Trust The Badge

Sarah Shendy joins the podcast to discuss her career in law enforcement and the importance of mental health in public safety. She shares her perspective on officer wellness, the emotional challenges of the job, community trust, and how law enforcement can better support both officers and the people they serve. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-shendy-m-s-b95253178/

Buy the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hIJbIto In this episode, I interview Chief Thomas Wetzel, a veteran law enforcement leader with nearly 40 years of experience, to discuss his career, the current challenges facing policing, and his new book A Cop and a Coffee Cup. Chief Wetzel shares powerful insights on leadership, recruitment struggles, officer wellness, and the importance of community-foc...

In this episode, I briefly explain my thoughts on the recent Minneapolis ICE shooting.

In this episode of Trust the Badge, we sit down with Mr. Dave Potvin, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran and former federal law enforcement officer with more than 40 years of service. From his time in the Green Berets to serving as a Border Patrol Agent, ICE Deportation Officer, and Assistant Attaché in South Africa, Mr. Potvin brings a rare, full-spectrum perspective on immigration enforc...

Please visit teresakondek.com to learn more about Officer Charles Kondek, as mentioned in this episode. In this episode of Trust the Badge , we sit down with Officer Larry Bird of the Tarpon Springs Police Department. Serving since 2007, Officer Bird shares the story of how a former baseball coach inspired his path into law enforcement, the challenges he faced early in his career, and the lessons...

With over 36 years of law enforcement experience, Chief Knowles shares his journey from municipal to campus policing, the unique challenges and resources available at a university setting, and the various programs UFPD has implemented to build trust and ensure safety. Key topics include the importance of transparency, innovative training programs, the role of technology, and collaborative initiati...

Kathleen Dias, a monthly columnist for PoliceOne and the voice behind 'The Rural Badge' on social media joins this episode. Ms. Dias discusses her journey into writing about rural policing, shedding light on the challenges faced by officers in remote areas, from funding issues to safety concerns. She also shares personal anecdotes and research findings that highlight the significant risks and obst...

In this episode, retired Riverside, Illinois Police Chief Tom Weitzel joins us to discuss his 37-year career in law enforcement, the innovative approaches to community policing during his tenure, and the multifaceted challenges facing the police profession today. Chief Weitzel delves into the impact of legislation, the defund the police movement, and the environment post-George Floyd, focusing on...

Join us as Officer Wesley Hartkemeyer from Wisconsin delves into his journey and the revolutionary self-reporting system he co-founded, Ireport. Designed to improve the efficiency and community engagement in modern policing, Hartkemeyer explains how Ireport enables citizens to self-report incidents, freeing up police resources and fostering better relations. He also discusses his unexpected path t...

Join us as retired Lafayette Police Chief Patrick Flannelly shares his 27-year career in law enforcement, from patrol officer to chief. Learn about his diverse roles—from SWAT team leader to narcotics task force member—and his commitment to community outreach and officer wellness. Now the host of the Coptimizer Podcast, Flannelly discusses the evolving relationship between police and communities,...

Join Mr. Steve Kellams, a retired law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience in municipal policing in Indiana. Mr. Kellams discusses his career journey from patrol officer to captain of administration. He shares his passion for training new officers and insights on current law enforcement challenges. Mr. Kellum also talks about his inspiration for joining the force, the importance of...

Join Sheriff Mina as he recounts his career journey from the United States Army in 1987 to becoming the chief of Orlando Police in 2014 and finally being elected as the Sheriff of Orange County in 2018. He discusses his commitment to community policing, implementing numerous programs to foster trust and engagement, including the Teen Academy, Police Athletic League, community barbecues, and the in...

Join Congressman Marc Molinaro of New York’s 19th Congressional District as he discusses his extensive career in public service, his journey to the U.S. House of Representatives, and his strong advocacy for law enforcement, public safety, and mental health services. Congressman Molinaro shares his experiences as a village mayor, county executive, and state assemblyman, detailing his efforts to enh...

Join Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly as he discusses his extensive career in law enforcement, his innovative guardianship policing approach, and the importance of community relationships in reducing crime. Staly, who is running for re-election, shares his thoughts on the 'defund the police' movement, current challenges in law enforcement, and the critical need for more deputies to match...

Mr. Jim Dudley is the host of the Policing Matters Podcast, a columnist for Police1, a lecturer at the San Fransisco State University, and a law enforcement veteran of the San Fransisco Police Department. We discuss Mr. Dudley's background, experiences in law enforcement, views on police recruitment and retainment, and the importance of community engagement and supporting law enforcement.

Sheriff Peyton Grinnell is the sheriff of Lake County, Florida. He shares his career trajectory from his service in the Marine Corps, joining the Lake County Sheriff's Office, to becoming the sheriff. We discuss initiatives Grinnell implemented to improve community policing and engagement, his stance on law enforcement issues, and officer wellness's importance. The sheriff also shares his...

Mr. Kash Patel is the former Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, served as the Deputy Assistant to President Donald Trump, and was Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council. He discusses various topics including the FBI raid on Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, his perspectives on federal law enforcement and the need for reforms, the accoun...

Mr. Andre Kirwan is an ex-professional athlete, entrepreneur, and licensed NFLPA & CFLPA sports agent who shares his thoughts on the relationship between the community and law enforcement. Mr. Kirwan emphasizes open conversation, education, and continued community engagement as key strategies for improving these relationships. Throughout the interview, Mr. Kirwan shares personal experiences an...

Dr. Reinhardt is a former police officer and author of the novel "Rethinking the Police: An Officer's Confession and the Pathway to Reform." He discusses his journey, and the need for reform in police culture, and proposes a new model of policing based on servant leadership. The book aims to address the systemic issues within policing and inform readers about the importance of implem...

Mr. Morales is a former U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. He shares detailed accounts of his work, discussing topics like managing deportation cases, providing humanitarian assistance to desperate detainees, and encountering human trafficking. Morales emphasizes the essential role of law enforcement in society and criticizes media portrayals that paint al...

Chief David Ogden is the Chief of Police at Windermere, Florida. We discuss a range of topics including Chief Ogden's career history, the community initiatives he’s implemented, challenges facing the law enforcement profession today, and his opinions on the defund the police movement. Chief Ogden emphasizes the importance of community engagement, trust-building, and adhering to guiding princip...

Sheriff Dennis Lemma is the Sheriff of Seminole County, Florida. He shares his successful community policing initiatives and his views on the "Defund the Police" movements.

John Quiñones was the first Puerto Rican Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives and Chairman of the Osceola County Commission. He shares his goals of what he would like to achieve in the US House of Representatives and how he would support law enforcement.

Representative Andy Barr has served for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District since 2013. Congressman Barr is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee where he serves as the Chairman of the Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee. Although his main priorities focus on financial policies, Representative Andy Barr gladly shares his views about supporting the better...

Obie Diaz is a radio host of the K92.3 here in central Florida, Orlando's #1 show for new country. He is also an essential board member of the Orlando Police Foundation, where he hosts the foundation's podcast: The City's Finest. Leading up to his career as a radio show host, he was an intern at a radio station in his junior year of high school, and worked his way up to the morning sho...