Stacy Ettel was the fall guy. He is a veteran law enforcement officer with over 24 years of service who has a good reputation and exemplary career. He was a Lieutenant with the University of Florida Police Department and the Watch Commander on duty in March of 2010 when his officers used deadly force against a student who was dealing with severe mental illness, under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs, and threatened officers with multiple weapons. He suddenly found himself in the p...
Jul 17, 2017•40 min
Captain Dan Willis retired from the La Mesa, CA Police Department after 26 years of service that included roles as a Homicide Detective, SWAT Commander, the agency's Wellness Program Coordinator, and Instructor for the Sand Diego Public Safety Institute. He is also the author of Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing the Mind and Heart. In this episode, Dan suggests that we don't have to be a victim of the profession, and offers a shift in mindset...
Jul 10, 2017•37 min
Roy Huff is a research scientist, author, and teacher who overcame the hardship of a family plagued by severe poverty and mental illness to earn 5 degrees, work with NASA, and achieve success. In this episode, Roy talks about his newest book, Think Smart Not Hard, and offers advice for overcoming failures, developing a positive mindset, and attaining personal happiness that will lead to professional success.
Jul 03, 2017•39 min
Paul Lee retired as a Captain with the Chattanooga, TN Police Department after 30 years of service on Patrol, SWAT, DUI Task Force, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and Administration. Today, he serves as the Executive Director of the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO). In this episode, Paul talks about how the job finally caught up to him, and the surrender that forever changed his life.
Jun 26, 2017•39 min
On April 25, 2017, I had the incredible opportunity to join with other leading law enforcement professionals for WINx Chicago 2017 . WINx is an event for growth and advancement of the law enforcement profession, and is a fast-paced event that features quick 18-minute presentations to challenge, engage, and inspire you. The title of my talk was "The New FTO: How Mentoring Will Reshape the Culture of Policing in America." In this episode, I present the audio of my talk and strongly encourage liste...
Jun 19, 2017•24 min
Dan O'Connor is the Director of Field Operations for the Chief Security Office, FEMA. He is a retired Marine Officer who has provided security leadership and consultation for the rebuilding of the New World Trade Center and 4 Olympic Games. He was also abandoned by his father as a child. In this episode, Dan talks about the adverse effects of being raised without a father and how mentoring can overcome those obstacles to create healthier, higher performing soldiers and first responders....
Jun 12, 2017•41 min
Jonathan "Coach JC" Conneely is the founder of Fit First Responders, a non-profit organization that is training first responders to be fit for duty and fit for life. In addition to training professional and Division I athletes, his Tulsa based facility and online program ffronline.tv has trained thousands of responders from over 46 agencies. In this episode, Coach JC talks about his 4 pillars of success and how you can make the choice today to become truly fit for duty, fit for life.
Jun 05, 2017•39 min
Roy Bethge is a veteran police leader with more than 26 years of experience. He is the lead instructor and co-founder of The Virtus Group, and the co-founder of WINx: Inspiring Excellence in Law Enforcement. In this episode, Roy provides his definition of leadership, talks about the need for thinking differently about law enforcement leadership, and gives three practical tips for becoming successful as an individual and leader.
May 29, 2017•37 min
Jonathan Parker, host of the Watch Your Six Podcast, explains why the marriage oath should matter more to cops and first responders. He also presents the top five marriage resources to help you prepare for, strengthen, or save your marriage with the reminder that the key to success is being intentional.
May 22, 2017•28 min
The Wounded Officers Initiative is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide essential services to help address the long term needs of wounded law enforcement officers whose line of duty injuries have prevented them from continuing their law enforcement careers. In this episode, co-founder Jimmy Brown (a 9/11 survivor who served with NYPD and FDNY) talks about the Initiative, the services they provide, how to partner with them, and how to nominate wounded heroes.
May 15, 2017•35 min
Andrew Columbia served 10 years as an NYPD cop assigned to the "Fighting" 9th Precinct in Lower Manhattan. He was known by his nickname "Iceman" and the feeling that he was going to explode with anger. In this episode, he tells the story of the night it all came to a head on a rooftop in Harlem. What happened there set his life on a totally different trajectory that will encourage, inspire, and impact your life as well.
May 08, 2017•39 min
Ken Alexandrow, founder of Agape Tactical, spent 26 years serving the citizens of middle Tennessee as a career police officer. He worked patrol, as a training instructor for the Metro Nashville Police Academy, on the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and as a Field Training Officer. In this episode, Ken talks about the services offered by Agape Tactical, the benefits of scenario and reality-based training, and another area of expertise - church security. He offers tips for starting a church securit...
May 01, 2017•33 min
Kristi Neace is an accomplished author, speaker, artist, and police wife. She is also the founder of a nation-wide, non-profit ministry called Badge of Hope. In this episode, Kristi talks about her marriage and personal journey that led to her writing five law enforcement focused books. She describes the theme of each book, with special emphasis on her new release. Above the Fray is a four-week Bible study designed to support and encourage police wives.
Apr 24, 2017•33 min•Ep. 15
Jason "Motor Cop" Hoschouer is a cop and the mastermind behind The Motor Cop Blog and The Motor Cop Mindset website. He is the author of Badges and Budgets, and is all about helping others regain control of their finances. In fact, he eliminated $78,000 debt in just over two years, and wants to coach others to financial peace and freedom. In this episode, Jason shares his story, offers practical advice to our listeners, and points us to several great resources for achieving success.
Apr 17, 2017•33 min•Ep. 14
Houston Gass is the epitome of resilience. On January 6, 2015, while working as a Police Sergeant with the Pampa (TX) Police Department, he was shot in the face with a 12 gauge shotgun. But his story doesn't start there. At age 11, his sister was brutally murdered. In 2013, he experienced an especially difficult divorce, lost his father to cancer, and his only other sister committed suicide. In this episode, Houston shares his story, and offers encouragement to our audience about being resilient...
Apr 10, 2017•34 min•Ep. 13
Jonathan Parker, host of the Watch Your Six Podcast, shares the story of the night his wife died of a massive heart attack (be sure to listen to the rest of the story), and how critical incident stress debriefing enabled him to navigate the symptoms of post traumatic stress. He outlines his training as a volunteer member of the Tennessee Public Safety Network, explains the defusing and debriefing process, and offers additional resources in the show notes at www.JonathanOParker.com/podcast....
Apr 03, 2017•39 min•Ep. 12
Marc Hildebrand is a Police Sergeant in Los Angeles and the founder of First Responder Fitness with Marc . He serves first responders who struggle to get and stay healthy as a fitness coach, blogger, and podcast host. In this episode, Marc walks our audience through the three vital components of fitness that he learned the hard way while struggling with his health. He was able to lose 100 pounds and transform his overall health and well-being as a result of this system. Today, he has an online f...
Mar 27, 2017•34 min•Ep. 11
Allison Uribe is the founder of Wives on Duty Ministries, and is the author of several books, including the recently released devotional Cuffs and Coffee for Wives of America's Law Enforcement Officers . She is a chaplain and sought-after speaker, and as the wife of a San Antonio, TX Police Officer, she has reached wives internationally with encouragement in their journey as a police wife. In this episode, Allison details her personal marriage journey, offers encouragement for police wives, and ...
Mar 20, 2017•32 min•Ep. 10
Tim Rupp served 4 years in the Air Force before joining the San Antonio, TX police department. He retired in 2007 after 24 years of service, but not before he was involved in a deadly gunfight. In this episode, he details the events of his gunfight, explains that there is a difference between merely surviving and and actually winning a gunfight, and provides invaluable insight for those who have or may engage in a deadly encounter.
Mar 13, 2017•35 min•Ep. 9
Linda Swihart is the wife of Mike Swihart, who in Episode 007 relays the stories of two police shootings and military combat deployments. As a trained emergency medical responder, she provided life-saving support to Mike after he was critically wounded in a gunfight that occurred at their church during Sunday morning worship. In this episode, she provides her perspective on the critical incidents, discusses the support that helped her, and offers advice for how police families can assist one ano...
Mar 06, 2017•31 min•Ep. 8
Mike Swihart is a retired Army combat veteran and police officer who survived two police shootings while working in Fort Collins, CO. In one of those incidents, Mike was critically wounded, but survived. In this episode, Mike recounts not only the stories, but what he credits with his survival physically, mentally, and regarding his marriage. He offers practical advice and encouragement for officers who may have endured similar critical incidents.
Feb 27, 2017•37 min•Ep. 7
J. Warner Wallace is a decorated and well-respected cold-case homicide detective from Los Angeles County, popular national speaker, and best-selling author. Many will recognize him from his appearance in the movie God’s Not Dead 2. In addition to his ongoing nationally recognized work with cold-case investigations, he has also spent his time applying his skills as an expert detective to investigate the claims of Christianity. He is the author of Cold Case Christianity , God's Crime Scene , and a...
Feb 20, 2017•41 min•Ep. 6
Vicki Newman is an author, speaker, and police wife to a CHiP, a member of the California Highway Patrol. She has over 15 years of experience mentoring and providing resources to spouses in family-related problems, and has conducted extensive research into the needs of law enforcement families. This episode features Vicki's book, A Marriage in Progress: Tactical Support for Law Enforcement Relationships, which is a training manual for successful off-duty life.
Feb 13, 2017•33 min•Ep. 5
Brian Willis is a law enforcement veteran, trainer, thought leader, and the "WIN" guy. In this episode, he teaches us to apply what he calls "Life's Most Powerful Question," the acronym W.I.N. - What's Important Now?, to the six areas of life discussed in the Watch Your Six Podcast.
Feb 06, 2017•32 min•Ep. 4
Rob Michaels is the Founder of Serve & Protect, an organization that facilitates trauma services for public safety personnel...when 911 needs 911. In this episode, Rob shares his personal experiences, the causes of post traumatic stress (PTSD), and talks to us about recognizing the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress so that we can get the help we need.
Jan 30, 2017•31 min•Ep. 3
Meet Heidi. She is like many of our listeners - wife of a police officer, mom to two little boys, is concerned about the current affairs of policing in the U.S., and is trying to make her marriage work. Based in Kansas City, KS, Heidi started a police wives group to support one another, and hosts an annual marriage conference. She provides practical tips for supporting your officer, connecting with other police wives, and creatively encouraging officers in your community.
Jan 16, 2017•30 min•Ep. 2
In this episode, Jonathan speaks with film producer and best-selling author Stephen Kendrick of Kendrick Brothers Productions about the making of Fireproof and Courageous, their decision to present the message of those films using the depiction of first responders, and Stephen's message to our families.
Jan 09, 2017•33 min•Ep. 1
Welcome to the introductory episode of the Watch Your Six Podcast with host Jonathan Parker. In this episode, Jonathan introduces himself, the idea behind the show, and explains how it will impact YOUR life as a police officer, spouse, law enforcement family member, or other first responder.
Jan 02, 2017•22 min
