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

Soon after I entered into the police wellness space, I learned about Chief Neil Dubord's leadership philosophy and style- which incorporated wellness concepts foundationally.  I learned about his Bend, Don't Break podcast, which highlights these crucial health topics for officers to endure, maintain and build resilience.

It was my sincere pleasure and honor to meet and join him on the show, as it was to be able to pick his brain on leadership.  He shares his outlook, and how he embraced humility and putting himself back in the forge from the beginning of his law enforcement career- and continually.  Some people get impatient and don't want to do the work.. listen and learn from an extremely accomplished leader (beyond rank, but with reputation).

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Neil Dubord is an accomplished law enforcement professional and leader with over thirty-five years of experience in policing and public safety. Career highlights include executive leadership roles as the Chief of the Delta Police Department, the Chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and the Deputy Chief of the Edmonton Police Service. 

A respected thought leader, he has contributed to national and international discussions on incident command, crisis management, and public trust. He has delivered keynotes at major conferences, participated in international committees, and published in prominent journals on topics related to policing, leadership, and organizational change.

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It is every police leader's responsibility to not only continually develop their own skills and abilities but to prepare the next generation of leaders.  Retired Capt. William Fraass helps you meet this task by providing a clear blueprint to follow in his book, Leadership in Law Enforcement.  To learn more about his book and other consulting and training he provides, go to www.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...

Leaders are Readers. And so much of leading is learning, trying, and staying humble.   I had heard of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" many moons ago, but I didn't like the vibe of the title- as it felt manipulative.  

A wise leader I know and respect pointed out that all leadership is that in certain ways- and influencing/manipulating/compelling does not have to be coercive, authoritative, or toxic.  It can and often is simply getting people to come aboard- which can involve charisma, relational trust, and simply patient and respectful communication.

In this episode, I am joined by my great friend and brother and former officer (and firefighter) Trevor Wolcott.  We each took a dive into the book by Carnegie and share key takeaways that are applicable to better policing with the public, leadership and team dynamics, and perhaps being a better person in general.

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Prior conversations with Trevor: Eps. 17 and 136

Referenced Eps: 38 with Bill Blowers, 49 with Chris Nielsen

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...

Adversity, challenge, issues, problems.. If we take a beat we can recognize the power of facing, battling and overcoming these items- not just because we CAN but because we GET BETTER.  Many of your gritty, growth-minded individuals find ways to regularly lean into challenge.  Some of us find ways to inject and inflate adversities with the goal of betterment.

That's all and well, but what about when we don't want that thing? What about when it's devastating? What about when it's a tragedy.  In this episode, I heard a concept about a devastating challenge that faced someone, and how they flipped it.  It had me stop in my tracks (literally, I was on a run and had to stop to make a note to revisit it).  

Here I share it with you, as it is absolutely critical for us as first responders, high-drive doers, movers, shakers, family leaders, and on and on... to BE our best by supporting and building our mindsets and resolve.

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It is every police leader's responsibility to not only continually develop their own skills and abilities but to prepare the next generation of leaders.  Retired Capt. William Fraass helps you meet this task by providing a clear blueprint to follow in his book, Leadership in Law Enforcement.  To learn more about his book and other consulting and training he provides, go to www.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...

I received a question from one of you asking about my most satisfying arrest. It was hard to pick one, but I picked something that definitely stood out.  

As I went to record and talk about it- I ended up feeling a lot of things- and satisfied wasn't really one of them. I felt a bit sad about the whole thing.  The victim. The circumstances, the community it affected.  I tabled the idea.

Some time later, two returning guests/coworkers of mine: Sam Steiner and Tessa Melville  and I started bouncing some ideas around. This came back up and we explored the idea.  Some intriguing themes came through that will resonate with listeners, in and out of the law enforcement community.  Turns out the answer isn't quite so simple, and much has to do with the limited amount of control we in police have in the outcomes of situations.

This is an important one for new and upcoming officers, as so many of us come in with the best intentions, optimism, and have to grapple with the truth of what can and often happens.

To learn more about Sam and Tessa, check out episodes: 98 & 131 (Tessa), and 147 (Sam).

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Many agencies across the country are still struggling with their numbers, which impacts everyone’s wellness, and truly their ability to do their job.  Enter Performance Protocol, a premier solution to address these exact challenges- helping to not only get your agency fully-staffed- but stay fully staffed.  To learn more, go to performance-protocol.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...

A.I. is HERE, and like any other tool or technology, law enforcement needs to be aware of how to adopt it responsibly. When it comes to report generation, many agency leaders and officers recognize its potential, as well as hazards that can be detrimental toward policing, implementation, and prosecution. 

In this episode, I am joined by Daniel Francis, CEO and founder of Abel- which has the goal of reducing report writing time into mere fractions to improve officer operability and efficacy.  We discuss what officers and leaders need to know, what to avoid, and how to use it responsibly.

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Abel takes police body camera footage and turns it into completed police reports. Currently American patrol officers spend one third of their shift writing reports - turning that to zero would increase the effective police force by 50%, radically changing US cities.

Daniel Francis is the CEO and founder of Abel, which is leveraging AI to revolutionize report writing for police. Daniel is a former member of Twitter’s transition team under Elon Musk and a software engineer. After witnessing how police understaffing affected a friend's domestic violence case, he interned at Richmond Police Department to understand law enforcement needs firsthand.

Now as CEO of Abel, Daniel is working with a distinguished team of advisors from organizations including Axon, the Department of Homeland Security, OpenAI, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police to bring the latest in Silicon Valley innovation to policing.

This episode is sponsored by Abel, to learn more visit abelpolice.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...

Often, we discuss loss, grief, and resilience in this first responder career.  Too often, what we see and manage in our jobs collides with the stress and trauma of our personal lives.  When is enough, ENOUGH? When is it all... just too much?

Fellow former police sergeant, wellness advocate, author, podcaster, returning guest and friend Chris Littrell is a shining example of what resilience looks like.  He shows us that its not pretty. It's not polished.  We discuss all that.. and how it is a continual effort, challenge, and process.

I struggle to find the appropriate words to capture his role modeling to us all- as he has shared publicly about the unimaginable: the recent loss of his daughter, amidst his continual post traumatic growth journey.

In a raw, personal, and collaborative event, we are joined by fellow former police sergeant, LEO, wellness advocate, author, podcaster, returning guest, and friend John Kelly- who has been along him in the journey- as our unified goals and to share in conversation for our first responder community- that we may all struggle a little better, TOGETHER.
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Chris Littrell (Sergeant, ret.)
www.gravityct.com
@thatgravitypodcast
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John Kelly (Sergeant, ret.)
www.lawenforcementlifecoach.com
[email protected]

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It is every police leader's responsibility to not only continually develop their own skills and abilities but to prepare the next generation of leaders.  Retired Capt. William Fraass helps you meet this task by providing a clear blueprint to follow in his book, Leadership in Law Enforcement.  To learn more about his book and other consulting and training he provides, go to www.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...

In this episode, I'm joined by active police sergeant and host/creator of Things Police See.  I've been on his show and am glad to be able to have him here.  He shares about his career, the podcasting journey and the negativity AND positivity of police culture.

Steve Gould is a police sergeant currently working in Western Massachusetts and is on his 19th year of LE service. He hosts the popular podcast, Things Police See: Firsthand Accounts. On the podcast he interviews active and retired law enforcement officers about their most intense, bizarre, and entertaining calls to service. 

The goal of the podcast is to give the listener an inside look to what the police actually endure on a daily basis with the hope that they will gain a better appreciation for the profession. 

Instagram @thingspolicesee

Facebook group - Things Police See

http://www.thingspolicesee.com

email [email protected]

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As a police leader who has responded to many mental health calls, I recognize the need for tools that enhance collaboration between behavioral health and law enforcement.

 Julota simplifies co-responder and crisis response programs with smarter data and communication solutions.

For a demo, visit https://hubs.li/Q031xBGv0

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...

Leadership principles are simple.. but execution with personalities, organizational culture, history, drama... that's where it gets really complicated really fast.  In this episode, I have hard hitters in senior leadership from in and out of law enforcement. 

Welcoming back returning guest, Jonni Redick, retired as an Asst. Chief in the California Highway Patrol and new guest, Oakland (Oak) McCullouch, retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army.  We hit on:
 
-developing our people
-fostering growth and ideas
-supporting the positive people in our organizations
-managing those who are negative and corrosive
-building team and cohesion
-improving communication in the ranks
-building mentorship
-what does checking in and supporting our people look like?

Listen, engage and share! (and stay gritty!)
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Dr. Redick retired from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as an Assistant Chief after a 29-year career. She rose through the ranks, starting as a county clerical worker and breaking the “less-than-one-percent” ceiling for women of color in law enforcement executive leadership. As Assistant Chief, she provided executive oversight to 16 field commands in the San Francisco/Bay Area, managing over 1,600 personnel and concluded her executive career in the Sacramento region, with over 11 counties.  Her educational background includes a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Change and Administration from California Baptist University.

jlconsultingsolutions.com
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Retired Lieutenant Colonel Oakland McCulloch is an internationally recognized keynote speaker and the author of the 2021 release, “Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be”.  Both his leadership talk, and his book are based on his 40+ years of leadership experience in combat, peacekeeping operations, disaster relief operations and in the board room. Oak highlights principles that will benefit today’s leaders and inspire the leaders of tomorrow, in any profession and at any level of
leadership.

Website: https://www.ltcoakmcculloch.com
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This episode is sponsored by Performance Protocol.  To learn more about how to Recruit- Develop- Retain, visit Performance-Protocol.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...

So much of my "why" is to help guide the next generation of cops, police professionals and leaders in the ways I can best. Much of that comes from sharing my experiences, missteps, and lessons learned. After many years in this career- there are many.

In the episode, I paint the picture of the climate of law enforcement.  While initially geared for new applicants, the message rings true for all of us that are in this realm.  I focus on the importance of mindset and give prompts to how we can solidify and strengthen our own- so we can put that forth and lead our best way in the work we do.

For those active officers looking to take the next step, the Police Promotional Process Prep Guide is live at bluegritwellness.com/shop.  It's not just test prep (there's a lot of that) but development of mindset and leadership philosophy, with exercises, prompts, and examples.

For prospective new hires- check out the Hiring and Testing Guide! (on the site as well!)
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This episode is sponsored by Arrest My Vest: an odor-eliminating spray for vests, tactical gear, bunker gear, and more!  Unlike other sprays that just mask odors, Arrest My Vest eliminates them at the source, leaving your gear fresh and odor free. It’s non-toxic, natural and plant-based. Find it  at www.ArrestMyVest.com or on Amazon. 
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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...

If everyone just did their jobs, wouldn't this whole police work, leadership, culture, morale thing be a little too easy?

In this episode, one of my old academy mates and regional cop leader, Brian Anderson joins me to discuss back in the day, and that culture does and doesn't sync with certain aspects of current law enforcement culture.  We go down memory lane, how we were taught and led and pick apart some of the dynamics of communication styles in efforts to help people become aware and armed to build better teams.

This is one that should hit for any generation and experience level in police. Ultimately- that's the goal- we only have each other, so listen in and take away some thoughts and tips to help MAKE IT WORK!
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Brian Anderson has been a Police Officer since July of 2007. Serving in the South King County area of Western Washington. Most of his career was in Patrol with some time in Investigations, Community Outreach and on a Regional SWAT team. 

He is Currently the Administrative Services Sergeant which entails supervising officers on the bicycle team, community response team, new recruit officers and Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Liaison.
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Many agencies across the country are still struggling with their numbers, which impacts everyone’s wellness, and truly their ability to do their job.  Enter Performance Protocol, a premier solution to address these exact challenges- helping to not only get your agency fulled staffed- but stay fully staffed.  To learn more, go to performance-protocol.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...