Today we chat with the great Mike Wagers, Chief Customer Officer of Axon, to talk about the history of the global leader in public safety technology…the every growing company known as Axon.

Mike walks us through the company’s history, from its roots in 1993, to now becoming the standard in law enforcement technology.

In 1993, Founder Rick Smith, had a vision to reduce gun violence and prevent crimes through technology to honor the murders of two of his high school football teammates.

Like all great stories, there was early struggle, and resiliency was financially tested before the energy weapon, TASER, was introduced to the world.

Mike gives us a unique sneak peek of what’s on the horizon with the new tech and mission expansion to wellness, AI tech and community partnerships that will save lives and solve crimes.

This message will tell this story of how a tragedy turned into a global phenomenon in ever evolving tech to subdue suspects, enhance accountability and boldly go where no man has gone before to make the world, the first responder world, a better and safer place.

"Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do"

We are honored to sit down with recently retired DFD Lt John Hampton as he wrapped up an amazing 25-year career.

Growing up in Maryland, the son of a fireman, Lt Hampton knew he would go into a life of service as he entered the Army and joined the historic 82ndABN. After seeing combat action and developing his unique, hard-nosed leadership style he decided it was time to answer his calling by joining the Dallas Fire Department.

Johnny was literally thrown into the fire as he joined one of the busiest stations in South Dallas, Station 44 off Lagow.

Johnny is very candid in telling the story of his life and career and we are honored he trusted us at the caretaker of his journey.

On July 21st, 2024, Lt Hampton entered Station 11 like any other morning and made a last minute decision to ride the engine to a structure fire call near downtown Dallas. The light rain coated the roadways, causing the rig’s tail to begin to swerve and the entire engine collided with the short wall went over several feet below onto the train tracks.

The race began to save LT Hampton from the wreckage as he was pinned for 45 minutes as he teammates and firefighting family worked.

This is the story of the life and career of an amazing man, leader, husband, father, and servant.

Thank you, Lt John Hampton, for your service to the country and to the city of Dallas.

Today we sit down with former Arapahoe Deputy Sheriff and current Douglas County Sheriff in Colorado, and we discuss the epidemic of school shootings in America. We also want to stress the growing need for our schools to have resource officers in schools to protect what matters most to us….the children.

James was on campus, as the SRO, at the Arapahoe High School on December 13th, 2013, when a disturbed teenager entered the school armed with a shotgun and Molotov cocktails and had a mission to murder the debate coach.

12:30 p.m.: The teen suspect enters Arapahoe High School with a shotgun, a machete, and three Molotov cocktails. On his arm, he has written the Latin phrase "Alea iacta est" ("The die has been cast"), along with numbers corresponding to the library and nearby classrooms.

Around 12:33 p.m.: After the suspect fires one round down a hallway, he shoots 17-year-old student Claire Davis in the head as she sits at a table near the library with a friend. She is not his intended target. He then entered the library and threw the incendiary devices starting a fire.

12:34 p.m.: Officer James Englert and a security guard confronted the suspect, who then takes his own life with a gunshot to the head.

December 21, 2013: Eight days after the shooting, Claire Davis dies from her injuries. Shortly after Claire’s family asked James if he would be a pall bearer at her funeral, which he accepted.

A year after the shooting, an outdoor space calledClarity Commons is dedicated to Claire Davis's memory at the school. 

James is an instructor and Vice President forNASRO (National Association for School Resource Officers).

Officer Englert also serves as the President of the “ I Love You Guys” Foundation.

Students face different challenges and pressures today than their parents; predators luring them over the internet; new, stronger drugs; sexting on cell phones.

Here are some of the current trends among young adults:

Today we will hear from a name that has been mentioned in some recent episodes but has never been on the show to tell his story. The time has come to sit down with retired DEA Special Agent in Charge David Downing.

Mr. Downing entered on duty with the DEA in 1995 as a member of Basic Agent Class 95. After graduating the academy in Quantico, Virginia, Mr. Downing served in various roles within DEA in locations such as Houston, Little Rock, the Office of Professional Responsibility in Dallas, Atlanta, and an overseas tour in the Bahamas. Mr. Downing has held the following titles: Special agent, group supervisor, inspector, resident agent in charge, assistant special agent in charge, deputy special agent in charge, and special agent in charge.

Special Agent in Charge Downing made it a priority to improve community partnerships as well as relationships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. In addition, he led the Los Angeles Division through many successes, including two major diversion initiatives that significantly reduced opioid overdoses, the naming of Los Angeles as a 360 Pilot Project for opioid reduction and education, the indictment of Nemesio Oseguera-Cervantes, the leader of the most ruthless drug cartel in Mexico, and the formation of the Fusion Opioid HIDTA Task Force. But his most lasting legacy will be diversifying the Los Angeles Division.

We are please that Margaret Bedolla is back as a cohost to help tell this story of leadership, integrity, and the unwavering mission to uplift those around him.

Sit back in soak in this genuine good person’s story.

Today we unveil a new series of conversations we will have with Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux as we provide a platform for our Chief to deliver a message. Today’s conversation will cover his approach to leadership philosophy and expectations for the Dallas Police Department and its leaders.

Today we want to honor Dallas Officer Darron Burks on the one-year anniversary of his tragic death as he was ambushed in South Central Dallas while on patrol.

Darron’s brief Dallas Police service was cut short on August 29th, 2024, but after this incident we all got to know the true incredible human being Darron Burks was. He had a lifetime of service as a teacher and mentor. After his death we heard story after story of the many lives he touched while on this Earth. He is the epitome of what we seek out as an officer and public servant.

I have no doubts that this great man would have touched so many more lives as an officer and mentored so many officers on this Department.

The City of Dallas lost a true gentle giant and amazing person.

Dallas Officer Karissa David and Jamie Farmer responded and were seriously wounded from gunfire.

Darron Burks #12543 EOW: August 29th, 2024

Episode speakers:

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson

Retired Dallas Chief Eddie Garcia

Darron’s Mother, Cherie Jeffrey

Outro song: “The Goodness of God” - CeCe Winans (Fair Trade - 2021)

The Assist the Officer Foundation will be running in the Freedom Run on September 6th, 2025, in Dallas to honor Darron Burks.

Houstonian Alan Helfman, president of his family’s group of five Helfman Auto Dealerships (Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, RAM, and Fiat), giving back is in his DNA.

Today share his story with the listener and dive into his true “why” as he continually gives back to various charities and has a heavy presence in assisting the first responder community.

The Helfman Family has a legacy of giving and helping those in need, especially in the Houston area.

Alan holds the record for the highest leg kick as he is a regular in throwing out the ceremonial first pitch the start the Astros season. He just doesn’t write checks to organizations but he actually goes out and has a ball bringing his high energy and huge kind heart to spearhead these charity events.

For the past four decades Alan Helfman has raised millions of dollars for various causes and has touched so many lives and assisted people when they were at their darkest moments.

We are very happy to welcome Alan to Dallas Texas and onto the ATO stage.

Today we sit down with Retired Oklahoma Highway Patrol Commander Brad Shepherd and guest cohost Courtney Runnels to pull back the curtain on a life and career of service.  No stories is without a lot of highs, lows, heartbreak, and successes. This episode will cover all of the above….and then some.

Captain Brad Shepherd (Ret.) is the Director of Public Safety for Chateau Health & Wellness, a national First Responder residential treatment facility that treats Trauma, Suicide, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Depression & Anxiety.  

Brad retired after 25 years from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol as a Commander and served in a variety of assignments including Tactical Team, Bomb Squad, Special Operations, Oklahoma Homeland Security as well as member and later Commander of the Agency Peer Support Unit.  

Brad is the founder and former CEO / Executive Director of 2 separate non profit organizations that served in the first responder wellness community.   Brad is an experienced national presenter and instructor in a variety of disciplines including ICISF Critical Incident Stress Management. 

Brad has faced his own challenges of stress, trauma, mental health, and alcoholism as well as significant levels of betrayal which gives him the passion to help others find the peace and joy they desire in their personal lives, their relationships, and their careers.

Chateau’s Wellness Mission

https://www.chateaurecovery.com/about

Today we are honored to sit down with retired DEA Agent and Founder, lead facilitator of Wake Up/Level Up Margaret Bedolla.

Margaret walks us through her journey, growing up the daughter of an Agent, and living abroad and being exposed to true poverty and the excitement of the hidden dangers of her father’s work in a different country.

Starting the DEA at 24 she found herself working on the tragic and high profile case of the kidnapping and murder of DEA Agent Kiki Camarena.

Dedicating her life to the Administration and immersing herself in several long term cases she found a passion and knack for expanding investigations to hunt down the source of the drug trade.

As her career unfolded, she found another unique talent, which her natural compassion and empathy complimented, in working in the DEA EAP program. Like everything she does she puts her heart and soul into helping others on the Trauma Team to help her peers and their families that were struggling with the daily grind of the job and critical incident response.

After leaving the DEA she continued serving to provide education with Wake Up/Level Up leadership courses as she travels the country meeting with different organizations and first responder agencies to help them look at leadership through a different lens.

Margaret and retired DEA SAC, David Downing, are now presenting their unique leadership courses to the Dallas Police Command Staff.

She is extremely humble, extremely fierce, and still after over three decades, still leading with a servant’s heart.

Wake Up Level Up- Facilitated Leadership Conversations

 Investigation discussed:

Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar was a DEA agent who was kidnapped and murdered by the Guadalajara Cartel in Mexico in 1985. His death sparked a major U.S. investigation and strained relations with Mexico. The case has been the subject of various media, including the miniseries "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story" and the docuseries "The Last Narc"

We are honored to sit with the 31st Police Chief in the Dallas Police Departments nearly 150-year history, Chief Daniel Comeaux.

Chief Comeaux is a 33-year law enforcement veteran, currently serving as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Division, overseeing 12 offices throughout Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, and Austin. His jurisdiction covers nearly 16,000,000 residents who live in 114 counties across 118,000 square miles, 645 of which are at the United States-Mexico border. His leadership has focused on intelligence-driven crime reduction, operational efficiency, interagency collaboration, and officer development.  

Chief began his law enforcement career in the Houston PD in 1992 and quickly gained a knack for enforcing narcotic investigations. In 1997 Chief Comeaux took dope chasing to a new level as he joined the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and went to the Compton area to work. He rose through the ranks and showed great innovation in intelligence led enforcement as well as educating the public, notably in the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign to curb the deadly fentanyl overdoses.

Chief Comeaux hung up his federal credentials and returned to his police roots in joining the Dallas Police Department in April of 2025.

Welcome to the ATO: Bridging the Divide stage Chief Daniel Comeaux.