Whether or not policing is for you, you've imagined a policy academy environment.  It may have been suggested to you, from the comedies by the same title, SWAT, or Silence of the Lambs.  In truth, it's a blend of all those things.. at least it was for me.

My main TAC Officer (WA State Academy Instructor) was Ken Henson.  He didn't work for my department, but if you think that would offer any initial lessened scrutiny, anonymity, or reports back home- you'd be sadly mistaken.  You see- Ken worked for my department, PRIOR. He and a few others from the region left Kent PD when Lakewood PD was being stood up as a new department.  Ken had a network, audience, and impact- which I came find was well-earned.

He was stern, rigid, strict.  His military background (MP) was apparent, and he didn't let us off easily, EVER. Within quick time, we started to be let into his head and his heart.  His vast experience, but beyond that, his unique candor and ability to relay his lessons, which any tenured cop will know is worth its weight in gold.  By the end of it, he had us reeling, and we were even able to make him crack up with our impersonations of TAC instructors before we were released into "the abyss" as some would recognize.

Ken was one of my first influential leaders as I went from baby cop to toddler cop.  Years later, it was my distinct honor to pick his brain about service, tutelage, mentorship, and legacy.  We talk about our fallen comrades, his fallen partners and friends at Lakewood PD, the impacts of the job then and now, and on moving forward.

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Ken Henson started his career in service when he enlisted in the US Army as a military police officer in 1989, where he quickly became a weapons and tactics instructor in 1991.  Shortly after, he became a DARE and GREAT program instructor, started the bike patrol at JBLM, and served in the unit’s Honor Guard and Color Guard.

He started his civilian law enforcement career with the Kent Police Department, and lateraled to Lakewood Police.  In his career, he served as a training officer, WA State Academy TAC instructor, hostage negotiator, robbery detective,  

His training acumen includes a host of topics to include patrol tactics, defensive tactics, crisis intervention, and simunitions.  

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

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