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

Police applicants!  So much of my goal since working in hiring and recruiting was to remove the mystery of our hiring process.  Many of us succeeded because we knew police officers and get some context to this unique process, including interviews and oral boards. Others of us had to learn through trial by fire, which is a huge waste of time, and frankly, can hurt your chances as you repeat testing over and over.

This is another episode where I recorded a mock interview with a gentleman I was coaching in his prep and hiring process. He had already done one official oral board, which we discussed and debriefed, and this was his following practice after going over many tips and examples from his life that he may consider using.

As always, here to help!  I know we can gain a lot from watching, listening to others, so huge shout out to "Jay" for allowing us to learn from his experience (which he agreed to!)  I cut out some info to make it more anonymous/objective for learning.  Part 2 will be aired a week from this ep.

If you need more help, check out the hiring guide on the site and if you need some coaching calls, beyond that, reach out to learn more!

Lastly, for another example, check out Ep. 47.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Standards. Hiring requirements.  Headlines popping up with education requirements being proposed - a college degree - whereas other departments are dropping such items.

In this episode, I am joined by Bill Fraass, who helps break down the pros and cons of educational requirements, but what we may be missing.  We discuss what police agencies and the public want in officers, what makes successful officers and leaders, what departments are hiring for, and how to actually detect and measure those capacities.

We talk about formal academic education, dynamics of police training, real-world "life" experience, and much more.

--

William started his career with the Sausalito (CA) Police Department on May 21, 1996 as 19 year old Reserve Officer.  During the following 27 years, William rose through the ranks to Captain with his last active duty assignment being Acting Chief of Police before suffering an injury that led to his medical retirement in 2023.

A progressive law enforcement leader with extensive administrative, patrol, and investigative experience, William served in many diverse assignments. He is a graduate of the FBI's National Academy and has a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice specializing in Law Enforcement Management and Terrorism/Homeland Security.

William is the author of the book Leadership in Law Enforcement: 10 Key Traits and What Law Enforcement Agencies Can Do To Develop These In Future Leaders. William is now the Managing Consultant/Owner of Code 33 Consulting LLC, a consulting group that focuses on providing consulting, training, administrative investigation, and expert witness services to public safety agencies, private businesses, and public/community groups. 

code33consulting.com

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Great trainers will recognize that every significant action police take, or don't take, gets reviewed and evaluated in the eyes of the court.  We do a lot, risk a lot, and have to write a lot of our experience, insight, evidence, and perceptions... to make sure our arrests get prosecutable, and/or our actions don't get us sued.. or worse.  

Back in the day we heard about the "red pen" where Sarges would mark up police report errors. These days, it's kicking them back for more details, more articulation.  I definitely was known for being rigid in my early sergeant days.. trying to save my officers from the defense attorney's tactics that I subjected myself to in earlier years.

In this episode, I share tips from Lt. Smith's article in Police 1 (The 7 deadly sins of report writing); and I offer some of my own takes and examples to help new recruits, officers, and ways that trainers and supervisors can help illustrate the impact of this critical skill in policing.

https://www.police1.com/police-products/police-technology/software/report-writing/articles/7-deadly-sins-of-police-report-writing-FRy5EMai7H29O1dA/

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Police have a range of challenges.  They are short-staffed and many issues compete for their attention.  Tools and technology can be force-multipliers, not only helping officers deploy effectively (to specific areas) for gunfire, but also vet the likelihood that the illegal discharge call that came in was not just fireworks or a car backfire.  

Joining me in this dynamic topic is former police officer Jamie Algatt, who now works with SoundThinking. He details some of the many ways culturally-competent teams with tech solutions can be absolute game-changers for police today.

--

Jamie is a public safety tech executive with 30+ years scaling mission-critical SaaS platforms—spanning CAD, RMS, and AI-assisted intelligence workflows. Proven success deploying cloud-native solutions across 1,000+ agency endpoints, improving case clearance and field response. Passionate about empowering telecommunicators, investigators, while reducing burnout, and enabling assistive AI tools that transform investigations and emergency operations. He delivers a deep expertise in product-market alignment, cross-functional leadership, and innovation.  Jamie combines deep law enforcement roots, beginning as a police officer in Maryland, with advanced expertise in cloud-native platforms, AI/ML, and mission-critical software solutions.

SoundThinking, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSTI) is a leading public safety technology company that delivers AI- and data-driven solutions for law enforcement, civic leadership, and security professionals. SoundThinking is trusted by more than 300 customers and has worked with approximately 2,100 agencies to drive more efficient, effective, and equitable public safety outcomes. The company’s SafetySmart™ platform includes ShotSpotter®, the leading acoustic gunshot detection system; CrimeTracer, the leading law enforcement search engine; CaseBuilder®, a one-stop investigation management system; ResourceRouter™, software that directs patrol and community anti-violence resources to help maximize their impact; SafePointe®, an AI-based weapons detection system; and PlateRanger™ powered by Rekor®, a leading ALPR solution. SoundThinking has been designated a Great Place to Work® Company.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Who gets to decide who a leader is?  (Clue: it's not the leader).  

In this episode, I feature a conversation with a local executive police leader, who got the best compliment from another regional police leader.  I asked on my socials who I needed to have on that exhibited genuine leadership.. who did it humbly for their people. (You could not self-nominate).  I had a local sarge say I NEEDED to have Chief Cheol Kang on the show!

We talk cultural upbringing commonalities from our Asian-American experiences, his background immigrating from Korea to WA State, and what led him into leadership in the US Navy and policing. We talk about the many roles and efforts, he has held, from ranks up to Chief and reflections from small to large agencies in our region, trends and challenges that all active officers and leaders in law enforcement can learn from.

--

Cheol Kang is a law enforcement professional with a diverse background in the United States Navy and civilian law enforcement. He is the Chief of the Community Programs and Services Division for the King County Sheriff’s Office, where he is responsible for the agency’s outreach programs, recruiting efforts, communications, and administration of the police services contracts. 

Cheol was originally born in Pusan, South Korea. He grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Seattle University in 1999. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from TUI University, where he graduated with summa cum laude honors in 2009.

Cheol began his public service in the United States Navy, where he served as an aviation maintenance officer for EA-6B Prowler squadrons at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. He deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Cheol joined the Mukilteo Police Department in 2004 and has held a variety of positions during his tenure, including patrol officer, detective, crime prevention officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, and police commander.   Cheol served for seven years as the Police Chief for the Mukilteo Police Department.  He also serves as an associate professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Everett Community College.

Cheol's dedication to law enforcement and his community is evident in his many years of service and leadership in implementing innovative programs to promote public safety and well-being.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

In a rut?  Feel like you're going through the motions?  If it's more than 3 years til your retirement, it's too early to be counting down the days!

Even those with strong sense of purpose and drive can find themselves in moments or periods of lost momentum or creeping cynicism.  Trust me, I've been there SEVERAL times, and so have so many leaders and mentors who have shared with me.  It's natural, but we don't have to just idle and float through life, going through the motions until we get bit with a sense of initiative.  Life doesn't happen to us - we happen to it!

So in this episode, we explore this topic, whether you're "mid-career" or only a few years in, so you can identify actionable items and practices to get back on track (the fast one that keeps us grinding, growing, and gritty!)

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

FDR said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  Relevant in this conversation, as Fear itself is not the enemy, it's not bad, it's just a thing.  However, making sure that THING doesn't paralyze us, prevent and stall us, or get us hurt or killed is very much critical.

Tony Blauer an internationally renowned expert on all things defensive tactics, martial arts, and human performance.  In our conversation, he shares about what is missing from most training systems from barehand to firearms to scenarios.  He takes it to the biological level so we can understand how to mitigate fear's effects and act with courage and precision.  We discuss de-escalation, pre-attack factors, stress responses and the power of the mind.

--

Coach Tony Blauer is a world-renowned self-defense & fear management expert and has been a visible force in the martial art, self-defense, defensive tactics, and combatives industry for over four decades.

As the CEO of Blauer Tactical Systems, his organization has grown into one of the world's leading consulting companies specializing in the research and development of performance psychology, personal safety, and close-quarter tactics & scenario-based training for defensive tactics, combatives, and professional self-defense instructors.

• He is best known for developing the world’s first self-defense system based on the sciences of psychology and physiology - called The SPEAR System® as well as the world’s first dynamic scenario-training equipment called HIGH GEAR®.

Blauer’s training systems and equipment are used by the military, law enforcement, martial artists, and citizens around the world. 

• Free Law Enforcement Training
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• SHTF – Free eBook
• BTS Website

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Positivity in Policing.. but not that toxic force-a-smile, everything is sunshine and rainbows.  I loved connecting with Matthew and Austin, two active cops who blend constructive energy, playful banter, and recognition of this critical purpose we share in first responder work. 

We talk brass tacks of patrol work, career advice, prevailing negativity, gossip culture, training, what new generations seem to focus on, as well as their personal experiences, hardships, and learnings from their years on the job, solid friendship and comradery.  We talk about their project, the Tone Alert podcast, where my appearance is airing the same day as this ep!

--

From Tone Alert:

Everyone has a story, The Tone Alert Podcast we created to be a place where every first responder can come had have their voice be heard. If you have a story to tell, we want to hear it.

instagram.com/tonealert

open.spotify.com/show/0nVdPy1Cg2KSw2nGiFXm5J?si=9a317c57a15b4e7c

www.youtube.com/@Tonealertpodcast

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

There are hardly words for the loss of a loved one. Hardly words for the tragedy of a line of duty death of a partner - a friend.  For the catastrophe and heart-break of an accidental "Blue on Blue" OIS.  What about all those things combined... where an officer responds and finds her own fiancee as the gunshot victim in such an incident, and is there by his side as he passes?

I can barely find the words, and yet, my guest, fmr. officer Bev Perez has many. More than just words, she has her story, her experiences and lessons from being in that pit of despair, to finding hope and purpose for all of us in this challenging profession.  Bev and I talk about the call to service, assignments, her post-trauma growth journey, and how she is helping individuals and agencies find the answer through healing and love.

--

With a decade of dedicated service in policework —Mirian “Bev” Perez brings a wealth of experience and insight into the unique challenges faced by law enforcement professionals.  Leveraging her extensive background in law enforcement, Bev uniquely positions herself as a consultant and trainer for police agencies nationwide. Her expertise in peer support, grief, and leadership addresses the pressing mental health needs of first responders. 

She has successfully facilitated numerous wellness groups, equipping officers with strategies to enhance resilience and emotional well-being.

Bev holds prestigious certifications from the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and the state of Florida in peer support, along with specialized training in Law Enforcement Psychological Autopsy, Certified Interventionist, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. Championing the message that "your worst day does not have to dictate your everyday," Bev is committed to inspiring resilience and compassion among those who serve and protect our communities.

Bev Perez Website
Bev Perez Instagram

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...

Relationships. Does that word make you go.. "Oh!" (endearing tone and heart eyes) or "Oh.." (cautious tone with pause) or "Ugh.." (you know...)

Unfortunately, all responses are valid as relationships and marriages are complex, difficult, and often catabolic and draining. But is it relationships themselves - or not having the right guardrails, systems, lessons, and tips alongside this arduous career and lifestyle?  

Enter Linda and Brian, who lived a full police career/marriage.  With Brian retired after a 32-year career, they now share lessons in marriage, for first responders (and others) with key insights, they experienced upfront and personal. Brian brings his experience with OIS(es) and Trauma Support Team and Linda with her various professional coaching, teaching, and counseling in addition to being alongside Brian all those decades of shared service. 

--

Brian recently retired after a distinguished 32-year law enforcement career, serving with both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Huntington Beach Police Department. Brian retired at the rank of Captain, and also served on the Crisis Negotiation Team and Trauma Support Team.  In addition to his police work, he was a Lay Christian Counselor for many years at a well-known church in Southern California.

Linda worked for 17 years as a Special Education Behavior Tutor and is a certified Biblical/Life Coach through Light University. She also served as a Lay Christian Counselor and Counselor Supervisor at the same Southern California church. Linda is the author of Officer Involved Spouse: Sharing Experiences to Reach the Heart of Your Law Enforcement Marriage and Cultivating Contentment as a Law Enforcement Wife, a seven-day devotional. Together, Brian and Linda co-authored Rebuild Your Marriage: A Nine-Week Curriculum to Help Strengthen Marriages. (All available on Amazon).

Drawing on their deep experience in lay counseling, coaching, and marriage mentoring, Brian and Linda launched Peaks and Valleys Life Coaching (www.PeaksAndValleys.life).

Through their nonprofit, Blazing New Trails Law Enforcement Marriage Retreat (www.BlazingNewTrails.org)  they are committed to strengthening the officer’s marriage, home life, and overall wellness.

Questions, topic ideas and feedback? Send a line!

To stay connected with the latest and exclusive content:

Subscribe to the FREE newsletter at on bluegritwellness.com  !

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe to Blue Grit Radio on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and more!  Sharing the show and episodes to your friends, peers, circles and social platforms is one of the greatest compliments I can receive- which truly helps the show grow.

Please help support a healthier first responder community by giving us a 5 star rating (Spotify and Apple) and a review (on Apple) to help others find the show.

Need help with entry-level, promotional testing, career & mindset coaching? Stop spinning your wheels and prep the right mindset and awareness of all the critical hiring steps with my comprehensive hiring guide:
bluegritwellness.com/shop 

Email at [email protected]

-------------------------------------

Want to safeguard your health and the health of your team?

United Diagnostic Services brings hospital-grade diagnostic technology directly to first responder agencies, making early detection of heart disease and cancer simpler than ever.

For more information, visit udshealth.com

-------------------------------------

*the opinions expressed in all episodes of this podcast and related materials do not reflect on any departments agencies. 

music credit: Drive by ASham...