT of proactive police work, video content, press releases, solid recruiting/staffing reports... it made sense to have the energetic/boots on the ground/lead from the front/pursuit engaging/public interfacing Sheriff back on the show to catch up and tell us how office has been! True to form, we talk the good, bad, and in-be...

Wellness. Leadership. Culture.  How do you build it? In this episode, I nod to 5 concepts we can all take on, regardless of our ranks. (Lead at all levels!) With popular demand, I’m rolling out more solo eps based on your questions, prompts and suggestions.  Shoutout to prior guest, LT. Ray Polk for the episode question/prompt! Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line! To stay connected wi...

We talk about building wellness, but how do we do it at scale?  It starts with us, but it quickly becomes about others- and how we contribute to a COMMUNITY of wellness. In this episode, I am joined by James, a medivac paramedic and MHP, Ashley a federal LEO and physical trainer, and Tom an entrepreneur who comes from a policing family, creating an app to build wellness communities. We dive into t...

Blue Grit Wellness (and Radio) was created to promote health in all facets.. but one topic where I've been admittedly light has been financial health (likely due to my lack of expertise compared to the others!)  In this episode, I am joined by fmr. local LEO, Bryan Pitman who now works as a financial advisor. I first heard Bryan speak at a local police wellness event, (shoutout to Issaquah!),...

High divorce rates.  Failed communication. Vices. In this episode, Dr. Jena Casas returns to BGR to help us iron out these notions and help us challenge their validity.  Beyond that, we discuss what we need to DO about them and the dynamics that may help us drift toward them.  This is a listen that hits on all the wellness intersections- a must listen and share for all first responders and family...

For the newly hired rookies (and frankly all future prospects and candidates!) I am sharing and breaking down ten tips from a PoliceMag.com article by Ronnie Wendt.  I share the tips, expand and explain my take and spin on the tips.  Listen in, share with your new folks, and you'll see themes that have strong carry over for veteran officers (and other industry professionals) as well! Article:...

Clee and I connect over his career of service- from military years to policing which includes school resource officer and his current role in special assault investigations. He shares about serving the need of victims and the vulnerable and how he has embraced his gifts of creating, writing, speaking and animating to expand positivity and connecting between cops and community. -- Clee Tilman: Para...

We talk about back up weapons, back up lights.. back up and contingency plans for each and every call- to include the 800 pound gorilla popping out of a trunk on a traffic stop- to train our brains and prep for the best AND worst. (Wait, your FTOs didn't pitch you those scenarios??) And yet... when we talk about our own career paths and livelihoods, we often shy away from thinking what we wou...

Parking tickets.. logistically a challenge.  Most people don't pay them, and no action is pursued since it's unfruitful.  In addition, parking officers and attendants often are faced with conflict- even threat of violence- especially when using clunky devices like a "boot." I am joined by Myra Bennett of Tire Tag- which provides a cost-effective solution that has dramatically i...

We often talk on the alarming and devastating rates of depression, crisis and su-cide in first responder and veteran communities.  Bringing awareness is one thing, but as combat veteran Mark Messina discusses- we don't need more awareness- we are all keenly aware.  We need ACTION that actually addresses the issue and provides immediate help to those suffering.   We talk about Mark's mili...