Does our integrity as a cop extend to our personal lives? Are we truly keeping our oath of office and maintaining our integrity if we don't lie, cheat, or steal...on the job? In this episode, Jonathan discusses integrity and suggests that it extends to - or rather begins with - our personal lives. He also explains the reasons that this episode is the final episode of the Watch Your Six Podcast...at least for now.
Behavior change starts with motivation from the heart. Oftentimes, "we know" that we should take action to improve our health, but that information doesn't translate into lifestyle changes. In this episode, Jonathan discusses his personal health journey and motivation for transitioning to a whole foods plant based lifestyle. He provides personal testimonies, health benefits, and offers resources for you to explore further.
In Back to the Future II, time slips into an unfavorable alternate reality after Marty McFly's sports almanac slips into the hands of his arch-nemesis Biff. Like that point in time, the trajectory of our lives hinges on whether or not personal relational needs are met or unmet. When unmet, we spiral into unhealthy thought patterns, unproductive behaviors, and possible painful outcomes. In this episode, Jonathan explains the potential and pain of relational needs and discusses how to empty the "e...
We all have needs. That truth is easy to grasp. Understanding what those needs are, how they are met, and the impact of unmet needs on our lives, families, and profession is not as easy. In this episode, Jonathan explains that the driving force behind behavior is the condition of the heart and whether 10 key relational needs are being met. While positive psychology and mindfulness can be beneficial to our overall well-being, they do not truly address the heart. Do you have the heart to be a thri...
We are created with a capacity for experiencing emotion, and that capacity for experiencing emotion has been called the emotional cup. In order to make good decisions as leaders, officers, spouses, and parents, we must understand what is filling our emotional cup - the principle of self-awareness. In this episode, Jonathan lays the groundwork for becoming more self-aware and making good decisions by introducing the HALT principle for recognizing unmet needs and the influence those unmet needs ha...
What is the reason for all the mass school shootings, and how do we stop them? The United States Secret Service recently released (July 2018) their 32-page report "Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model," which reveals the results of their extensive research and interviews with school shooters. In this episode, Jonathan summarizes the report with one essential truth and explores the heart of the matter more deeply. Find more information and resources, including show notes at www...
In the face of tragic deaths, line of duty deaths, and suicides of officers, we often find ourselves pondering the meaning of life. If we could ask one of the wisest people to ever have lived, what would he tell us matters most in life? In this episode, Jonathan talks about the answer that came from both a retired cop and one of the wisest men in recorded history. The only question is whether or not you will choose to follow this advice.
It's called the #LipSyncChallenge, and it's all the rave. Law Enforcement officers and agencies around the country are producing videos of them lip syncing to their favorite songs. But should we be thinking more critically about our image and the impact of dancing cops, ice bucket challenges, selfie cops, and lip sync challenges? In this episode, Jonathan reflects upon the pros and cons of participating in such activities and discusses the necessary outcomes that must take place regardless of wh...
The reason why you fail to accomplish your goals is simple...you quit. But understanding why you quit rather than pressing on to success is not as simple. In his book, Mojo , author Marshall Goldsmith provides 6 reasons why people quit before achieving their goals. In this episode, Jonathan discusses those 6 reasons and relates them to law enforcement and the Watch Your Six concept.
With all the talk of body cameras and public outrage, it seems that everyone knows the law, their rights, and our jobs better than we do. But what are we doing to shift the narrative, build relationships, and educate our communities? In this episode, Jonathan discusses five Supreme Court Cases and offers several ideas that will help those serving in law enforcement engage and educate our community members regarding the reasons why we do what we do so that we can build trust and strengthen relati...
There's always more to the story, and police officer body-worn cameras have been revealing the truth more and more frequently. What we're finding, however, is that crisis is inevitable. How we respond to the crisis makes all the difference. In this episode, Jonathan talks about Melissa Agnes' Crisis Ready™ Formula for managing controversial issues, and points out that humility is a key leadership ingredient for building trust and relationships with the community even when the video evidence reve...
Mentoring is a form of development where one person invests time, effort, and their experience in assisting the growth and ability of another person. Jonathan explains that mentoring could be the key to shaping the heart and character of officers towards an enduring and more positive legacy in law enforcement. In this episode, Jonathan outlines six action steps to create successful mentoring relationships as presented in the book One Minute Mentoring by Ken Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz....
Adam Davis is an author and speaker who uses his experience as a law enforcement officer to offer hope and encouragement to others who continue to serve. In this episode, Jonathan speaks with Adam about his journey into and out of law enforcement, the reason officers need to prepare spiritually for the challenges they will face on the job, and his newest 365-day devotional Behind the Badge .
In 1942, the British "V-Force" was a group of stay-behind troops in Burma that were assigned to harass, sabotage, and ambush the Japanese forces if they invaded India. In this episode, Jonathan talks about "V-Force" leadership - 4 critical traits, without which your leadership as a police supervisor will be constantly sabotaged and ambushed by low morale, bad decisions, and unloyal troops.
The law enforcement profession is at a place of dis-ease, a place of disconnect with certain segments of our society, but we don't quite know what to do. In this episode, Jonathan suggests that real growth and change can begin with this one not-so-simple leadership exercise challenge. It comes at the point of intersection of several recent conversations on the identity crisis in law enforcement, learning to effectively communicate, and leadership. Are you willing to take the challenge?
Michelle Moon is a police wife whose hope is to educate and raise awareness about the important roles marriage and family play in managing critical incident stress and other work-related stress in law enforcement. In this episode, she talks with Jonathan about seven very practical tips that will equip and assist spouses in supporting their officer through critical incident stress.
Our words have power. Learning to use them effectively can improve our marriages, interpersonal relationships, and police-community interactions. In this episode, Jonathan talks about the power of our words and provides a very practical process for filtering what we are about to say. Is it true, is it necessary, and is it kind?
Every year in May, thousands of officers and survivors journey to our nation's capital for National Police Week where we honor those who have died the previous year in the line of duty. In this episode, Jonathan talks about the foundational view of service in this profession as being a calling, the sacrifice that sometimes accompanies the calling, and offers tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Are we law enforcement or peace officers? Is there a difference? How can we bring peace to our communities when we don't truly know or understand peace? In this episode, Jonathan continues the discussion on the identity crisis in our profession by talking with Pastor, Chaplain, and decorated Law Enforcement veteran Ryan Dunlap, the founder of the 12 initiative, who talks about identity and understanding our purpose. He discusses being hardened vs strong, legal vs moral, and skillset vs mindset t...
Financial Cop Nick Daugherty is back talking with us about the next steps towards financial wellness. In this episode, he builds upon the initial steps of budgeting and eliminating debt by discussing emergency savings funds, the importance of having a will, and the basics of life insurance. Nick retired from the Grand Prairie, TX Police Department where he continues to serve as a Reserve Officer. After working to eliminate over $80,000 in consumer debt, he was introduced to Dave Ramsey's Total M...
Police wife, Chaplain, and Bless the Badge founder Lisa Lerner joins Jonathan to discuss four tips for improving communication in your marriage and beyond. She has been married for over 28 years to Chuck, a 30 year law enforcement veteran. Her journey has led her to develop tactical relationship training for officers and spouses so that their marriages can thrive a career in this profession.
Who are we? The recent police shooting death of Stephon Clark in Sacramento brings to light once again the issue of police-community relations and the tensions that exist. How do we positively drive culture and perceptions of policing in the United States in the face of the challenges? In this episode (part 2 of 2), Jonathan suggests that the issue is one of identity, and revisits the debate surrounding law enforcement officers as warriors or guardians.
Who are we? The recent police shooting death of Stephon Clark in Sacramento brings to light once again the issue of police-community relations and the tensions that exist. How do we positively drive culture and perceptions of policing in the United States in the face of the challenges? In this episode (part 1 of 2), Jonathan suggests that the issue is one of identity, and revisits the debate surrounding law enforcement officers as warriors or guardians.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. We often quote this saying when referring to the line of duty deaths of fellow officers. But where did this saying originate, and how might it apply to each one of us? In this episode, Jonathan explains the origins of this saying as a verse from the Bible in which Jesus laid down His life for us. If we accept the love and sacrifice of our fellow officers, then shouldn't we also consider the sacrifice of Jesus and how ...
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of the Christian faith. But is there evidence to support this truth claim, and if so, what verdict will we issue once we place the Resurrection on trial? In this episode, Jonathan presents four "exhibits" arranged as Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience in a logical, reasonable, forensic way that cops understand. This apologetics approach to faith and spirituality was first examined in Episode 006 with Homicide Detective J. Warner Walla...
As a young officer, Jonathan learned quickly that there tends to be this proverbial "blacklist" among certain supervisors within any given agency. The practice of blacklisting certain officers due to prior offenses, personality clashes, or preferences concerning policing is an unfortunate reality that affects morale and overall organizational success. In this episode, Jonathan discusses the blacklist, the role of great leaders in a culture where it exists, and then offers four practical steps fo...
Once you learn something, it never leaves you. Or does it? Whether you are standing in front of others speaking or conducting training one-on-one as a Field Training Officer or mentor, you must understand the fundamentals of adult learning if you are going to connect with your audience and your message is going to stick. In this episode, Jonathan discusses the principles of adult learning by talking about what makes adult learners different, the three learning styles, and how you can effectively...
Public speaking is largely a skill that is developed. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "All the great speakers were bad speakers at first." In this episode, Jonathan and his daughter Olivia delve deeper into the topic of public speaking by discussing the three key principles for developing a great public speaking presentation. Be sure to also listen to Episode 059 about overcoming your fear to become a great public speaker.
Even the thought of speaking in front of an audience is enough to send some of us into a panic. But if you're in law enforcement, there will be times when you're called upon to speak at a community group, conduct training, talk to students at a school, or go before a panel of interviewers for your next promotion. In this episode, Jonathan, with the help of his daughter Olivia as a special guest, draws upon his experience as a professional communicator to offer four tips for overcoming your fear ...
As if we needed something else to stress about, the reality is that cops pay taxes too. With extra jobs, special equipment, divorces, and other unique considerations for those of us serving, we need all the help and advice we can get. In this episode, Jonathan shares five tips from a CPA that could help reduce the stress of tax time for you and your family. Who knows...you might even save money in the learning process.
