The Squad Room: Police Health | Development | Leadership

Dr. John Delony is a New York Times bestselling author, mental health and wellness expert, and host of the very popular podcast The Dr. John Delony Show. What is not as well known about this famous figure is that his father was a cop - a homicide detective in fact and John knows first hand how a career in law enforcement can impact an entire family - particularly how our jobs often create anxiety in our loved ones.  

John holds two PhDs—one in counselor education and supervision, and another in higher education administration. John works with fina...

During his 29-year career in law enforcement, Jeff McGreevy was an early pioneer of peer support programs in Southern California. A USMC veteran, Jeff has been involved in officer wellness since 2004 when he was recruited to be a founding member of his department’s trauma support team which later evolved into peer support. Jeff has extensive training and experience in debriefing personnel after traumatic events, Critical Incident Stress Management,

coordinating peer support response after critical incidents, and was an instructor for Tactical Decision Making Under Stress training. Jeff leads the Ventura County Peer Support Coalition which brings to...

Shawn is the founder of 1st Responder Conferences and a retired deputy from the King County Sheriff's Office in Seattle, WA. Shawn retired in 2022 after 25 years of service as a Wellness and Resiliency Detective and a therapy K9 handler.  During her career, Shawn worked patrol, as an undercover detective, a detective in the warrant unit, transit patrol and as an explosive K9 handler. She was also on the peer support team for 16 years and was a team leader for several years

At their conferences, they are dedicated to promoting awareness surrounding the difficulties of the profession and i...

On April 10, 2012, United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne was critically injured on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan by an IED (improvised explosive device) while on patrol, losing portions of both legs and both arms. He is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive his injuries. Travis describes himself as a recalibrated warrior and he’s also a motivational speaker, actor, author and an advocate for veterans and amputees. Travis is also the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir, Tough as They Come, an...

Travis Gribble is a 24-year law enforcement veteran and founder of My Arena. Travis spent 11 years at a Sheriff’s Office in Michigan before lateralling to a large agency in Arizona where he worked as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, and as a SWAT assistant team leader and SWAT sergeant. 

In 2016, Travis experienced a call that would change his life forever. He shares the story of that call with us today. In 2021, Travis sought and was awarded a Post-Traumatic Stress Injury medical retirement. A short time later, he was asked to share about his experience and he has...

Did you know that 15% of men say they have no close friends? None. 53% of women say they feel lonely at work. 17% of the general population say they routinely experience deep loneliness. What’s scary is loneliness is linked to our longevity and health. Going through life lonely is the equivalent of smoking nearly a pack a day. 

Now, that’s not specific to first responders. Add in rotating shifts, working weekends, the hypervigilance roller coaster, and our physiological reactions to job stress and I think it’s safe to say that many cops - whether they admit it or n...

Sabrina Reich is a 19-year police leader of a large university police department in California. She’s also a wife, and mom of two, focused on sharing leadership tips and lessons learned for a better life. Sabrina is building a movement of courageous leaders through enabling strong trust and partnerships because communities deserve to be safe.

In this episode, Sabrina shares her journey towards becoming anti-fragile by facing fear head on in her own personal development. It began when she was 10 years old and her home was broken into while the family slept. As the catalyst towards he...

On October 1, 2017, Sergeant Josh Bitsko found himself on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, about to confront the deadliest killer in U.S. history. Through a weird combination of fate and initiative, Josh found himself leading the assault team of only four officers against a heavily fortified and well-organized murderer. Only six weeks later, a suspect held a gun to his head during a fight. Soon after that, his wife told him she wanted a divorce, his brother committed suicide and he lost his dad to cancer. 

But Josh’s story isn’t a sob story...

Oftentimes, it’s the minor things that can set us off and send us spiraling out of control, handing over our sovereignty to anxiety and anger. Getting cut off in traffic, waiting in long lines…

A bad haircut can be one of those things. 

In this episode I share the story of how a hair stylist (that’s being generous) took to my head as if storming the beaches of Normandy, and how it gave me the opportunity to practice the BADGES model of self-awareness to keep me calm, centered, and here laughing about it. 

A...

In this episode, I share the story of how I realized something was really wrong with me and how the job was changing me in all the wrong ways. Plus, I share details on our men’s retreat for current, former, and retired first responders and military veterans. 

Join us in the mountains outside Denver, Colorado November 9 - 12th for a special four days men’s retreat for first responders and veterans. Any current, former, or retired cop, firefighter, dispatcher, or custody professional can join us along with any current or former military personnel. 

Use the co...

Dave Boyd is the President of UNcivilized Inc, a men's coach, a workshop facilitator, a husband, a father, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, an ex-MMA fighter, a CrossFit coach, and a former first responder who served as a firefighter, a 911 telecommunicator, and lastly as a local law enforcement officer with nearly 20 years of combined service.

In this episode, we cover a wide variety of topics and you’ll learn: 

The crazy call that eventually caused him to hang up the gun belt. 

How we became friends years ago as a resu...

In this short episode I share the story of my chance to meet Eddie Van Halen...and how I screwed it up. But that screw up led to one of my favorite conversations ever - with a Rock God no less. 

If you’re looking for a little extra joy in your life, sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I want to share, gear I’ve found useful, an inspiring quote...

I recently passed the 18th anniversary of the day I entered the academy. The occasion provoked some introspection and on this episode I share 18 lessons I've learned throughout my career to this point - lessons often learned the hard way. 

It's certainly not a comprehensive list but I incuded things that I think can help someone avoid some of the common mistakes I've made, and I've seen made by others. 

I'd love to hear what lessons you have for others, or things you've learned. Drop me a DM @thesquadroom or shoot me an email at ga...

Matthew Thomas is currently the Chief Deputy of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Matthew works with one of the most famous sheriffs in the county, Mark Lamb. Matthew has a long career in SWAT and undercover work and fighting the ever-encroaching influence and the Mexican drug cartels with over 700 SWAT missions in his career. Matthew is also the author of the book Interceptors: The Untold Fight Against the Mexican Cartels.

In this episode, we cover a wide variety of topics and get his advice on how to: 

Build a successful marriage in a la...

Dr. Rick Hanson is a renowned psychologist, New York Times best-selling author, and meditation teacher known for his expertise in the field of neuroscience and positive psychology. With a deep understanding of the brain and its capacity for change, he has dedicated his career to helping individuals cultivate happiness, resilience, and well-being. Dr. Hanson has authored several influential books, including his newest book “Making Great Relationships: Simple Practices for Solving Conflicts, Building Connection, and Fostering Love”, "Hardwiring Happiness" and "Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakeable Core of Calm, Strength and Happiness," and his teachings and insights have inspired countless peop...

SWAT Officer Brandon Griffith was in the best shape of his life at 26 years old when he collapsed dead in his living room from a sudden cardiac arrest.  His wife started CPR while calling 911 and he was eventually shocked back to life with a defibrillator. 

In this episode you will learn: 

Brandon’s description of what it was like to be shocked with an AED (he remembers the whole thing!).

How he fought to come back to work, even with a defibrillator implanted in his chest. 

Why Brandon believes it’s a moral...

Micromanagers usually lack trust in their coworkers so they feel they need to obsessively watch over them. What's missing, is that the micromanagers also lack trust in themselves, and all that behavior is an outward expression of an inner turmoil. 

In this episode, I share some quick insights into how you can avoid becoming the dreaded micromanager no one wants to work with. 

Sign up for Tactical Tuesdays, a FREE weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a bo...

Ryan Allen, a successful K9 handler for his department, didn’t think much about the bee sting he got on the way home from the gym. What happened next turned this small thing into a nightmare of panic, grief, guilt and difficult decisions. 

Six months later, Ryan’s wife Whitney buried her young husband and was left to figure out how to parent two young boys by herself. 

In the aftermath of Ryan’s death, Whitney pursued her own healing and eventually decided to become a grief counselor, helping other widows deal with the massive loss. <...

Have you just gotten promoted or looking to promote soon? This episode might save you a lot of heartache.

10 years ago this week I was promoted to sergeant. And then, just about a year ago I was promoted to lieutenant. In that time I’ve had some wins…and a whole lot of losses. I’ve also read a ton on leadership and been able to try out a lot of those academic theories in the real world. Then, I went back to academia and got my Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Sector L...

In 2021 I was out on medical leave due to a back injury that had been misdiagnosed for years. What saved me from a potential career-ending surgery was a renewed practice of yoga. 

Despite its long tradition in warrior communities, there are a lot of misconceptions and objections to yoga in the first responder communities that seem largely driven by the idea that it’s too feminine for such a male-dominated career.

Can yoga make you a better cop? Absolutely, and it’s something you should really try if you haven’t already. In this episode, we expl...

Jason Piccolo is a newly retired federal agent and the host of The Protectors Podcast. Jason has nearly 30 years in service to his country as an agent, a U.S. Army infantry captain and veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Jason is a frequent guest on Fox News and Court TV and he’s the author of Unwavering: A Border Agent’s Journey.

On this episode, we talk about his pending retirement, finding purpose in the later parts of your career and transitions that we go through in various parts of our lives. We also share info on how...

As a leader, the conversations you have with the people around you will make or break your career. 

Having the wrong conversations with the wrong people is the fastest way to lose the trust of your coworkers. 

Conversely, having these 4 types of conversations with the people around you is the fastest way to building trust, creating an environment for growth, and establishing yourself as someone others are willing to follow. 

In this episode, I share four types of conversations you should be having with your people, and four types of conversations you should nev...

In 2022, a popular book came out that describes how the average human only has 4000 weeks in their entire lifetime. That’s it. Just 4000. For everything from birth, to your first day of school, to your first kiss, and on and on and on until death - only 4000 weeks. 

So how are you going to spend those 4000 weeks? 

In this episode, I give you some ideas that challenge the beliefs that we have to stay connected to work 24/7 - and that we’re actually paying our agency’s for the privilege. Yes, like, writing them a check fo...

Kyle Stubbs is a husband, father of two, and full time police officer with the RCMP. Prior to policing, Kyle worked as a primary care paramedic and also served with a volunteer fire department. Kyle is a certified holistic lifestyle coach, breathwork facilitator, and mindset coach. His mission is to transform first responder health and wellness from the current fear based and reactive approach, to one that is both empowered and proactive through his “Nine8” program

During the episode, Kyle shares a simple but powerful exercise that can help you change your attitude and negative self-talk. It’s defi...

Errol Doebler is a former U.S. Navy SEAL and retired FBI Special Agent who now runs Leader193. Errol graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991, first serving in the fleet before joining Seal Teams. 

In this episode, we talk about 5 elements you need to consider about how you are leading yourself if you want to lead other people. 

They are: 

After spending some time in the private sector, Errol joined the FBI in the wake of 9-11 where he...

Did you know people are more scared of public speaking than dying?! Yes, the idea of getting up in front of a group of people and speaking is so terrifying to so many people that they’d rather cease to exist on this Earth. 

That’s nuts! 

Here’s the good news. You don’t have to be a naturally-gifted speaker to wow an audience…or at least prevent an unmitigated and embarrassing disaster. As you promote, you will be tasked with more and more public speaking assignments. From effective briefing training, to presenting to staff, or to...

There are three things you must understand if you are a leader in your organization, or you are looking to take a leadership role in the future. 

They’re simple, but not always easy. 

In this short episode, I tackle the 3 Universal Laws of Leadership - three things you absolutely need to know to succeed as a leader.  

New leader’s are often left without support or an idea of how they can develop into their full potential. That’s why I created The Leader’s Workbook, a FREE resource for anyone who is, or wants...

Why do we suffer? Can it be avoided, or is life just really hard sometimes? How do we take control of things that are seemingly impossible to control, but have massive, sometimes lethal consequences in our lives? 

In this episode, I share my experience of being diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease that forced me to confront some of those questions head-on. To help me navigate some of these questions, I asked my good friend and repeat guest Richard Goerling to join me for the discussion. 

Richard is a retired police lieutenant, veteran, researcher, an...

What is work/life balance? If you’re a cop, there’s a good chance you have no idea what it is. Rotating shifts, sleep deprivation, missed holidays, birthdays, weekend BBQs and more leave us with an unbalanced sense of what our lives are made of. 

In this short episode, I share 7 things you can do to create more work/life balance in your life. 

Do you have a technique I missed? Let us know what you do to create more balance in your life. Shoot me an email at garrett@thesquadroom.net or drop us a l...

In this solo episode I share 15 SECRETS about leadership that they don’t tell you about. Maybe it’s because it’ll scare you away, or maybe they think misery loves company. Either way, we tackle 15 things about taking on a leadership role in your agency that are often overlooked, glossed over, or forgotten about. 

Do you feel like you need a mindset reset? Something to help you get out of a funk, shift your attitude or create more balance in your life? I just released my absolutely FREE 7-day mindset reset journal called The Good Wolf Journal...

Charlie (last name redacted) is the meme lord behind the very popular Instagram handle @teneight_memes. Although he’s known for his very funny and sarcastic sense of humor, Charlie has been put through the emotional ringer over the last year and we talk in-depth about how humor and music helped him through a very tough time. In this episode you’ll learn: 

It often seems that cops love nothing more than to complain. Sure, there are the normal gripes and injustices and we all have our moments but then there are those we work with who are on a whole other level of misery - cops who seem to make it their job to be negative about everything and everyone. We've all worked with those people and they can be very hard to deal with. But, the truth is, we have to deal with them. We have to learn to work with them and engage with them professionally, but at the...

Discipline is an often misunderstood - and misapplied - concept in leadership. Many supervisors think discipline and punishment are the same thing, and that the only way to get people to do what you need them to do is to hold the threat of punishment and negativity over them. 

That’s negative discipline and the uneducated and ill-informed only know about this kind. 

Discipline is simply developing behavior in your people that is consistent with the objectives of the organization. 

Real leaders employ positive discipline far more often, and rarely have to resort to ne...

Nashville native and Army veteran Tyler Ashley came to Los Angeles like so many other people do, searching for his big break in acting and music. Along the was called back to service and is currently an officer with the LAPD. However, Tyler hasn’t given up on his goals of being on stage and he’s working hard on the streets and in the studio to make his dreams a reality. 

In this episode, Tyler talks about his journey towards law enforcement and how he uses creativity in his singing and during his patrol shifts. Creativity comes...

What’s the number one complaint you have about your agency? Chances are it’s something to do with the lack of communication. Jeff Halstead is my guest this week as we dive into the simple yet complicated topic of communication; how to make it better, how it changes as you promote, and how new technologies can help keep you safer, arrest the bad guys faster, and keep you out of court. 

Jeff spent 29 years in law enforcement before retiring as the Chief of Police of Fort Worth, Texas. Before Fort Worth, Jeff spent his career at the P...

Wendy Hummell, a seasoned law enforcement officer with over 24 years of experience.  Wendy started her career in 1996 as a Special Agent with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).  She retired at the rank of Detective after 21 years of service from the Wichita Police Department where she spent a majority of her career working Persons Crimes Investigations.  Wendy worked homicide, gang, and sex-crimes cases. She was also a member of her department’s CISM (Critical incident Stress Management) and Defense Tactics teams. 

Wendy’s area of expertise is officer health and wellness, peer support, and resiliency and she is curren...

As cops, the last thing we want to do is bring home the drama, stress and trauma to our families.  But it’s hard, sometimes, to create some distance between who we are on the job and who we want to be when we’re at home.  In this episode, I share 8 simple things you can do to leave the drama at the station, create better connections with your family, and live a healthier life. 

I want to offer you something that I’m very excited about, and it’s absolutely FREE. Tactical Tuesdays - a free weekly email where we br...

Mike McGrew is the Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Director of the 911 At Ease Foundation. 

Mike spent 31 years with the Santa Barbara Police Department where he recently retired as a sergeant. Mike held positions in major crimes, traffic, and POA president among many other assignments.

Those assignments took a toll on Mike who struggled with self-destructive behavior as a poor coping mechanism for what he dealt with on the job. 

But honestly, what he had to deal with at home was where he found the real test of his strength and character. 

Mik...

In this short Briefing Topic episode, we cover 7 discipline failures you might be making. 

Discipline can be elusive for many of us. It’s not as simple as just motivation, momentum, or commitment. 

Hopefully these 7 topics give you something to think about that can help you every day. 

I want to offer you something that I’m very excited about, and it’s absolutely FREE. Tactical Tuesdays - a free weekly email where we bring you a few tactics, tips and strategies to help you succeed in the week ahead. It may be about a book I wa...