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

There have been a lot of Valley SWAT officers on this show, and it’s for good reason.  When you have high cohesion and performance in team, it’s worth looking at the individuals that make it up.

When local cops consider credible leadership in or out of SWAT, Eric Gordon’s name tops the list.  Gordon shares on his background, getting into the military and “why policing.” We dive into mentorship, critical leadership development and how we need to push our profession forward with conviction. 

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Eric Gordon is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion / 75thRanger Regiment and currently works as a full time police officer in the Pacific Northwest, where he a SWAT Team Leader for a large multi-jurisdictional team and a SGT for a Violent Crimes Unit. 

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...

Ask and you shall receive!  I am grateful to be able to contribute to bringing in new, bright and committed future cops!  From my time in hiring and recruiting, as a trainer and supervisor- and being on both sides of the interview tables countless times, I answer your questions about the process and how to show up BEST!

It's about showing up right, saving time, money, and angst.  When you test a bunch, you start creating a negative aura as well. For the comprehensive GUIDE, visit bluegritwellness.com/SHOP . 

Some of the topics in this ep: Process, Bad Questions, College Majors, Difficulty, Timeline and More!

Of course there are takeaways riddled in for agencies: recruiters and bosses as well!  

Send your questions via email or social below and don't forget to subscribe to the free newsletter!

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...

With all the new police applicants, candidates, recruits, and student officers aka ROOKIES (endearing tone) tuning it, I’m excited to showcase this panel of widespread and ranged experience.  Each active officer is or has been an FTO: coming to us from both sides of WA State and the Midwest. 

Listeners will gain tons of valuable insight hearing about pet peeves of trainers, common issues with students and tools and outlook to ensure success in field training. Active cops : whether future or current trainers and supervisors.. listen up this one’s for you, too!

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Ariana Stone works as a police officer at a large agency in Illinois. Ariana is currently in her ninth year of policing and has been a patrol officer, Field Training Officer and is currently assigned as an Investigator in her department’s Crisis Intervention Unit. 

Outside of work, Ariana runs her own clothing brand, Limitless Momentum, that creates meaningful clothing designed to spark conversations about mental health, inspiring resilience, motivation and helping make life suck a little less every day. 10% of each month’s proceeds are donated to a mental health or wellness organization.

limitlessmomentum.us

[email protected]

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Davin has been with the Kirkland Police Department for almost seven years and is currently a Patrol Officer, PTO, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Peer Support Team member. Davin and his wife, Diane, are the founders of the Blue Hero Project.

www.blueheroproject.org

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 Rheid Cline was hired by Wenatchee PD in July of 2018. He is currently one of the recruiters, a member of regional SWAT team, firearms instructor, FTO, and bike instructor. 

After becoming an FTO and gaining some more experience training officers, Rheid was selected to be a firearm instructor as well. Training new officers is one of the most challenging yet rewarding things he has been able to do in this career. The future of the agency depends on FTOs and instructors to teach, shape, and mold new employees. 

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...

When we think about how far we can go, it can be empowering to see how far we have come. Eddie initially reached out to have me on his podcast, and it has been my pleasure to get to know him better.  

In this episode, he shares his story of hardship coming up, military service, issues re-integrating and finding purpose, health, and resilience through it all. 

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Eddie Lowery enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2012. Assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt he spent the next 4 years advancing from E-1 to E-5 in 2.5 years, earning 3 warfare specialist pine and receiving multiple Naval Achievement Medals. 

After returning to his home in the PNW he became involved in volunteering in the Veteran community to help military members with the fight back home. He focuses on his training with firearms, improving fitness and strengthening his family.  

Also focusing on helping connect other veterans with resources and mental health care through the Eddie Lowery Off The Deep End Podcast. 

How to connect: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A4HjbuNES/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisiseddielowery?igsh=MW9jM2UyampxajRwOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddie-lowery-626706276?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KrMBaEOaoFOx2XrZaGRw3?si=2_oawj8FRpKFz_DwBfSs0Q

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...

Crisis and Co-Responder units began popping up much more in recent years, as  mental health and substance epidemics became some of the biggest discussed issues across the nation and beyond. In this episode, I’m joined by former partners: cop and mental health professional that worked in this exact capacity, and who speak and teach on these topics. 

We cover everything a new cop, co-responder officer, police leader, or MHP needs to know to evaluate “the why” and how to implement such a program or unit- and takeaways from their lessons in crisis response in the community. 

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Jamie is a patrol sergeant with the Redmond Police Department (WA), a seasoned field training officer, an implicit bias and procedural justice instructor, a negotiator with the North Sound Metro SWAT Hostage Negotiation Team, and a member of the King County CIT Coordinators Committee. 

Jamie has been a part of Redmond's THRIVE initiative as a co-responding officer since the program's implementation and has been involved in crisis intervention at the local, state, and national level. Before coming to Redmond Jamie began his law enforcement career with the University of Texas Police Department in Austin, Texas and is a Coast Guard veteran.

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-ford-rpd?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Email: jford@redmond.gov 

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Susie earned her Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from City University of Seattle and an alum of the University of Washington.  Susie started as a Clinician with a local community behavioral health agency upon earning her Masters. 

Susie was the founding Mental Health Professional for the Law Enforcement and Mental Health Professional Co-Response Programs in Shoreline, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Redmond, and Duvall PDs.  She is a national educator and speaker on Crisis & De-Escalation, Mental Health, Behavioral Threat Assessment Management, and Crisis Negotiation.  She instructed at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and is the Mental Health Advisor for Crisis Systems Management.  She volunteers yearly at the Seattle King County Clinic as the Crisis Response Director.  More importantly, she is the fur-mom to two rescued kittens and a very clownish Umbrella Cockatoo.

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...

Often, we see police wellness as a checkbox.  So what does it take to build a legitimate wellness approach- that goes beyond programs and policies but into actual culture?

Chief Marcia Harnden appears to be walking the walk- in an iconic and positive  way. I first learned about her work through an article by Chris Littrell in Police1- and her professional reputation from western WA became apparent the more I talked with people who worked with and around her. 

Listen in to hear what Chief has learned in her experiences, that she shares humbly with us in this conversation. 

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Chief Harnden has been with the Albany Police Department since December 2019. Prior to her tenure at APD, she provided 25 years of public service to the Bellevue Police Department in Washington State. She served in many different specialty units at Bellevue Police and has extensive management and labor experience. 

Her command experience has been in Patrol, Traffic, Investigations, Narcotics, Human Trafficking, SWAT and Crisis Response. Her focus in on strengthening community partnerships and building trusted relationships to not only reduce crime but reduce the fear of crime. 

Chief Harnden holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington and Master’s Degree in Organizational and Applied Leadership from City University of Seattle. She is honored to serve the people of Albany and the men and women who work at the Albany Police Department.  

https://www.m3-academy.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...

Always looking for new health information,  I came across a post by about signs of burnout. Some weren’t surprising, some perked my interest, and some were things that caught me off guard- and that I could see and feel in my own life!

The post was by Cassidi Dye, who joins me in this episode, sharing why she came into working as a psychologist with first responders.  She teaches us the 7 signs outlined, how they may materialize and what we all need to recognize we can do to curb them.

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Cassidi Dye is a licensed master-level psychologist, licensed professional counselor, and trauma-informed coach based in Kansas City. 

She specializes in working with first responders, providing both therapy and coaching to help them navigate the unique challenges of their profession. With a strong background in psychological testing, crisis intervention, and mental health advocacy, Cassidi is passionate about supporting those who serve their communities.

@cassididye.lmlp (IG)

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 this episode, I am joined by former LEO (corrections, sheriff's deputy, police) Shawn Barnes.  We cover his career progress, lessons in empathy and caring for people- from inmates to those in crisis.  

Shawn now serves as the director for Stronger Families- promoting first responders' health and wellness through supporting the family.  We cover why family can so often take the backseat in priorities, but why and how we can bring them back into the foreground.

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Shawn brings over 15 years of extensive law enforcement experience to Stronger Families. He specializes in mental health and substance use disorder intervention and wellness. Shawn has managed critical programs and has expertise across training, tactical operations, stakeholder engagement, and program expansion.

Shawn is a gift public speaker and leader. He has served as a presenter, panelist, and training instructor. Shawn is the only police officer to receive the Frank M. Adams Award for volunteer service to mental health systems. As an Advanced Peace Officer, his credentials include over 3,700 hours of accredited training from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, alongside numerous additional certifications. Shawn lives in Corpus Christi, TX, with his wife Amy and their three children: Katia (9), Odin (5), and Nikolai (3).

strongerfamilies.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...

Bad cops in the news.  It stings every time.  So many men and women put their blood, sweat, and tears out on the line to rep the profession and serve the public.  That is in a literal sense.  And so, when our police leaders hit the front page with scandal, corruption, nepotism and cronyism, it feels like that much bigger of a gut punch.

In this episode, I'm joined by veteran police leader, retired Capt. William "Bill" Fraass.  He has done not only the deep dive in experience, but studying and capturing police leadership history and iconic contemporary examples.  We discuss blemishes in leadership- to include one growing worse apparently by the week- and what responsible leaders can and should do to elevate themselves and their people.

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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. 

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...

We often talk about the grind and impacts of a first responder career- on our minds, bodies, families, and general outlook.  Active cop/firefighter/trainer Dennis Pishock joins me for a raw, real talk dive into the importance of health routines- from high-intensity workouts to restorative meditation practices.

His "why" and belief structures came from enduring hard, dismal outlook as the trauma became so prevailing and significant, which he details in his book.  It doesn't pull the punches, and parts were certainly hard to read.  I am glad to have him join me on the show, offering aligned perspectives of continually pursuing personal excellence in order to build resilience and GRIT.

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Dennis Pishock is the author of “Demons and Angels”, a book about Trauma, Peer Support and how to care for yourself while in a career in public safety. He is a 24 year veteran in Law Enforcement, Firefighting, Swift Water Rescue, EMT-I, and Peer Support. He hold's rank in multiple martial arts, defensive tactics & combatives. He holds certifications in all aspects of public safety, including SPEAR Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Peer Support Counselor, Hostage Negotiator, EMT-I, and Swift Water Technician. Dennis ran his own martial arts school for 17 years and has always demonstrated an uncanny ability to motivate employees and to lead teams through high stress situations.

IG: pishocks_patriots

LinkedIn-Dennis Pishock

pishockbooks.com

[email protected]

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...