From Caving In To Crushing It by Drew Deraney

November 15, 2025 Episode 160 - Stefan Bjes - Beyond the Badge: How Stefan Bjes Is Changing the Way Police Understand Autism

This episode: Beyond the Badge: How Stefan Bjes Is Changing the Way Police Understand Autism.

Here’s what you’ll learn about:

Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast (0:04)

Host Drew Deraney and Guest Stefan Bjes discuss the purpose of the podcast, emphasizing the importance of facing adversity and becoming stronger.

Drew introduces the concept of three types of men: those who ignore adversity, those who become victims, and those who see adversity as an opportunity for growth.

Drew invites Stefan to share his defining moment that transformed him from a victim to a high performer.

Stefan's Defining Moments (2:12)

Stefan Bjes recounts the diagnosis of his two youngest sons with autism in 2013, which was a significant turning point in his life.

He describes the initial struggle and how his wife took the lead in advocating for their sons.

In 2017, a viral video of a young man with autism interacting poorly with a police officer inspired Stefan to create training programs for law enforcement.

Stefan explains how he combined his experience as a police officer and a trainer to develop classes on autism and disabilities for law enforcement officers.

Impact of Autism Diagnosis on Family (4:46)

Drew shares his own experience of having a child diagnosed with autism at 14 and the challenges it brought.

Stefan discusses the impact of the early diagnosis of his middle son and how his wife took the lead in advocating for their sons.

Stefan emphasizes the importance of being a voice and advocate for his sons, especially in sports and school environments.

Drew praises the strength of Stefan and his wife's marriage and how they supported each other through the challenges of raising children with autism.

Balancing Family and Professional Life (7:20)

Drew asks about the impact of having children with autism on the neurotypical sibling.

Stefan explains how he balanced supporting his sons with being present for his oldest son in sports and academics.

He discusses his involvement in coaching adaptive sports for children with disabilities and how it helped his family.

Drew and Stefan discuss the importance of forgiveness and partnership in their marriage, which has helped them persevere through challenges.

Professional Training and Impact (11:36)

Drew shifts the conversation to Stefan's professional training and impact on law enforcement.

Stefan describes his background in law enforcement training and how he created a class on autism and disabilities.

He shares feedback from officers who initially resisted the training but later appreciated its impact on their interactions with individuals with autism.

Stefan discusses the importance of understanding and addressing the characteristics and behaviors of individuals with autism to prevent negative interactions with law enforcement.

Real-Life Examples of Training Impact (13:54)

Drew and Stefan share stories of how the training has positively impacted real-life interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism.

Stefan recounts a specific incident where an officer's understanding of a child's interest in baseball changed the dynamics of an interaction.

He emphasizes the importance of having strategies and understanding individual interests to de-escalate crisis situations.

Expanding the Reach of Training Programs (18:22)

Stefan discusses his efforts to expand the reach of his training programs to more law enforcement agencies and first responders.

He mentions his collaboration with various organizations, including the National Center for Exploited Children and the National Center for Autism and Disability Ministry.

Stefan highlights the importance of addressing the needs of individuals with autism and disabilities in different settings, such as schools and community programs.

Drew and Stefan discuss the potential for further collaboration and expanding the impact of their training programs.

To learn more about Stefan’s mission, go to his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-bjes-a87a8841/ or his website at www.bluelinespectrumsafety.com.

Stefan Bjes Bio

Stefan Bjes is the founder of Blue Line Spectrum Safety, a training and consulting organization dedicated to improving interactions between law enforcement, first responders, and individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

With more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, Stefan has served in various roles as a patrol officer, detective, school resource officer, supervisor, and trainer. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, along with multiple certifications in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) instruction, autism awareness training, and emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities.

Stefan is a nationally recognized expert who has trained thousands of police officers, educators, and public safety professionals across the United States. His specialized programs focus on:

Recognizing signs of autism and developmental disabilities

Effective communication and de-escalation strategies

Crisis response and emergency planning for vulnerable populations

Reducing victimization risks and improving safety outcomes

In addition to leading Blue Line Spectrum Safety, Stefan serves as Director of Safety and Security for a large school district, where he develops inclusive safety plans and emergency protocols to protect all students.

Stefan’s dedication to improving safety for vulnerable populations has earned him numerous honors, including:

2019 Juvenile Officer of the Year (Illinois Juvenile Officers Association)

2021 Missing Children’s Law Enforcement Award (U.S. Department of Justice)

He also serves as a Team Adam Consultant for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, assisting law enforcement agencies nationwide in child abduction and exploitation cases.

Stefan is married and is the father of three sons, two of which have Autism. Stefan has extensive experience, through his personal and professional life, in interacting with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

His mission is simple: to bridge the gap between public safety and the autism community by providing practical, real-world strategies that save lives and foster understanding.

About your host: I'm Drew Deraney, the proud father of three children. For most of my life I've been concerned with what people thought of me and how I was supposed to act. I learned not to be my authentic self and instead became a people pleaser, a man wearing a mask.

In a 9-month span a few years ago, I endured four faith-shaking life events that caused me to question my existence.

I became determined to find a better way to live. Through intense self-reflection and awareness, I realized that in order to be happy, I must adhere to my standards of honesty, integrity and truth and needed to break free from the belief system that was anchored in me for close to 50 years.

I now believe that success happens when we find a better way and are willing and able to share it. HOW I do that is by challenging the status quo and thinking differently. Ultimately, WHAT I bring to the table is a way to contribute and add value by having an impact on the lives of others.

My company, Profit Compassion LLC consists of 3 paths:

The Caregiver Family Health Coach: coach for caregivers of individuals with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For Caregivers who are open to a conversation about how I can support you on your caregiving journey: I help caregivers find balance, build resilience, and rediscover their own well-being. Through personalized coaching, I provide practical strategies, emotional support, and the tools to reduce burnout, strengthen relationships, and navigate the challenges of caregiving with confidence. My goal is to empower you to care for yourself as compassionately as you care for your loved one.

The Mindful Man Movement: men’s self-discovery coach, speaker, podcast host, author. For Men Seeking Answers Within: Imagine having crystal clear knowledge of your purpose in life where you make confident decisions, and are assertive, productive, and at peak mental health. Corporate executives hire me to guide them to tap into their natural power through self-discovery so they may write their own story and live the life they want to live.

WealthPath Strategies & Solutions: health/wellness and financial services to support individuals and businesses.

Join me in transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. Let’s embark on this journey together.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH COACH DREW:

Website: https://profitcompassion.com/

Email: [email protected]

Book a discovery call: https://link.mavericksystems.online/widget/bookings/netweaving/connect30

Pick up a copy of Drew’s book: https://amzn.to/40dsbyR or https://bit.ly/BandNDrew

You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtwMTiiZvnhTpsaCYMK6oqg?sub_confirmation=1

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