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Officers in Minneapolis describe empty rosters, mixed messages, and orders that put optics over safety. We speak with Jesse Watts of The Wounded Blue about confidential peer support, staffing collapse, and what courageous leadership should look like in high-risk moments.

• why The Wounded Blue deployed a mobile peer command center to Minneapolis
• how staffing fell from an 888 allotment to just over 300 usable on the street
• where leadership orders conflict with policy and officer safety
• why internal peer teams lack trust and how independent support helps
• what a seven-officer roll call means for safety and response
• contrast with Las Vegas where decisive leadership restored order quickly
• warning signs of weak leadership and steps officers can take
• how to access confidential support and donate to sustain services

Reach out to The Wounded Blue 24/7. Officers can reach out to TWB at their text line at 877-810-0911. If you text the word BLUE to 877-810-0911, you can reach them confidentially and immediately.

The Warrior Talk Line is 833-TWB-TALK (833-892-8255).

Donate at thewoundedblue.org.

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Lt. Randy Sutton and Dr. Travis Yates challenge the myths driving modern policing, from failed recruiting tactics to political mandates that increase officer injuries, and lay out practical, data-led ways to keep officers and communities safer. Dr. Travis Yates shares research, real numbers, and steps leaders can take now.

• why marketing fails and targeted recruiting works
• cost-per-hire math and fixing vacancies with data
• retention linked to leadership support and culture
• rising assaults since 2020 and what precedes violence
• de-escalation mandates vs evidence and injury spikes
• pre-attack indicators and responding to noncompliance
• politics, optics, and training trade-offs
• chiefs vs sheriffs and accountability to the public
• practical steps officers can take for safety and training
• where to find Travis’ research and future courses

This podcast is sponsored by The Wounded Blue - thewoundedblue.org - A nationwide charity helping more than 16,000 American law enforcement officers injured either physically or emotionally and psychologically. If you’re a law enforcement officer, don’t walk this journey alone.

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We sit down with Pete James of OfficerPrivacy.com to break down why doxxing has escalated, how data brokers expose home addresses, and what it takes to protect families. We also announce a waived-fee removal for Minnesota ICE agents and share practical steps to lock down social media.

• why people-search sites endanger officers and families
• how attackers chain social media to data broker records
• real examples of doxxing turning into violence
• initial removal versus continuous monitoring
• practical social media and home privacy tactics
• free removal offer for ICE agents in Minnesota
• who beyond law enforcement should take action

If you are an ICE agent in Minnesota: officerprivacy.com/ice

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We sit down with David Berez to unpack culture, leadership, and mental health in policing, and why science-backed tools beat checkbox trainings. He shares practical ways to build anti-fragility, define purpose beyond the badge, and lead with courageous optimism.

• differences in culture across EMS, fire and police
• internal competition, promotion pitfalls and leadership gaps
• science-based wellness versus story-only events
• proactive gratitude as mental training
• storytelling focused on you at your best
• journaling and creative self-disclosure
• anti-fragility as the goal beyond resilience
• leading by example and financial habits for recruits
• identity and purpose outside the uniform
• the theory of courageous optimism
• service and advocacy through NLEOMF and Citizens Behind the Badge

“Join other courageous leaders at TravisYates.org”

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In this powerful interview, Travis speaks to Keith Graves, a 29-year law enforcement veteran and a worldwide expert in church security, to discuss the dangers in and outside the church. We share practical steps for Christmas services, early warning signs, and how to act with discernment and courage.

• Keith’s path from policing to church security training
• Free resources, newsletter growth, and why they matter
• Pre-attack indicators and surveillance cues to watch
• Why Christmas services raise a unique risk
• How to build an “enhanced greeter” safety culture
• When police response lags and how to bridge the gap
• Scriptural basis for vigilant, compassionate protection
• Practical coverage: doors, kids’ areas, parking, chokepoints
• Staying alert while worshiping without feeding fear
• A call for courageous leadership and clear mission

We encourage you to read our article associated with this podcast.

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Leadership gets real when the stakes are high and the cameras roll. We sit down with retired deputy chief and author John Blackledge to unpack what it takes to build courageous, effective leaders in policing and beyond—leaders who make the right call even when it costs them. John’s path spans patrol, undercover narcotics, internal affairs, academy instruction, and senior command, and he’s now paired those decades of experience with private sector leadership to create a practical, no-fluff manual for supervisors at every level.

We dig into the foundation: know yourself, then lead with influence rather than relying on rank. John shares how authenticity beats performance, why “correct decisions will not make you popular,” and what separates real courage from performative toughness.

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Legacy is a common theme in leadership, but it's rarely seen. In this episode, Dr. Travis Yates explores the legacy of LAPD Captain Rudy De Leon through the lived experience of his granddaughter, Brandi Stansbury-Moody.

For more information on Captain De Leon, read our article here.

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We share a candid reminder that gratitude is not fluff, it’s a force that makes leadership steadier. By reframing complaints through global perspective and practical habits, we show how leaders gain clarity, courage, and momentum.

• the pull of negativity and how it distorts judgment
• the what if lens: life happening for you
• global context of odds and freedoms
• law enforcement examples that sharpen perspective
• practical gratitude habits for teams and leaders
• how gratitude makes tough problems simpler
• humility, stewardship, and clearer communication

“Join other courageous leaders at TravisYates.org.”

Join Our Tribe of Courageous Leaders:

Get The Book
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Join Us At Our Website
Get Our 'Courageous Leadership' Training
Join The Courageous Police Leadership Alliance