The Squad Room

Mike Doyle of the Tactical Tangents Podcast joins me on this episode of The Squad Room. Mike is a K9 handler for a large urban police department in Arizona, a new father, a podcaster, and dare I say renaissance man — whatever that means these days.  In this episode you’ll learn how Mike and I have done some of the gritty work of asking for feedback from others and how early missteps in our careers negatively impacted us for sometime. Mike also tells a funny story about how a snarky comment on the radio can come back to bite you – even if you aren’t a K9 officer.  Make sure to check out his podcast Tactical Tangents.  Join our Facebook Group to stay up to date and get content not available on the podcast and follow us @thesquadroom A special thanks to Signature Coins for sponsoring this episode. If you’re in the market for a great challenge coin like these. Use the coupon code “thesquadroom” to get $50 off your first order.  Check out our store! Go to thesquadroom.net by selecting “shop” or going straight to aworthycauselife.com In fact, our best seller this week is a shirt I call “Greater than the Critic” and it is inspired by the work we’re doing in the midst of this challenging time. 

Dennis Benigno is the founder and owner of Street Cop Training, perhaps the largest privately-held law enforcement organization in the country, and they’re growing quickly.  Dennis joins us to talk about his career and how he navigated through a start in corrections, to federal law enforcement and eventually, back home working in the New Jersey town he grew up in. In 2015, Dennis was injured on the job and had to medically retire.  When he was on the road, Dennis noticed he had a gift for criminal interdiction so he began teaching what he’d learned to other cops and Street Cop Training was born. Dennis and his growing company now travel all around the country bringing some of the most dynamic content available to active cops looking to make the most of their shift.  In this episode, Dennis and I talk about growing up in New Jersey, what’s made him successful as a cop and an entrepreneur, how he chooses mentors, why he meditates every day and much more.   Learn more at streetcoptraining.com and @streetcoptraining on Instagram.  Don’t forget to follow us @thesquadroom and leave a review with a comment if you enjoyed this episode!  ************************************************************ A special thanks to CommGrearSupply.com for their support of the show. If you’re looking for radio and headset accessories to help you stay safe, use “thesquadroom” to get 10% off your order.  A special thanks to OfficerPrivacy.com for sponsoring this episode. Don’t let the bad guys find your personal information on the internet. Get help from retired cops who can protect you. Check out our store! Go to thesquadroom.net by selecting “shop” or going straight to aworthycauselife.com In fact, our best seller this week is a shirt I call “Greater than the Critic” and it is inspired by the work we’re doing in the midst of this challenging time.

One day not too long ago, Officer Nick Wilson was on his way to jail. But there was a problem.  The problem was that despite countless trips to county before, this time he was riding in the backseat.  He had just been arrested for DUI. But the problem was actually bigger than that. Nick was suffering from a dangerous combination of physical injuries from his career and emotional and mental injuries as well. Doctors prescribed Nick a cocktail of opiates, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills.  Nick has done something amazing with such a horrible experience. Nick turned his life around and has become an advocate for mental health treatment and resiliency training for police officers. He is the founder of The Resiliency Project (@the_resiliencyproject).  In this episode, you’ll hear how he caught the early warning signs but still didn’t know what to do, how he reacted poorly to the anxiety he felt as a result of his work and how he suffered from crippling anxiety. Nick also shares the story of his arrest and how the sergeant on-scene had a massive effect on him, helped him shift his mindset, and is now a board member of Nick’s non-profit. Nick travels around California teaching about his experiences in the hopes that other cops can avoid the pits of despair he fell into. He’s a leader and truly an example of someone willing to Be the One by sharing their story. Learn more about Nick and his class at theresiliencyproject.info If you or someone you love is struggling right now, please reach out. The Squad Room supports the fantastic work at Copline, staffed 24/7 by trained officers who are able to help you right away. Call them at 1-800-COPLINE. Special thanks to our episode’s sponsor, Signature Coins for their support of the show. If you’re looking for high-quality challenge coins, visit their site. Use the coupon code “thesquadroom” for $50 off your first order.

On October 9, 2017, Carmen East’s life changed forever.  Her husband, Texas Tech University Police Officer Floyd East Jr. was shot and killed on duty.  Carmen joins me on The Squad Room to tell the heart-wrenching story of losing her high-school sweetheart in the line of duty. Her story, and her relationship with Floyd is an absolute must-hear episode.  Carmen shares how Floyd’s life-long dream was to become a police officer. It was a goal he worked hard to achieve later in life than most. He was so committed to the cause that he commuted nearly 12 hours roundtrip from his home in El Paso to the campus in Lubbock because they were willing to give him a shot.  In this episode you’ll learn:  * How Carmen and Floyd fell in love in high school but ended up married to other people. * How they reconnected and supported each other to pursue their dreams. * How Carmen and her daughters learned of Floyd’s death. * How grief and heartache cannot stop a noble spirit committed to a cause.  Carmen is the founder of Texas635 (Floyd’s badge number). This wonderful non-profit seeks to offset the sudden expenses incurred by families in the wake of a line-of-duty death. They also provide scholarships to officers to attend first responder trauma retreats. They’re doing wonderful work.  Please take the time to listen to this episode.  Take care of each other, and stay safe. A special thanks to Hard to Kill Fitness for sponsoring this episode. If you’re looking for help getting or staying in shape during these difficult times, check out their wide variety of programs that you can use at-home or in the gym.  Check out our store! Go to thesquadroom.net by selecting “shop” or going straight to aworthycauselife.com In fact, our best seller this week is a shirt I call “Greater than the Critic” and it is inspired by the work we’re doing in the midst of this challenging time.  Thanks for listening and supporting the show.  

I often get asked how to build resilience quickly. You just have to answer one important question. And then you answer that question over and over and over again. On this episode, my guest Brian Willis helps us learn how to apply a simple acronym – W.I.N. – to create resilience, improve focus, and become better leaders. We also talk about how leadership is a choice, not a rank, and what you can do to create a culture of leadership within your agency, regardless of Brian is a 25-year veteran of the Calgary Police Service and for the last 15 years he has traveled North America teaching cops how to improve their mindset and their leadership skills through his company Winning Mind Training. Brian is also the Deputy Executive Director of ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association). Watch Brian’s TEDx Talk here Or this other great talk here. Learn more about his work at Winning Mind Training. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram @thesquadroom. Please “like” our Facebook page for updates and join our Facebook group of LEO professionals. Special thanks to Signature Coins for their support of the show. If you’re looking for a high-quality challenge coin for your agency or specialty unit, give them a call and use the coupon code “thesquadroom” to get $50 off your order. If you’re looking for the best fitting ballistic helmet that exceeds NIJ standards and won’t break the bank, check out Hardheadveterans.com and use the coupon code “Squadroom” to get $20 off your helmet.

Tony Blauer is the founder of Blauer Tactical and the S.P.E.A.R. System of self-defense. A world-renowned self-defense expert and law enforcement trainer, Tony has studied fear and how our bodies use fear to keep us safe. In this episode, Tony and I cover a wide range of topics including:  * To be the best version of yourself, you need self-awareness. * To make good decisions, you need to manage your fear.* How fear can become fuel for growth. * Why we often outsource our safety in ways that aren’t so obvious. * How to be the one, you must practice courage and you can’t be courageous without being afraid.  It’s a great episode full of solid advice from an industry leader.  Follow Tony on IG at @tonyblauer and learn more at blauerspear.com and knowfearnow.com Don’t forget to follow me on IG @thesquadroom and please consider leaving a review if you enjoyed this episode.  A special thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Hard to Kill Fitness. With gyms still closed in  many areas, at home body weight workouts have become the norm for many. Check out their wide variety of weight training and bodyweight programs that will get you in the hardest shape of your life. Learn more at hardtokillfitness.co Check out our store! Go to thesquadroom.net by selecting “shop” or going straight to aworthycauselife.com In fact, our best seller this week is a shirt I call “Greater than the Critic” and it is inspired by the work we’re doing in the midst of this challenging time.

Dakota Meyer knows a thing or two about how to move forward and overcoming adversity. That’s why it was a great experience to have him on the newest episode of The Squad Room. A short review of Dakota’s life shows you some of the major obstacles he has confronted and overcome by accepting his reality:  * The Battle of Ganjgal where he lost four friends and earned the Medal of Honor. * Feeling listless and without purpose after leaving the military. * Being awarded the Medal of Honor for what he feels is his biggest failure. * Accepting help after pulling the trigger on a suicide attempt. * Dealing with a high-profile divorce filmed for a reality TV show. * His diagnosis with PTSD.  In this episode you’ll learn:  * Why it’s important to shed the deadweight of meaningless friendships. * How he pushes himself mentally into new territory. * Why he decided to go back into public service by becoming a firefighter. * Why negativity has no place in your future plans.  In this episode, Dakota lays out his prescription for leading a meaningful life, while also throwing down some hard truths about what it means to be a public servant and why you and I need to do better. Dakota is a huge supporter of law enforcement but he’s also a critical thinker who makes some valid points. If you’re the kind of cop that gets defensive at any criticism, let this be your trigger warning.  But he’s not wrong.  Check out the episode at any of the links below.  Follow him on Instagram @dakotameyer0317 Check out Flipside Canvas for some cool wall art.  Dakota’s Front Toward Enemy Podcast on Apple   A special thanks to Signature Coins for sponsoring this episode. If you’re in the market for a great challenge coin like these. Use the coupon code “thesquadroom” to get $50 off your first order.  Check out our store! Go to thesquadroom.net by selecting “shop” or going straight to aworthycauselife.com In fact, our best seller this week is a shirt I call “Greater than the Critic” and it is inspired by the work we’re doing in the midst of this challenging time.

Jonathan Montgomery used to be fat firefighter. Before that, he was a roadie for some of the biggest pop punk bands of the 90s. Several years ago, Jonathan got his act together and lost a ton of weight and is now a ripped former firefighter who owns First In Nutrition along with his wife Anne, also a former firefighter.  Jonathan loved working as a firefighter but saw his bigger calling was helping other first responders navigate weight loss and the often tricky relationship we develop with food. He used to get stopped around the firehouse and bombarded with questions about how he did it. Then he took on a few clients Eventually, the work became a full-time job.  In fact, he’s currently my nutrition coach helping me work through some of these things as I try, yet again, to lose more weight.  In this episode, Jonathan and I reminisce about our shared days in the music industry, the challenges of eating healthy as a first responder, how stress affects our diet, and the simple things we can do to start taking more control of our calories and our lives.  Make sure to give him a follow @firstinnurtition Find out more at firstinnutrition.com A special thanks to Hard to Kill Fitness for their support of the show. Check them out for in-home workout programs that can help you get and stay in shape during this pandemic that seems to be like the Energizer Bunny (it just keeps going, and going, and going…)Check out our store! Go to thesquadroom.net by selecting “shop” or going straight to aworthycauselife.com In fact, our best seller this week is a shirt I call “Greater than the Critic” and it is inspired by the work we’re doing in the midst of this challenging time.

Man, and I thought 2019 was rough…2020 isn’t just a dumpster fire, it’s a full-on landfill burning out of control.  My wife and I couldn’t stand staring at the same four walls anymore so we decided on a last minute road-trip to Colorado…and now I’m sitting in the waiting room of Urgent Care waiting for my son to get tested for COVID.  That escalated quickly.  And still, so many of you are pulling long shifts on skirmish lines facing off against people who hate you just because of your uniform.  It’s exhausting. It’s stressful. It’s infuriating. It’s scary. All of it. And yet its exactly for those reasons that it’s also an opportunity. But we must be resilient and practice emotional intelligence if we want to be effective.  Our guest this week knows a thing or two about resilience. JP Dinnell is a Navy SEAL veteran of Jocko Willink’s famous Task Unit Bruise. Chris Kyle was his friend and partner. JP now works with Jocko at Echelon Front teaching front-line leadership to business and public servants. This is JP’s second time on the show and he delivers as well as he did on his first appearance.  In this episode, we talk about building relationships up and down the chain of command, knowing when to adjust your approach and priorities, the importance of making people feel valuable, how he compartmentalizes his objectives to give his best, and so much more. Follow him @jpdinnell And just a reminder, if you want to support the show and rock some cool gear, check out our store. Special thanks to our sponsors, Signature Coins. If you’re looking for a quality challenge coin, use our coupon code thesquadroom to get $50 off your first order!

This episode of The Squad Room was a recent favorite. I sit down (socially distanced via Zoom of course) with Justin Walker. Justin is a full-time officer at a major metropolitan department and a full-time SWAT officer. He’s also the owner of MilMak Blades and even a podcaster! (seriously, check out his show The Man Minutes, it’s really good).  We talk about a wide variety of topics on the show. It’s like a lot of conversations that happen when two veteran cops sit down to get to know each other. We ended up talking a lot about the lessons we’ve learned and the mistakes we’ve made that we want to keep others from making.  Give him a follow @milmakaz and check out his blades at milmakaz.com

I’ve been reluctant to add my voice to the chorus of talking heads surrounding the issues we’re currently facing in policing. However, I’ve been encouraged to do so by some people I respect greatly, and asked by many others for my input.  I’ll admit that I was also scared to chime in. Cancel culture has brought us to the point that the slightest misstep or poorly phrased sentence can get you fired or targeted for the wrath of a very angry public.  But I realized that if I allowed that to influence me, I would have ceded my rights to the mob.  The ideas in this episode are my own. They come after years of observation as a veteran street cop and as someone who has sought a better answer for a long time.  In this episode, I discuss:  * Why community policing has failed and we need to get rid of it. * The history of modern policing and how we got to the point that the public demands so much of us. * The importance of responsibility, even if we aren’t to blame. * 8 action steps to develop and accept responsibility. * The two fundamental truths of current law enforcement. * Why, when trying to solve crime, we need to solve for pain instead. * How Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can be used as a model for future policing.  It’s a long episode. Just me, no guests. No sponsors, no intro music. Just me trying to make sense of an incredibly complicated topic.  Thanks for listening and staying with me.  Stay safe, and take care of each other. 

After graduating from West Point, Jason Van Camp earned his Ranger tabs in 2002. Along with the 101st Airborne, Jason was part of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In 2006, Jason went through selection and earned his green beret. Afterward, he was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group as a Detachment Commander. In 14 years of service, Jason earned the Bronze Star with V device for Valor, and two additional Bronze Stars during multiple combat tours in the Middle East and Africa. Jason is also the author of Deliberate Discomfort: How U.S. Special Operations Forces Overcome Fear and Dare to Win by Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable. It’s a fantastic book and one of favorite leaderships of recent memory, weaving personal stories of heroes in combat with actionable leadership lessons. You can learn more about Jason at missionsixzero.com. Follow us on Instagram @thesquadroom and make sure to sign up for our Facebook Group. Just search “The Squad Room Group” in Facebook. Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Hard to Kill Fitness. Hard to Kill Fitness specializes in workout templates for first responders and military personnel. Their action-oriented plans provide guidance and support for you to gain control of your fitness without spending a paycheck on a personal trainer. Check them out at hardtokillfitness.co or on Instagram @hardtokill_fitness

Dr. Kevin Gilmartin is one of the preeminent police psychologists in the country. He is the author of the Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, an absolute must read for any cop or LEO spouse. Dr. Gilmartin’s one-day seminar sells out all over the world and he is one of the best presenters I’ve ever seen. In this episode we talk about: * How to activate your parasympathetic nervous system to correctly calm yourself after a shift of stress and cortisol. * The effects of sleep deprivation on attitude and behavior. * The depression that naturally sets in with extended nightshifts. * Why 20 minutes of walking is as effective as medication to combat depression. * Why the Australians are leading the way with how they treat their police officers.  You can learn more about Dr. Gilmartin at emotionalsurvival.com.  Special thanks to our episode’s sponsor, Signature Coins for their support of the show. If you’re looking for high-quality challenge coins, visit their site. Use the coupon code “thesquadroom” for $50 off your first order.

Sergeant Aaron Lohman returns for his second appearance on The Squad Room and he doesn’t disappoint with his no-holds barred style of personal growth and leadership. We last checked in with Aaron in 2017 and a lot has changed. He made sergeant, had a few transfers and now is one of the first staffers at NYPD’s new and unique Health & Wellness Unit. Aaron rose to prominence through his social media account @huge_fat_loser where he documented his amazing weight loss and attitude change. In this episode you will learn: How Aaron took control of his life, shifted his attitude and became a different person. * How Aaron decided to take control of his health and his mindset and reversed years of negative thoughts and behavior. * Why he decided to promote and what has been the biggest adjustment to putting on stripes. * His new mission to lead the charge on getting cops healthy. * What he’s learned losing over 200 pounds. Aaron is also a new podcaster now with his own show, “Notorious HFL” and you can check that out wherever you get your podcasts. Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode, Signature Coins. If you’re looking to make a high quality challenge coin that doesn’t disappoint, check them out. Use the coupon code thesquadroom to get $50 off your first order.